Current scholars

Daniel Cagney is a seasoned maritime operations professional with over 14 years of service in the Irish Naval Service. Commissioned in 2009 following his cadetship at Naval Base Haulbowline, he has held a range of leadership appointments, including Navigation Officer L.É. Niamh, Executive Officer of L.É. Orla, Officer-in-Charge (OiC) of Seamanship and Communications Training, and OiC of Recruit and NCO Training. His operational experience includes fishery protection, interdiction operations, and humanitarian deployments such as Operation Pontus in the Mediterranean. 

Daniel holds a BSc (Hons) in Nautical Science from the National Maritime College of Ireland (2021) and a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from University College Cork (2025). His academic focus lies at the intersection of maritime operations and computational innovation. His undergraduate research developed intelligent software to chart safe, efficient routes through congested maritime environments using bathymetric data and multi-agent pathfinding algorithms. 

Complementing this, Daniel conducted applied research at Munster Technological University in 2021, contributing to the development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for hydrographic surveys. This work supports the integration of autonomous maritime systems into the offshore wind sector along Ireland’s south coast. 

His achievements include winning the 2025 CSIT AxisBIC Entrepreneurship Award and being named a finalist for UCC’s Entrepreneur of the Year, in recognition of his innovative approach to maritime tech and innovation. 

Daniel brings a mission-focused mindset, strategic vision, and technical expertise in systems programming, software development, and operational execution to the Cyber Innovate Programme. He is committed to advancing secure, autonomous maritime technologies that address real-world challenges. 

Jerry Looney is a seasoned IT professional with 20 years of international experience in systems administration, deployment and end user computing.

In London and Tokyo’s finance sector, Jerry has driven IT cost cutting initiatives and provided support to C suite executives, traders, and back office teams. He has led critical global escalations, traveling extensively to help multinational companies resolve complex technical challenges.

Recognised for mentoring next-generation engineers and delivering innovative solutions, Jerry is passionate about open, transparent knowledge sharing—recently leveraging this approach to help an SME achieve ISO 27001:2022 and ISO 27701 accreditation in record time.

Outside of his professional life, Jerry is married with one child and is working to improve his Japanese to keep up with a bilingual household.

Committed to lifelong learning, Jerry is excited to have the privilege of deepening that through the CyberInnovate programme, and eager to contribute his technical acumen and international experience to something that will have a meaningful impact and create new Irish jobs.

Mary Collins is a results-driven IT professional with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of technology, operations, and customer experience. As Head of QA at a leading provider of work management solutions for global brands, she led a high-performing cross-functional team, drove strategic process improvements, and scaled software delivery capabilities. She also played a key role in customer support operations, ensuring a seamless experience through collaboration with technical and client-facing teams.

Previously, Mary spent over a decade as a Senior Project Manager, delivering global software implementations for clients such as Kellogg, BP, Microsoft, and the International Olympic Committee. Her career began in QA and software testing and includes academic experience as a lecturer in Information Systems, Networking, and Business Statistics at Griffith College Cork.

Mary holds an MBS in Electronic Commerce and a BSc in Computer Science from University College Cork. She recently completed the Local Enterprise Board’s “Start Your Own Business” programme and is now focused on turning her entrepreneurial ideas into action.

A fluent Irish speaker based in Gaeltacht Mhuscraí, Mary is deeply engaged in community and cultural initiatives. An avid hillwalker, sea swimmer, and jogger, she brings energy and resilience to everything she does.

Mary is excited to join the Cyber Innovate programme to deepen her knowledge of cybersecurity, explore innovation opportunities, and apply her leadership and technical skills to create impactful solutions for our increasingly digital world.

Richard Walsh is an accomplished technology leader with over 30 years’ experience in the Tech and Telecoms industries. Having completed a degree in Electronic Engineering at MTU, Richard began his career at Ericsson and led projects delivering large scale software deployments of 3G and 4G networks across Europe and North America.  

Building on this experience, Richard has direct startup experience having co-founded a successful Telecom consultancy innovating in the area streamlining process workflows when verifying 4G radio base station architectures.   

Having completed his Masters in Business Information systems, Richard worked in a number of technical support leadership roles with VMWare, SolarWinds and most recently as Head of Support at the Access Group. Richard is passionate about delivering value for customers and simplifying the end-user experience. With this goal in mind, Richard led cross-functional teams to streamline software delivery processes for end-users, in turn helping them better secure their key infrastructure. Richard also developed and implemented strategies for AI assisted customer support. 

With his extensive experience of the full software development life cycle, from gathering customer requirements to building and deploying robust scalable solutions, joining Cyber Innovate provides an ideal platform for Richard to collaborate with colleagues and bring new innovation to the Cyber security space. 

Chibueze is a seasoned technical project manager and cybersecurity professional with over 15 years of experience delivering innovation, compliance, and digital transformation projects across Africa and Ireland. He has led GDPR-compliant system rollouts, automated data pipelines, and driven impactful projects across nonprofit and tech sectors.

He holds a Higher Diploma in Software Development from the Technological University of the Shannon, a Diploma in Accounting and Business from ACCA, and a Master’s degree in Administration and Planning. Chibueze is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), an AWS Certified AI Practitioner, and a member of the Irish Computer Society. He is currently completing a Master’s in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust at South East Technological University (SETU).

Alongside his project leadership roles, Chibueze has also co-founded and grown ventures in tech and research, gaining hands-on experience in building user-focused digital solutions. He brings to Cyber Innovate a powerful combination of technical expertise, leadership experience, and entrepreneurial insight. His focus is on designing scalable, AI-powered cybersecurity solutions tailored for underserved teams and mission-critical environments.

