Current scholars

Paddy is a seasoned business leader with nearly three decades of experience in multinational companies. His deep interest in cutting-edge technology and the unique opportunities for start-ups led him to join Cyber Innovate.

As a dynamic, results-driven leader, Paddy has consistently focused on customer satisfaction, people development, and achieving sustainable financial success. Over his career, he has progressed through increasingly senior roles, including operations management, R&D, sales, and as CEO.

Building on his extensive experience, Paddy has recently ventured into the SME sector. He serves as a shareholder and director of multiple companies, and his accomplishments include turning around a restaurant, founding a business consultancy, and advancing a high-performance team development company to the brink of launch.

Paddy holds Master’s degrees in Engineering and Business Administration, underscoring his expertise in strategy planning and execution, business transformation, and growth initiatives.

Outside of his professional life, Paddy is married with four children and enjoys various outdoor activities with his family. His passion for water sports and motorcycling helps him to unwind and recharge.

“Developing an early interest in IT security, Harry found his first significant web app vulnerability at 15. Eager to pursue a future career in security, Harry took the opportunity to be among the first student cohort of SETU’s Cybercrime and IT Security degree. While undertaking the degree, he would complete several security internships at different companies. After graduating, Harry worked in a rapidly expanding Security Operations Centre (SOC), where he actively protected the company from cyber threats and played a pivotal role in the SOC’s expansion, including onboarding new staff and security tools. After 4 years in the SOC, Harry transitioned to the role of Security Architect. The work he completed was part of a multiyear long cybersecurity plan that equipped a large enterprise, characterized by multiple offices, medical facilities, legacy systems, and stored health data, with robust and comprehensive security controls at every level to meet its complex needs. 

Harry has had a long interest in entrepreneurship, completing a Diploma of Business part time while in secondary school and also being presented a merit award in Enterprise Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur 2020 awards. He is passionate about the development of Ireland’s cybersecurity landscape and is excited to be a part of its growing startup ecosystem.”

Mélanie is an accomplished technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry. She began her journey with a degree in Software Development and Computer Networking from Munster Technological University, which laid a solid foundation for her extensive career through high-tech companies and startups. Joining Cyber Innovate is like coming home to the place where it all began while providing a new platform for her ongoing pursuit of innovation.

Throughout her career, Mélanie has demonstrated exceptional expertise in driving innovation, achieving operational excellence, and building high-performance teams in some of the most dynamic and challenging environments. She has held pivotal roles such as Chief Operating Officer, VP of Customer Experience, Global Operations Manager, and Critical Incident Manager at prominent companies including SolarWinds, Salesforce, spaceOS, and Slack.

Mélanie’s proven ability to lead startups, scale-ups, and hyper-growth initiatives has consistently resulted in the delivery of innovative solutions and top-tier performance. She is recognised for her deep empathy for both customers and colleagues, commitment to delivering exceptional results, and her passion for problem-solving and driving meaningful change through innovation. Her strong leadership and holistic approach to business challenges ensure sustained success across the enterprise.

A key aspect of Mélanie’s success is her creativity and sense of humor, which she nurtures through various personal pursuits. Whether figuring out how to build a structurally sound three-tier wedding cake, safely navigating a tricky ski slope, finishing a quilt, or winning a badminton game, her creative hobbies sharpen her problem-solving skills and fuel her innovative thinking. Mélanie’s ability to blend creativity with a light-hearted approach drives her passion for innovation and change, both professionally and personally.

Paul is a serial problem solver, innovator and entrepreneur, with extensive experience of the startup environment in Ireland.

Paul began his career as an officer in the technology wing of the Irish Defence Forces. He co-founded Ward Solutions in 1999 and led the company, as CEO, until his exit in
2005.

Ward Solutions went on to become a leading cyber security solution provider in the Irish market, until it was acquired by Ekco in 2021, while Paul went on to have a broad and successful career as a founder, CEO, CTO, consultant and NED, across a broad range of technology sectors.

He was also a successful algorithmic futures trader for several years. Following his relocation to Cork in 2023, Paul was delighted to be offered a place on the newly-established Cyber Innovate programme in MTU.

He sees his participation as an exciting opportunity to draw upon his experience, and to develop his skills, in a way that helps to foster a vibrant cyber security startup ecosystem in Ireland.

