Lara Byrne is CEO of AIB Merchant Services. AIB Merchant Services is Ireland’s largest payment solution provider and one of Europe’s largest e-commerce acquirers, with a record of 40+ years’ of providing payments and acceptance solutions to businesses in Ireland and across Europe. Lara is responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, and management of the company. Previously Lara was Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Fiserv with responsibility for the performance of a portfolio of Fiserv’s Joint Ventures and large Acquiring-as-a-Service partners in Europe. She was responsible for delivering the financial and business outcomes for Fiserv and our Joint Ventures and partners with a focus on delivery against P&L targets, business growth and delivering operational excellence within a controlled and regulated environment. She also had responsibility for driving employee engagement, talent development and internal mobility. Lara Byrne joined First Data, now Fiserv, in January 2018, as Director of Channel Development, Global Digital Commerce. She had commercial responsibility for Fiserv’s Digital Commerce product suite, including Gateways, Currency Solutions, Digital Payment Channels, Value Added Services and PSP partners across APAC, EMEA & LATAM. Lara joined First Data from AIB Merchant Services, where she held a number of senior sales and business development roles, establishing the International Sales, Corporate Development and Partner Development business functions. She is a seasoned payments professional with 24 years’ experience in the fintech and international payments industry across multiple disciplines and sits on the board of two of Fiserv’s wholly owned, regulated businesses in Europe – Fiserv Polska and European Merchant Services. Lara lives with her family in Dublin, Ireland and was educated at Trinity College Dublin.

As Senior Product Manager and Head of the E-commerce Product with AIBMS, Mícheál has overseen the Ecommerce transformation within AIB Merchant Services over the last decade.

With a background in Agency, Client and Provider standpoints spanning 19 years, Mícheál has seen Ecommerce from all sides. Leveraging opportunities in electronic trading as well as being a recognized voice in E-commerce trading associations like The Irish Internet Association, The E-commerce Association of Ireland, Retail Excellence Ireland and Digital Business Ireland, Mícheál has been a keen advocate for the native E-commerce trading community in Ireland.

Colin is Head of Klarna in Ireland, leading the growth of one of the world’s most innovative payment and shopping platforms. With a background in digital commerce and fintech, Colin has been instrumental in expanding Klarna’s footprint across Irish retail, helping brands unlock new customer segments and drive conversion. Passionate about seamless shopping experiences and retail innovation, Colin brings deep industry insight to the judging panel of the Irish eCommerce Awards 2025.

Anna-Marie is Head of Fintech, Financial Services & Cybersecurity at Enterprise Ireland. Her previous roles included Head of Entrepreneurship & HPSU Operations and Manager of the Retail, Consumer & Online Department. Prior to Enterprise Ireland, Anna-Marie worked in industry for over 10 years and has considerable experience in a variety of industry sectors, most notably ICT, both in Irish early stage start-up companies and globally trading multinational businesses including Ericsson, Dell and Smurfit.

Jo-Anne Morgan is a seasoned Senior Enterprise Success Manager at Shopify based in EMEA, where she specialises in guiding the platform’s largest merchants towards achieving remarkable growth and operational excellence. With an impressive track record that highlights her commercial expertise and client management, Jo-Anne plays a pivotal role in nurturing strategic partnerships and enhancing user satisfaction among high-profile clients including merchants like Gymshark, Boden, On Running and more. Bringing over a decade of experience in the digital landscape and managing customer relations, Jo-Anne has honed her skills in stake-holder management, strategic planning, and technology solutions which have been instrumental in her success at Shopify. Her approach combines deep industry knowledge with a genuine commitment to client success, making her a preferred point of contact for the company’s elite clientele. Passionate about innovation in the digital retail space, Jo-Anne is constantly on the lookout for new tools and practices that can drive efficiency and scalability for her clients. Her leadership and problem-solving skills ensure that even the most complex challenges are turned into growth opportunities, making her an invaluable asset to both Shopify and its partners.

Chris works with wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, agencies, and platforms across the B2B eCommerce industry to make smart technology choices, simplify complexity, and grow sales – all with a bright, energetic, and collaborative approach. With over 15 years of experience leading digital transformation in B2B and D2C, Chris has supported global manufacturers, ambitious scale-ups, and leading tech vendors. He’s overseen complex integration projects involving ERP, CRM, WMS, and OMS systems, and regularly helps B2B eCommerce businesses with go-to-market strategy, sales enablement, and marketing alignment. But it’s not all learned – it’s also earned. Chris started out at the coalface, building his own eCommerce business and a chain of shops as a musical instrument supplier. That hands-on, founder-first experience drives his practical, results-focused approach: grounded in reality, commercially savvy, and built to deliver within real-world constraints. As CTO of the B2B eCommerce Association and Founder of Rixxo, Chris oversees the association’s technology stack – including a membership platform, education platform, certification framework, and job portal – while connecting the dots between technology, training, and community. He also collaborates with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade to improve export success for home-grown manufacturers and distributors, leveraging his digital expertise to support national economic initiatives. A regular speaker at events like IRX, B2B eCommerce World, eComm Live, and the Bold B2B Ecomm Summit, Chris is known for his no-nonsense approach to B2B and his commitment to collaboration across the industry. Loyal, energetic, and always fully invested, he doesn’t just advise – he joins the team, drives momentum, and makes things happen. When not building tech or strategising, you’ll likely find Chris on his bike (Captain of Tullio CC South West), with family, or BBQing – often combining all three, where most of his best ideas come from.

Adam is the co-founder and CEO of Blend Commerce, the CRO agency for Shopify brands. Blend Commerce helps eCommerce brands to get customers to buy now, buy more or buy again.