Chibueze enjoys spending quality time with his beautiful wife and their two adorable children, who inspire his drive to build a more secure and trustworthy digital future—especially in this new age of cyber threats accelerated by the advancement of AI.

“My love for technology began when I was a teenager growing up in Botswana. I was lucky enough to have access to a home computer and that changed everything. At first, I was just playing games and exploring settings, but I quickly got curious about how things worked behind the screen. That curiosity never left.”  

As she got older, Faith found herself naturally drawn to solving problems with tech. She started fixing phones, wiping old software and reinstalling systems for friends and people in her community. It wasn’t a formal business, but it was something and it showed her how tech could be both useful and empowering.  

At the same time, she teamed up with a friend who was into photography. They would go shoot events like weddings and parties. This was not just to make money but because they enjoyed building something from scratch. “That’s when the entrepreneurial spark really kicked in. I realised I wasn’t just someone who loved tech, I was someone who wanted to create, to offer solutions and to build.”  

“Things changed when I had the chance to work at Disney World in the U.S. Being surrounded by advanced systems, fast moving tech and people from all walks of life opened my mind in a big way. It made me want more, to learn more, to do more and to understand how the world really runs behind the scenes.” Building on that inspiration, Faith went on to gain valuable industry experience working with PFH Technology Group and Deutsche Boerse Group. These roles gave her exposure to a wide range of enterprise tools and helped groom her technical skills while also adding to her diverse experience across different industries.  In 2018, Faith founded Faigorat in Botswana, offering digital marketing services and partnering with Ignite Park to provide audio and video conferencing solutions. Despite the setbacks brought by the pandemic, her determination remained unwavering. Recognising the escalating importance of cybersecurity, she enrolled in a MSc in Cybersecurity, graduating in 2024.  

Now by joining Cyber Innovate, she sees a clear path to turn ideas into real world solutions that make a meaningful impact. It’s about creating tools that are practical, efficient, and built with the end user in mind. This is the space where innovation meets purpose. 

Vishnu is an aspiring cybersecurity entrepreneur passionate about crafting innovative solutions to secure the digital world. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science (BSc), a Master’s degree in Computer Applications (MCA). With a strong background in IT, Vishnu has thrived in roles focused on technology management, automation, and risk mitigation. He has led projects in vendor coordination, system security, and process optimization, ensuring robust operations and innovative outcomes. 

Driven by a curiosity about evolving digital threats, Vishnu aims to address modern business challenges through cutting-edge solutions. The Cyber Innovate Program at Munster Technological University is the perfect opportunity to refine his vision, gain mentorship, and connect with industry innovators. His commitment to continuous learning and collaboration positions him to create impactful cybersecurity ventures. 

Beyond his professional pursuits, Vishnu holds a Master’s in Yoga, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Panchakarma Therapy and teaches yoga, promoting wellness and balance, and applies his expertise in Panchakarma therapy to support holistic health. In his home country, he maintains a food garden using permaculture principles, reflecting his dedication to sustainability and growth. Vishnu is eager to leverage the Cyber Innovate Program to transform his ideas into reality, developing solutions that anticipate and mitigate future cyber risks.  

Experienced IT Professional with a demonstrated 30 plus year history of senior management positions with project delivery, project management and business development expertise. Skilled in Enterprise Resource Planning ERP, business engagement and Customer Relationship Management CRM, Data Protection (GDPR), IT Governance & Compliance as well as managing organisational change and transformation projects within the pharmaceutical industry having worked with ICI Ireland Ltd, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Ireland DAC. Strong program and Information Technology professional B.Sc graduate from Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Proven ability to lead multi cross functional teams for large scale projects.

Focus Areas:

• IT Governance & Compliance Activities (Compliance)
• Digital Customer Engagement Strategies (ENGAGE)
• Understanding & Measuring success of Digital Customer Engagement Activities (UNDERSTAND)
• Make AI real – identify use cases and implement AI to support these (SIMPLIFY)
• Develop local IT to be seen as real “adding value” business partners (GROW)
• Harmonise the BI landscape across therapy areas within business (DATA FIRST)

Joining Cyber Innovate is the next chapter in my career offering a new opportunity to pursuit my passion to innovate cybersecurity and make a real difference for business / personal consumer cybersecurity compliance.

I am an outdoor sports enthusiast and enjoys supporting my daughters through their sporting endeavours. He is a volunteer with his local GAA sports club and the society of St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP).

Tony is an accomplished Program Manager with skills in problem-solving, strategic thinking and a consistent focus on delivering business value.  With a diverse career spanning Ireland and the USA, he has held impactful roles at leading companies. Across these roles, he has consistently driven innovation, fostered operational excellence and contributed to high-performing, cross-functional teams. 

He began his career as a software engineer, transitioned into project management and later dedicated a year to developing a SaaS venture in collaboration with industry stakeholders. This entrepreneurial experience broadened his perspective and deepened his understanding of product-market alignment. 

Most recently he spent 12 successful years at Dell in a senior Sales Operations and Finance role, thriving in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. There, he worked closely with teams across sales, finance, operations, revenue assurance, legal and marketing.  Ensuring sales strategies were tightly aligned with the company’s broader business objectives. 

As the world becomes increasingly digital, Tony believes cybersecurity is vital for protecting individuals, businesses and governments. He is enthusiastic about contributing to innovation in this critical field as part of the talented team at MTU.