Danny Dowling
Galway
Summary
With over 15 years of experience, I lead The Mad Hatter Productions Ireland as CEO, specializing in event planning, creative production, and delivering interactive live comedy experiences. My focus is on curating exceptional events, from festivals to corporate gatherings, by bringing together artists, investors, and innovative technologies. My expertise lies in designing and coordinating memorable events that integrate sustainable practices, advanced ticketing systems, and digital reporting solutions. Collaborating with diverse teams, I strive to create impactful, seamless experiences for audiences while maintaining a commitment to environmental and operational excellence. Multiple Festival and Events wide range of experience from Sales Hospitality Events MC Sponsorship and end to end turnkey solutions. Full of energy disciplined and able to lead teams and be part of one. Highly motivated professional with several years of entrepreneurial and management experience. Skillfully creates and maintains professional and loyal relationships with co-workers, staff and clients while managing administrative and sales employees. Comfortable working independently as manager and leader and as collaborative team member. Applies business acumen and experience and exercises decisive judgment to meet and exceed organizational goals.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner
Mad Hatter Productions
01.2010 - Current
- Owner of Mad Hatter Productions. Interactive live comedy events and event planning. Production on small and large scale. Social Media Content Creator Management, Trend and growth markets. Health and Safety, Branding, Pitching, Sponsorship, Cashless festivals, Ticketing MC and Keynote Speaker.
- Festivals including the Galway International Comedy Festival, Galway International Arts Festival, Clonmel Comedy Festival, Westport Festival, Belfast Comedy Festival, Cats Laughs Kilkenny, Vodafone Comedy Festival, Cork Comedy Festival, Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Galway Food Festival, West Waterford Food Festival, Swift Satire Festival, Longitude, Body and Soul, Forbidden Fruit, Camden Crawl Dublin, Dublin Book Festival, Carlow Arts Festival, Festival of Writing and Arts, Craft Beer Rising London, The Websummit.
- Secured brand partnerships for Wild Roots Festival.
Hostel Manager
Pygmalion Hostel
Dublin
07.2000 - 08.2021
- Managing a 40 bed busy International Hostel and Erasmus in the heart of Dublin city center. General Manager and Site Safety, Bookings co-ordinator.
- Addressed challenges in a dynamic multinational hostel environment.
- Also placement advice to clients and on-site support for networking and employment opportunities. I greatly enjoyed this fast skilled opportunity.
Contracts and Health and Safety Manager
Bayrock Construction
Dublin
08.2000 - 04.2021
- Oversaw contracts and management for startup construction and development company during Ireland's construction boom.
- Managed multiple sites and crews, conducted risk assessments, developed safety statements, and delivered training to ensure compliance and safety.
- Strengthened client relationships during renovation projects while managing crews, vehicles, procurement, and logistics across multiple projects.
National Account and Development
Hrv Ireland
County Galway
08.2009 - 07.2010
- I joined HRV Ireland at its infancy as a startup in a decayed market in the European financial crash.
- This technology was new to the market and was being fitted to low energy highly airtight buildings to primarily act as recovered heat exchange air flow to the homeowner.
- The savings on energy was paramount along with improved air quality.
- In a ruptured market with the lowest number of new builds in Ireland since it's Celtic Tiger boom in Construction.
- The role required me to find the latest advanced hrv unit at low cost the end consumer. Procurement from the national distributor of the product was secured by my pitch and program for roll out.
- I utilized my adaptation to network with other Construction suppliers to grow the business and secure face to face sales.
- I trained in all aspects and delivered training to our installers both internally and externally.
- Utilizing my experience with Bayrock Construction and my own property development gave a use of both technical and practical guidelines to grow the business to the leading franchise in Ireland.
- I left the company with a strong sales and development platform to maximize growth.
Key Client Manager
Carabay Packaging Products
Galway
05.2008 - 08.2009
- Promoted to Key Client Manager for Creganna, a major client in the International Medical Device Industry.
- Adapted to Key Client Manager role with support from Graham and his team, quickly gaining proficiency in account management.
