Pictured (L–R): Bruno Barros, IT Audit Partner, Claire Healy, Tax Partner, and Tom O’Brien, Managing Partner, Mazars in Ireland
There were new and notable appointments this week at Mazars, Network Ireland and Low Carbon.
Claire Healy, Tax Partner, Bruno Barros, IT Audit Partner
Mazars
Mazars, the international audit, tax, advisory and consulting firm has announced the appointments of Claire Healy to the role of Tax Partner and Bruno Barros as IT Audit Partner.
Claire Healy
A Chartered Tax Adviser with over 14 years’ experience, Healy joined the international tax team in Mazars in 2013 after completing her training with a Big Four firm in Dublin. An international tax expert, she has specialist knowledge in foreign direct investment, international corporate structuring and transfer pricing. She will act as a tax partner in the international tax team and will help develop and grow our FDI and transfer pricing business for the firm. Healy holds a BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance from DCU.
Bruno Barros
Barros has 17 years’ experience working as an IT auditor across a broad range of clients and industries. He is a qualified financial auditor and IT auditor, having trained with a Big Four firm in Brazil, before moving to Ireland and joining Mazars in 2018. He has a unique skillset combining both technical IT and financial audit and will act as the IT audit partner supporting our large external audit client base. Barros holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Accounting, is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and is a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2).
Speaking at the joint announcement, Tom O’Brien, Managing Partner of Mazars in Ireland, commented, “I am delighted to announce the appointments of Claire and Bruno as partners to the firm. These appointments demonstrate our commitment to investing and developing senior talent within the firm.”
“Mazars has ambitious plans for the future and their appointment reflects the continued growth of our practice as we continue to support our ambitious clients achieve their goals in today’s dynamic business environment.”
Emma Early Murphy, National President
Network Ireland
Pictured: Emma Early Murphy, National President, Network Ireland
Network Ireland has appointed Emma Early Murphy as National President of the organisation. An experienced entrepreneur, Early Murphy founded the event design agency Balloon HQ in 2017 and runs it with her husband Noel and a team in Kildare. She also set up The Power of U: Business Coaching, Mentoring & Consultancy in 2022. She has more than 20 years experience in corporate sales, marketing and leadership roles across telecoms, retail and hospitality. Her passion lies in working with people to help make a difference. She was Vice President of Network Ireland last year and President of the Kildare branch in 2019.
She is looking forward to working with Network Ireland’s 1,200 members across 17 branches nationwide and has chosen ‘Celebrating Success’ as the theme for her presidency and says it’s an important message, particularly as Network Ireland celebrates 40 years since its establishment.
Early Murphy said, “Over the last few years, Network Ireland has called on members to find the power within and believe in their abilities so I think it’s important for us now to celebrate all of our successes, big and small. We’ve been through a very difficult period due to Covid and the economic downturn and we’re not out of the woods just yet so I want women across all professions to look at what they’ve achieved and how far they’ve come and to celebrate these wins. It’s a big year for Network Ireland as we mark our 40th anniversary and this year will be about celebrating this milestone and the benefits of networking in business. Network Ireland is here to support members on that journey.”
She is supporting two charities close to her heart during her term as President of Network Ireland — Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) and St Brigid’s Hospice in The Curragh, Co. Kildare. Her priorities for 2023 are to focus on the national membership of Network Ireland through collaborations, workshops, corporate and educational partnerships, youth programmes and ultimately encourage more women to join the organisation. As an experienced business coach and mentor, Emma is hoping she can inspire other women to follow their dreams if they’ve been holding back in the past.
Network Ireland is also proud to confirm its partnership with AIB is set to continue through 2023. Lorraine Greene, AIB’s Head of SME Market Engagement said, “AIB is delighted to continue as the official national partner of Network Ireland, especially in such a momentous year. It is an incredible achievement for this important business group to reach its 40th anniversary and we celebrate the difference it has made to the lives of so many women in Ireland. Business in Ireland has evolved so much over the 40 years and we look forward to working with Network Ireland and Emma as they continue to support women in business in 2023.”
Steven Hughes, Managing Director, Portfolio Management
Low Carbon
Low Carbon, the global renewable energy company, has announced the appointment of Steven Hughes as Managing Director, Portfolio Management. Hughes joins Low Carbon from infrastructure and equity investment manager Foresight LLP where, as Managing Director and Head of Portfolio, he was responsible for over £9 billion of infrastructure assets in construction and operation across Europe and Australia. This portfolio included wind, solar and bio-energy projects along with core infrastructure projects owned by a range of listed, private and retail funds.
Prior to this, Hughes was Global Director of Asset Management and Support Services at Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES), overseeing a portfolio of more than 5GW of renewable energy assets in Europe, North America and Australia. He has over 25 years of experience in the renewables sector, working at GE Power before RES.
In his new role at Low Carbon, Hughes will be responsible for the construction and operation of Low Carbon’s expanding renewable energy portfolio. Based out of the company’s London office, he will lead the delivery of projects as they move from the development phase into construction and ultimately operation.
Hughes’ appointment follows Low Carbon’s recent announcement of the construction of three new large-scale solar farms in the UK, using the business’s multi-bank financing facility from NatWest, Lloyds Bank, and AIB, with several more projects in the pipeline. Announced in September, the facility is targeting 1GW of solar capacity, as part of Low Carbon’s target to create 20GW of new renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.
In late 2022, Low Carbon also announced that it will be constructing 1GW of onshore wind projects in Romania, and the construction of four solar projects in the Netherlands, with a combined capacity of 53.1MW.
Roy Bedlow, Chief Executive and Founder of Low Carbon said: “With the support of our financing facility with NatWest, Lloyds Bank and AIB, Low Carbon begins the construction of 1GW of renewable energy this year, with the target of creating 20GW of new renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade. To achieve this, we need a world class team with the experience to manage the construction and operation Low Carbon’s assets. With his broad knowledge of the sector, Steven will be an invaluable addition to our team, helping to grow the company’s already expanding global portfolio”.
Hughes said: “I am delighted to be joining a purpose led company as it scales up to deliver 20 GWs of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Low Carbon has a clear strategy and an impressive track record of delivering projects over the past 10 years. I look forward to join the team as we expand into new territories and build out new renewable energy capacity globally.”
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