Meet Our Mentors - AmCham Hackathon 2025
Amanda Jolliffe
Role: Dream Space Lead
Company: Microsoft
Amanda Jolliffe leads Microsoft Dream Space, where she drives strategy and delivery of innovative STEM education programs that equip young people and their education communities with future-ready skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and ethical decision-making. With over 14 years in education and leadership roles, Amanda combines deep sector expertise with a passion for quality learning experiences that can have scalable impact. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Master’s in Education Leadership and a Diploma in Computational Thinking. Amanda also contributes to the tech ecosystem through her volunteer work with CWiT Ireland and her community by coaching an Adult Ladies Gaelic Football team.
You can find Colm's LinkedIn here
Colm Canning
Role: Programme Manager
Company: Workday
Colm Canning is a Programme Manager at Workday in Ireland, where he leads on site operations for operational strategy to cultivate key partnerships with government bodies and universities, focusing on initiatives such as the development of Workday's AI Centre of Excellence and workforce development programmes. He also serves as the Attract Lead for Connecting Women in Technology (CWiT), a prominent network of Irish technology companies dedicated to attracting, retaining, and promoting women in the tech sector, reflecting his broader commitment to engagement and inclusivity. Prior to Workday, Colm worked on national and European educations programmes and policy development at the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre. Known for his strategic approach and ability to navigate complex challenges, he is dedicated to fostering impactful relationships within the Irish ecosystem and a far.
You can find Colm's LinkedIn here
Steve Bentley
Role: Director
Company: Emergenetics
Steve is a Director of Emergenetics UK&I. He has a passion for driving high performance cultures through developing the capability and effectiveness of individuals and teams.
Steve has extensive leadership experience across a variety of industries in both the public and private sector. An early career in the military ignited a passion for leadership and team performance that stood him in good stead for a variety of commercial roles in the brewing industry, and at Coca Cola Enterprises in the UK and the US. This was followed by a move into the consultancy and facilitation space some 15 years ago.
A keen endurance athlete and CrossFit attendee, Steve has competed in a variety of events including adventure racing and ironman triathlons. His credits include the Ireland Coast to Coast Adventure Race, the Marathon Des Sables, the Devizes to Westminster 125 mile kayak race, cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and, more recently, a 185km sled haul in the Lapland Arctic Ultra.
You can find Steve's LinkedIn here
Fiona Finegan
Role: Service and Interaction Design Lead
Company: Accenture
Fiona Finegan is an enthusiastic and engaged designer, who believes in the importance of human centered design, while also using a systemic approach to tackle complex systems. She is passionate about interaction design, service design and how we can improve people’s lives through design. Fiona is currently a Service & Interaction Design Lead at The Dock, in Accenture. She works on diverse innovation projects within cyber security, digital transformations, capital infrastructure and life sciences. She works within multidisciplinary teams, working from initial problem definitions, research, prototyping, testing and delivering products for clients.
You can find Fiona's LinkedIn here
Nicola Shields
Role: B2B Marketing Manager
Company: VHI
Nicola Shields is a senior B2B marketeer with over 13 years’ commercial experience. In her current role as B2B Marketing Manager at Vhi, she is responsible for developing and implementing the B2B Marketing Strategy and Plan for the organisation. Nicola and her team work closely with stakeholders across Sales, Proposition, Wellness and Strategy to develop and drive innovative marketing campaigns.
With a degree in Journalism and an MA in Communications, Nicola went on to complete a professional diploma in Financial Advice (QFA) in 2015 and is currently undertaking a professional diploma in Project Management – both from UCD. A graduate of a Vhi / EY Internal Management Development Programme and AmCham’s WGO Peer Mentoring Programme, Nicola is passionate about self-development and supporting the growth and progression of others.
You can find Nicola's LinkedIn here
Miriam O'Keefe
Role: Director of Membership Engagement
Company: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland
As Director of Member Engagement, Miriam is responsible for recruitment and retention of members, as well as engagement initiatives: information & best practice sharing, networking, and working groups including the General Counsel Forum and Global Strategic Services Forum as well individual peer to peer introductions, while by proactively meeting and communicating with members. Miriam also drives the Chamber’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equality Agenda. A graduate of National College of Ireland and UCD Smurfit, Miriam has post graduate diplomas in Human Resource Management, Strategy & Innovation, and Transformation & Change Management. Miriam was awarded an MSc in Leadership and Management Practice in May 2020 and is currently completing a postgraduate diploma in Team Coaching. Reading, birdwatching, and social history are her main interests outside of work, especially when combined with travel, both national and international.
You can find Miriam's LinkedIn here