- Managing a portfolio of over 850 devices and packaging including documentation and track and trace.
- I built from scratch our own unique track and trace system to give up-to-date daily reports on profit and loss distribution to the end user.
- Collaborated with team at Cara Bay, Ireland's largest supplier of products for international medical device industry to enhance product distribution.
- Adapted skills rapidly in a multi-product distribution center under guidance of CEO Graham Casburn.
- Exited role with strong growth in technical knowledge and logistics management, contributing to team success.
- Maintained communication with team, expressing pride in contributions to their journey.
Training and Sales Director
Safetyworks
Dublin
12.2002 - 08.2005
- I joined Safetyworks as a Training and Development and Growth specialist.
- Entered competitive market as part of startup focused on ambitious goals.
- I gained invaluable skills and training in occupational health and safety both in-house and externally passing with Merit Health and Safety modules recognized by IOSH.
- I expanded the business into safety training, risk assessments, emergency response, first aid, manual handling, abrasive tools, access and egress training, scaffolding, and Safe Pass.
- Led sales and development of training systems, collaborating with external contractors to enhance defibrillator installation and first responder training.
- My role transformed through promotion to delivering training and development to National and the growing International Tec and Financial Services boom.
- Training the like of Pfizer European Financial Shared Services, The Department of Transport, The Department of Internal Affairs, Dublin Bus, Cadbury's Ireland, Healthcare Services Executive, The Rotunda Hospital, Top Shop, Next, to name just a few of our key National and International client base.
- Contracted back to company for training roles, leveraging expertise before career break in 2006.
Food and Beverage Manager
Huka Lodge
Taupo
08.1996 - 07.1998
- Promoted to the management team after 6 months as a trainee manager.
- I took on the role of Food and Beverage Manager for one of the World's best under 20 rooms boutique Hotels and Lodges, Consistently ranked as one of the top 10 International best places to stay.
- Number 5 in the World for Hotels in the Réalaux Chateu group, a multiple winner in Conde Nasté worlds top hotels.
- Catering for some of the World's top Vips and Celebrities. Including hosting multiple Royal Visits, National and International Summits and top client stays.
- Managing Events, Weddings, Conferences, Fine Dining and Banqueting.
- Including a stand alone Cellar of over 300 wines nationally and internationally, a huge portfolio of New Zealand and the World's leading spirits, coffee and cigars.
- This was a consistent devoted growing project whilst I was directly involved in management and development.
- As one of the youngest Managers in the group I experienced the very best in the highest end to end service and hosting experience at New Zealand's top Boutique Hotel and Lodge.
Trainee Manager Marketing and Management
Tongariro Lodge
Turangi
01.1994 - 06.1996
- My first trainee management roles out of university covering all departments with primary focus on growth in Conferences and Summits, Weddings, Food and Beverage and Events from small local to National Scale.
- Training in all aspects of Wine and Food Banqueting.
Education
Hotel Mangament - Finance
Lincoln University New Zealand
Roncalli Catholic High School
Skills
- Sales
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Business Development
- Event planning
- Social media management
- Brand development
- Sponsorship acquisition
- Health and safety compliance
- Client relationship management
- Negotiation skills
- Team leadership
- Creative thinking
- Brand strategy planning
- Key partnership cultivation
- Talent development
- Staff hiring
- Project management
- Sales management
Timeline
Owner
Mad Hatter Productions
01.2010 - Current
National Account and Development
Hrv Ireland
08.2009 - 07.2010
Key Client Manager
Carabay Packaging Products
05.2008 - 08.2009
Training and Sales Director
Safetyworks
12.2002 - 08.2005
Contracts and Health and Safety Manager
Bayrock Construction
08.2000 - 04.2021
Hostel Manager
Pygmalion Hostel
07.2000 - 08.2021
Food and Beverage Manager
Huka Lodge
08.1996 - 07.1998
Trainee Manager Marketing and Management
Tongariro Lodge
01.1994 - 06.1996
Hotel Mangament - Finance
Lincoln University New Zealand
Roncalli Catholic High School