PRII 2026 Internal Communications Conference

Joanne Carroll

Internal Communications Officer, Trinity College Dublin

Joanne Carroll leads internal communications for Trinity College Dublin. Through purpose-led and meaningful storytelling, Joanne connects people to what we do at Trinity and why that matters.

Joanne is passionate about building community through internal communications. She has strong experience in advising senior leadership, strategic communications, and employee engagement. Joanne has previously led high profile communications and change projects including the redevelopment of ESB’s Head Office.

Paul Cawley

Head of Communications, Boots Ireland

Paul Cawley is Head of Communications at Boots Ireland, where he leads internal and external communications, colleague engagement and events.

Paul began his career in technology before moving into communications, and has since held communications roles across construction, financial services and retail.

His work has been recognised at the HR & Leadership Awards, where Boots Ireland won Most Effective Use of Internal Communication in 2024. He was also recognised internally with the Boots Ireland Inspiring Leadership Award in 2025.

Paul holds an MA in Political Communication from Dublin City University and is a Certified Member of the Institute of Internal Communication.

May Flanagan MPRII, CIIC

Change Communications Consultant & Facilitator, Flanagan Communications (FC)

May Flanagan MPRII, CIIC is a change communications consultant, facilitator, and Full member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII), Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC), and Learning & Development Institute (L&DI), as well as the IoIC Network Lead for Ireland. She brings 14+ years of global experience in marketing and communications, specialising in change communication.

May has worked with clients such as Deloitte Ireland, Standard Life (Phoenix Group), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Grow Remote (in partnership with LOETB). With expertise in digital transformation, hybrid working, and stakeholder engagement, May's style is practical, inclusive, and focused on empowering learners to implement insights from day one.

Rob Hitchcock

Internal Communications Senior Manager, PwC

Rob leads PwC's internal communications team, helping connect colleagues with the organisation's strategy, culture and vision.

With over 15 years’ experience across communications, change, learning and colleague engagement, Rob has built his career through a variety of leadership roles in the UK and Ireland. He is a people-first leader known for his collaborative, authentic and empowering leadership style, with a strong focus on building high-performing teams, developing talent and creating environments where people can thrive.

Passionate about the role of communication in driving culture and engagement, Rob brings practical experience of leading teams through change while delivering meaningful outcomes for both colleagues and organisations.

Sarah Horgan

Director & Strategy Lead, Springboard Communications

Sarah Horgan is Director & Strategy Lead at Springboard Communications, where she advises organisations on strategic communications, reputation, stakeholder engagement and employee communications.
With over 17 years’ experience across agency and in-house roles, including senior communications positions with Vodafone and Aer Lingus, Sarah brings a practical understanding of the challenges involved in communicating with employees during periods of change.
Her work focuses on helping organisations build trust, connect leaders with their people, and create communications that support culture, alignment and community. Sarah leads Springboard’s Dublin office and works with clients to develop communications strategies that resonate with both internal and external audiences

Claire Mac Evilly

CEO, Airfield Estate

Claire Mac Evilly is CEO of Airfield Estate, the 38-acre working farm, gardens and living classroom in Dundrum, Dublin. A public health nutritionist by background, Claire has previously worked with the British Nutrition Foundation, the University of Cambridge, UCD and Danone. Since joining Airfield in 2022, she has led an ambitious transformation of the estate, strengthening its role as a centre for food education, research and public engagement, Claire is also Chair of the All-Ireland Science Media Centre and a leading advocate for evidence-based public discussion, food sustainability and reconnecting people with where their food comes from.

Emily Maher

Marketing Lead, Museum of Childhood Ireland

Emily Maher is a strategic communications leader with deep experience across internal communications, storytelling and narrative, employee engagement and purpose-led communications. Emily has advised the most senior leaders in industries including professional services, financial services and the public sector. She has established, led and grown strategic internal communications functions at Deloitte, KBC Bank Ireland and An Garda Síochána. She is currently Marketing Lead for the Museum of Childhood Ireland, a voluntary Board-level position.

Alison Mills

Managing Director of Communications , Papillo

Alison Mills is Managing Director of Communications at Papillo and a senior communications strategist with more than 25 years' experience helping organisations navigate complex change. She specialises in designing communications that help people understand what's changing, why it matters, and what it means for the way they work.
Alison has advised Irish and international organisations across financial services, technology and professional services on restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, culture change, and major business transformation.
Before co-founding Papillo, she led media and government relations for Accenture in Ireland and was Head of Change Communications at Bank of Ireland.

Neil O'Gorman

Corporate Communications Manager, RTE

Neil O'Gorman is Corporate Communications Manager in RTÉ with responsibility for internal and external communications for Ireland's national public service media organisation. In this role, Neil works closely with RTÉ’s Director-General and Leadership Team providing communications advice and support, with lead responsibility for day-to-day internal and external communications on behalf of RTÉ.

With 30 years of experience as a communications professional with senior roles in Edelman, Pembroke Communications (now Teneo), Sky Ireland and his own agency, Bespoke Communications (established in 2007), Neil has also developed successful communications for Sky Ireland, Heineken, Unilever (Lynx, Sure for Men), Croke Park, Jack Daniel's, Bacardi, PlayStation, Centra, BT, Fáilte Ireland and many more.

Neil has previously served on the National Council of the PRII.

Oliver Wall

Senior Strategic Advisor and former Chief of Staff

Oliver Wall is a senior strategic advisor and former Chief of Staff & Head of Corporate Affairs at Bank of Ireland, where he served on the Executive Team and led functions spanning communications, public policy, corporate governance, and the Group's legal services. His career includes senior roles in HSBC, as well as an adviser in the Department of the Taoiseach during Ireland’s 2013 Presidency of the EU Council. 

A graduate of the University of Galway, Oliver began his career in Brussels, before moving to London where he worked in a number of financial services companies and organisations. 

Oliver has been a visible champion for inclusion, wellbeing, and cultural transformation across the financial sector. He sponsored Bank of Ireland’s LGBT+ employee resource group and spearheaded initiatives such as the Group Ally Programme.

Pádraig Walsh

Chartered Behavioural Psychologist, Founder , ChangeAble Behaviour Solutions,

Pádraig Walsh is a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist and founder of ChangeAble Behaviour Solutions, one of Ireland's leading behaviour change consultancies. Over the past fifteen years, he has advised some of Ireland's and the UK's largest corporate and not-for-profit organisations, delivering award-winning communications campaigns. He has also leads multi-year behaviour change programmes in regional economic development and continues to partner with one of Ireland's largest financial institutions.

As one of Ireland's most recognised voices in behavioural science, he regularly contributes to The Six O'Clock Show, RTÉ News, RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime and Newstalk, where he translates complex psychological research for a national audience. 

Through a creative consulting approach, Pádraig works towards usable, effective and engaging behaviour change strategies translated for simplicity and lasting impact.