Rick Nassar is an IT professional with extensive experience in system administration, cybersecurity, and innovation program management. Beyond his technical roles, Rick has a rich history of involvement in the startup ecosystem, having managed and facilitated innovation programs for renowned organizations such as Google, TechStars, and the Maltese government. His work as a Program Manager at NDRC, and as a Founder in Residence at Antler, underscores his passion for driving technological innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in bringing their ideas to life.

Rick’s professional journey is marked by his strong foundation in infrastructure design, virtualization, and network security. Over the past two years as a System Administrator, he has demonstrated his ability to design and optimize complex IT systems, contributing significantly to enhanced system performance and security. He is actively pursuing a Postgraduate in Cybersecurity Innovations at MTU.

In addition to his cybersecurity and system administration expertise, Rick is a Quantum Computing advocate with a keen interest in AI, Fintech, and emerging technologies

Stéphanie graduated from University College Dublin with a joint honours degree in English and Philosophy in 2013. Stéphanie furthered her education with an M.Phil in Literature in Trinity College Dublin where she also undertook a volunteering position with the SCSS (School of Computer Science and Statistics) involving data entry and analysis and set up Corpuses for Information Indexing and Information Extraction for Language Processing Tasks.

She later assisted with the Digital Humanities and SCSS on TCD’s Beyond 2022 project in collaboration with the National Archives, the National Archives (UK), the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and the Irish Manuscripts Commission. This move from Humanities into the Digital Humanities provided practical experience in identifying valid, but irregular data, and proposing solutions to this to allow for continuous improvement opportunities regarding accurate transcription of primary data into the digitalised realm.

Stéphanie later moved into a risk and regulatory position within Fin-Tech before embarking on a career within the finance sector, focusing on ICT Risk predominantly where her curiosity in both Information and Cyber Security and Risk was first piqued.

Having spent more than half a decade as an ICT Risk Advisor, ensuring compliance with both internal and external governing bodies, Stéphanie was exposed to multiple information and cyber-risk related events and discussions where her initial longstanding flirtation with cyber-risk blossomed into a fully fledged passion for cyber-security, and respect for the challenges key sectors of our economy are experiencing in the face of newly emerging cyber-threats in our modern IoT world.

CyberInnovate epitomises a phenomenal opportunity to combine her experiences to date into identifying solutions to these threats. Stéphanie is excited to undertake the first offering of the CyberInnovate Fellowship Program and assist in developing robust solutions for key-players in mitigating the dangers birthed from the ever proliferating digitalisation of our world and our ever increasing reliance on technology and digitization.

Madhu Bala Chellamuthu is an aspiring cybersecurity entrepreneur with a strong academic background and a passion for developing innovative solutions to safeguard the digital world. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications (BCA), a Master’s degree in Computer Applications (MCA), and a Master’s in Cybersecurity. These qualifications have provided her with a solid grounding in computer science fundamentals and advanced cybersecurity practices.

Madhu is a dedicated Cyber Security Operations Management Professional with extensive experience in both cybersecurity and IT support in companies like Celtic Management Services, Curl N Crush, Champions Inc., and Smart Gro Pvt Ltd. Madhu is adept at securing organizational assets and optimizing IT infrastructure. Her career spans roles in technical support, web development, and cybersecurity, providing her with a robust understanding of system security, risk management, and end-user support.

Her journey into cybersecurity was fueled by a deep curiosity about the evolving threats in the digital landscape. Through active participation in cybersecurity competitions like Capture The Flag (CTF) and platforms like Hack The Box, she has honed her skills in penetration testing, network security, and threat analysis. These hands-on experiences have not only sharpened her technical abilities but also sparked her ambition to create solutions that can make a tangible impact in the industry.

Madhu is now focused on turning her passion and expertise into a startup that addresses the pressing cybersecurity needs of today’s businesses. She believes in the power of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning to drive progress in the field. The Cyber Innovate Program, with its emphasis on nurturing startups and fostering technological advancement, represents the perfect opportunity for her to refine her ideas, gain mentorship, and build a network of like-minded professionals.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Madhu finds balance and inspiration through her interests. An avid gardener, she finds solace in nurturing plants and watching them grow, which parallels her approach to developing cybersecurity solutions—both require patience, care, and attention to detail. Her love for traveling broadens her horizons, providing her with diverse perspectives and a global view of technological challenges and innovations. Additionally, she is an enthusiastic reader, drawn to books that span genres and ideas, which continually enrich her understanding of the world and enhance her creative problem-solving skills.