Laura Hanlon is the co-founder of two complementary agencies – Studio 3.5 (brand and creative) and &Allies (paid media performance) – working together to deliver strategy-led growth for ambitious brands. With over a decade of experience building high-performing ad campaigns, and having scaled her own e-commerce brand from the ground up, Laura brings a rare blend of creative vision and commercial know-how. She’s known for cutting through the fluff, getting results, and becoming a trusted partner to brands who want more than just another agency.

Sam is the Founder of HyperGrowth Recruitment, a dedicated headhunt firm who build killer teams for eCom brands. At HyperGrowth we work with high growth eCom brands, to help them unlock their full potential, by building killer teams.

Over 35 years in retail with 33 years at John Lewis. A senior buyer across many categories from fashion and beauty to Home. Head of Buying for home including all gifts and Christmas across John Lewis and Waitrose GM Set up Retail100consulting with 3 ex John Lewis colleagues- with over 100 years of retail experience.

We are a retail consultancy company with a difference. Our team turns traditional consulting on its head by working collaboratively with clients. Together, we work to drive sustainable and profitable growth for the brands we engage with.

GoKwik is the largest ecommerce enablement company in Asia which has the deepest & most powerful network data of 120 Million shoppers through which it has helped 10000+ brands increase conversions, reduce frauds, boost GMV and prepaid success rate, thereby increasing overall growth potential for these brands. Within a few years of its inception, GoKwik has processed GMV in excess of $1.4Bn, saved over $25 Mn in losses and Powered over 1.2 Bn conversations. GoKwik is backed by marquee global investors like Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, RTP Global & Think Investments.

Peter Kirwan is the founder of FTRR Consulting, a fractional eCommerce consultancy dedicated to driving growth and enhancing customer experiences. With over 16 years of experience in the eCommerce sector, Peter has held pivotal roles at leading companies such as Shopify Plus, where he served as a Senior Merchant Success Manager to companies like Gym+Coffee, Chupi, YourSuper, and Molson Coors. Most recently, he was the Head of Digital for Louis Copeland, overseeing the brand’s online strategy and digital growth. His extensive background encompasses agency, retailer, and technology perspectives, equipping him with a comprehensive understanding of the industry.

Founder of Little Rock Digital, Breige Grogan is a seasoned eCommerce & Digital Marketing professional with almost two decades in the sector, primarily in retail & luxury. Breige has a proven track record of managing significant eCommerce functions in Europe & Australia, her specialisms include Digital & eComm Strategy, Digital Marketing and Analytics. These days, Breige is focused on bringing this wealth of experience and depth of practical knowledge to Retailers in need of fractional digital supports, consultancy, and mentorship. She’s passionate about helping retailers grow profitable eCommerce businesses, through no-nonsense commercials & effective digital marketing.

Dave has worked in the eCommerce and Tech industry for 15 years, across startups to Big Tech. At Meta, Dave helped grow world’s leading brands like HUEL, Alibaba, LEGO, Very and Gymshark. At TikTok he lex the Retail and eCommerce Lifestyle team, overseeing the growth of 100s of Athleisure, Beauty and Home brands. And most recently he released the book “Grow Like Tech”, which gives everyone the mindset and playbooks for growing like big tech.

Lauren is the co-founder of a fast-growing 4PL fulfillment and freight business with operations across the UK, US, and Europe. With a background in eCommerce, logistics, and business development, she has helped scale multiple brands internationally by building strategic infrastructure and delivering exceptional service across B2B and D2C channels. Passionate about empowering founders to grow sustainably, Lauren combines deep industry knowledge with hands-on experience in supply chain innovation, automation, and customer experience. Her company supports a wide range of brands – from fast-moving consumer goods to premium lifestyle products – and is known for blending operational excellence with a personal touch. Lauren is also a speaker and thought leader in the eCommerce space, regularly sharing insights on fulfillment, global expansion, and the real behind-the-scenes of building a business. She’s proud to bring her expertise, curiosity, and founder-first perspective to the judging panel for this year’s Irish eComm Awards.

Vinny O’Brien is a highly respected ecommerce and marketplace consultant based in Ireland, known for his expertise in helping businesses scale through strategic digital commerce initiatives. With a career spanning over 15 years, he has worked across various sectors, providing guidance on marketplace strategy, cross-border commerce, and digital transformation.

Vinny has held key roles in ecommerce, logistics, and digital marketing, working with some of the most well-known platforms and brands in the industry. His experience includes leadership positions at eBay, where he played a pivotal role in marketplace development and seller growth strategies. He has also worked closely with Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento, offering consultancy services that empower businesses to optimize their digital commerce operations.His deep understanding of marketplaces, omnichannel retail, and international ecommerce expansion has made him a go-to expert for businesses looking to scale beyond local markets.

Oli is Co-Founder and CEO of award winning TikTok agency, Nonsensical. Oli started his career in finance before launching his first business in 2015. Since co-founding Nonsensical in 2020, the team has grown to over 40 employees with a roster of global brands. Oli is also trustee of Kids Village, a charity building the UK’s first holiday village for sick children & their families.

With 14 years of experience in e-commerce related roles, including 9 years at Amazon, Ollie has worked across multiple facets of digital retail. Starting at Tesco, he developed expertise in online grocery through strategic buying, range optimization, and digital pricing initiatives. At Amazon, he successfully managed vendor relationships across major categories including Beauty and Beers, Wines & Spirits, delivering growth and enhanced customer experience. His expertise extends to customer service leadership, where he oversaw support operations across Europe and the Middle East, and managed critical logistics support functions. Currently leading the marketplace team for Amazon Ireland, Ollie brings practical experience spanning retail buying, vendor management, and marketplace operations. This broad exposure across both traditional retail and e-commerce provides valuable perspective on digital commerce evolution and best practices.