Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Certification
References
Timeline
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Fionnuala O' Callaghan

Fionnuala O' Callaghan

Listowel,Ireland

Summary

Senior leader with extensive experience in executive management, operations, finance, and large scale project delivery. Demonstrated success in guiding organisations through transitions, ensuring strategic direction, operational stability, and governance at Board level, including serving as Interim CEO. Expertise in managing European and national grant programs, enhancing organisational performance, and leading teams effectively.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work history

Senior Operations Manager & Senior Portfolio Manager of International Projects

RDI Hub
Co. Kerry
2020.01 - 2026.01
  • Portfolio & Programme Leadership (European Projects): Act as Project Lead and Portfolio Manager across all European-funded projects, providing strategic oversight, governance, and delivery assurance across multiple programmes. Represent the organisation as the primary face of EU projects, travelling regularly to partner countries for consortium meetings, reviews, and international collaboration.
  • European & National Grant Leadership: Lead all aspects of European and national grant-funded projects, from funding acquisition to delivery and regulatory compliance. Oversee work packages, financial reporting, audits, and cross-consortium collaboration.
  • Financial & Budget Oversight: Manage organisational budgets, forecasting, cashflow, and P&L reporting, ensuring strong financial governance and strategic allocation of resources.
  • Operational Leadership: Oversee company-wide operations including HR, finance, IT, facilities, and member services, developing policies and optimising processes aligned to strategic objectives.
  • Revenue Growth & Strategic Expansion: Designed and delivered new revenue streams including the Media Lab, Hybrid Events Space, and commercial meeting spaces, now core income generators.
  • Stakeholder, Consortium & European Representation: Represent RDI Hub across European innovation networks, partner organisations, government bodies, funding agencies, and international consortia. Attend and present at European conferences, project reviews, and strategic forums, strengthening RDI Hub's visibility and influence at EU level.
  • Team Leadership & Development: Recruit, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
  • RDI Hub is a globally connected digital innovation centre supporting startups, SMEs, and enterprises in scaling and growing through research, innovation, and collaboration.
  • Key Achievements:
  • European Grant Success & Funding Growth: Led delivery of multiple high-value European grants across Interreg Atlantic Area, Interreg North West and Horizon Europe. Projects; DIBEST, GRAAL, Boost AI, PREWAPHARM and Food CoP. Actively source and develop new European funding opportunities, building international partnerships and positioning the organisation for continued EU investment.
  • Business Expansion & Revenue Growth: Spearheaded development and implementation of new commercial offerings, significantly increasing organisational revenue and utilisation.
  • Operational Excellence: Established and standardised core operational functions from business inception, supporting scalable and sustainable growth.
  • STEM Passport Programme: Key contributor of running the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme in RDI Hub, impacting 5,000+ students nationwide.

Interim Chief Executive Officer

RDI Hub
Co. Kerry
2025.06 - 2025.10
  • Interim CEO leading the organisation during a critical transition period while awaiting the appointment of a permanent CEO. Held full executive authority and accountability, ensuring business continuity, strategic progress, and strong governance.
  • Key Responsibilities:
  • Assumed full CEO responsibilities, providing strategic and operational leadership across the organisation
  • Managed and led all staff, including performance oversight, resourcing, and day to day operational decision making
  • Prepared and presented comprehensive management packs, operational updates, and financial reports to the Board of Directors
  • Acted as primary liaison with the Board, funders, stakeholders, and external partners
  • Oversaw organisational performance, ensuring delivery against strategic objectives, KPIs, and funding obligations
  • Maintained momentum across key projects, commercial activities, and grant programmes
  • Supported and facilitated a smooth handover to the incoming CEO, ensuring continuity of strategy, operations, and governance
  • Key Achievements:
  • Successfully led the organisation through a stable and effective transition period with no disruption to operations or funding commitments
  • Maintained strong Board confidence through clear reporting, transparent governance, and proactive communication
  • Ensured staff engagement, morale, and performance during a period of organisational change

Office Manager/Generalist

Aspen Grove Solutions
Co. Kerry
2017.06 - 2019.12
  • Worked across every department in the organisation, providing hands on leadership and operational support across Marketing, Office Management, Professional Services, HR, Infrastructure, Project Management Unit, Facilities, Finance, and Machine Learning, ensuring continuity, alignment, and delivery during periods of growth and transition.
  • Aspen Grove Solutions is a leading enterprise provider of property servicing technology solutions for the financial and mortgage industries.
  • Process & System Optimisation: Led JIRA implementation, Office 365 administration, and infrastructure transformation, significantly improving infrastructure team efficiency.
  • Financial & Commercial Oversight: Held responsibility for financial controls, supplier governance, and contract negotiations, delivering cost efficiency, commercial rigour, and risk-managed procurement.
  • ISO 27001 Compliance: Managed security consolidations and led the review process for ISO 27001 certification.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability: Founded the "Go Green" environmental initiative and managed CSR fundraising efforts.

Education

Diploma - Work and Organisation Leadership

UCC

Diploma - Project Management

Project Management Institute

Major Award - Human Resource Management

Limerick and Clare ETB

Major Award - Project Management

Limerick and Clare ETB

Minor Award - Psychology

Limerick and Clare ETB

BA - Information Systems Management with Web Technologies

Munster Technological University

Advanced Certificate - Office Information Systems

Tralee Institute of Technology

Skills

  • Executive & Strategic Leadership
  • Transitional Leadership
  • Board Reporting & Governance
  • Financial & Budget Management
  • Operational & Business Management
  • European & National Grant Leadership
  • Project & Programme Management
  • Policy Development & Compliance
  • Revenue Growth & Commercial Strategy
  • Stakeholder & Consortium Management
  • People Management & Talent Development

Affiliations

  • Credited Ambassador for the I Am Here Programme
  • Credited Mentor for STEM Passport for Inclusion Programme
  • Awarded Connect Kerry “Most Inspirational Business Woman” 2023
  • Network Ireland “Rising Star” Finalist 2024
  • New Frontiers Participant

Certification

Credited Ambassador for the "I Am Here" Programme

Credited Mentor for STEM Passport for Inclusion Programme

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Interim Chief Executive Officer

RDI Hub
2025.06 - 2025.10

Senior Operations Manager & Senior Portfolio Manager of International Projects

RDI Hub
2020.01 - 2026.01

Office Manager/Generalist

Aspen Grove Solutions
2017.06 - 2019.12

Diploma - Work and Organisation Leadership

UCC

Diploma - Project Management

Project Management Institute

Major Award - Human Resource Management

Limerick and Clare ETB

Major Award - Project Management

Limerick and Clare ETB

Minor Award - Psychology

Limerick and Clare ETB

BA - Information Systems Management with Web Technologies

Munster Technological University

Advanced Certificate - Office Information Systems

Tralee Institute of Technology
Fionnuala O' Callaghan