Eager to contribute her skills and learn from industry leaders, Madhu is committed to leveraging this program to transform her vision into a successful cybersecurity enterprise. She is determined to develop products and services that not only respond to current cyber threats but also anticipate and mitigate future risks.

Colm is a cybersecurity engineer with over four years of experience, most recently serving as a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer. Colm studied Business Information Systems in University College Cork, and then went on to get certified in Secure Networks Operations with Munster Technology University.

Colm is a leader and team player and believes that “excellence is in the agency of others,” a principle shaped through his years as an athlete. As a Gaelic football player for Gerald Griffin’s and Limerick Senior Football team, he has learned the true value of teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

Beyond his technical skills, Colm is a deep thinker who is passionate about making a positive impact on the world. His love for travel has exposed him to diverse cultures and Eastern philosophies, significantly shaping his worldview. This global perspective, combined with his belief that technology can harmoniously coexist with our planet, drives his vision for the future.

Colm is motivated by the desire to create a workplace where people are not drained by their work but are inspired and empowered to contribute to something greater. He aims to pave a pathway for companies that value the balance between innovation, sustainability, and human well-being. Influenced by both the arts and sciences, Colm believes that these fields should work together to build a better world.

As he embarks on this new journey, Colm draws inspiration from the words of John Moriarty: “If we can be united in our dreams, we can achieve socio-political unity.” With enthusiasm and passion, he is committed to turning these dreams into reality, believing that “we are what we think” and that our thoughts have the power to shape the world.

Clodagh Mulcahy is an IT professional with over 20 years of experience in diverse technical roles, ranging from software engineering to technical leadership. She graduated with a First-Class Honours BSc degree in Computer Science from UCC and has continued to expand her expertise, most recently in cybersecurity.

Working professionally within the software industry, Clodagh has held roles that require both technical proficiency and leadership, working onsite with clients internationally in Melbourne, Sydney and London, integrating complex systems and delivering high-performing solutions under tight deadlines with her colleagues. She also has experience architecting, creating, and maintaining cloud infrastructure, alongside the monitoring and securing of these environments, as well as fine tuning systems and applications for performance.

Throughout these years, she has accumulated valuable experience collaborating directly with clients on-site, engaging with stakeholders across all organisational tiers, from developers to executive teams, which she’s always enjoyed.

Clodagh believes, with more and more of our world going digital, the role of cybersecurity is an extremely important in society, effectively being the last line of defence for people and businesses who trust IT professionals to keep their information and data safe. She is excited to have the opportunity to be part of innovation in this field.

Ammar Zeini is a Software Engineer, Certified AWS Cloud Architect, and Cybersecurity Researcher with over twelve years of experience. Ammar holds dual master’s degrees and a comprehensive portfolio of AWS certifications, which make him specialized in software development, cloud computing, DevSecOps, and advanced networking. In his recent role as a Research Scholar at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Letterkenny, Ireland, he focused on designing secure, scalable infrastructures and implementing ‘security by design’ principles within virtual and cloud environments.

For two years, Ammar’s research concentrated on enhancing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) security, particularly emphasizing continuous security integration within DevOps frameworks. His work has been recognized in leading journals and presented at IEEE conferences, with three notable publications.

Ammar has successfully led and managed cross-functional teams, driving innovation in telecommunications and mobile wireless station deployment. He was awarded the ATU Presidential Research Scholarship in 2022 and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) award by the Ministry of External Affairs in 2018. Additionally, he is a member of Lero – The Irish Software Engineering Research Centre.

Currently, Ammar has joined the Cybersecurity Innovation program at MTU Cork and is also pursuing his PhD in Syria, focusing on enhancing graph database query performance.

Aileen Sheehan is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience in driving transformative initiatives across diverse industries. She holds a B.Sc. in Computer Systems from the University of Limerick, a B.Sc. in Natural Sciences from the Open University, and an M.Sc. in Digital Health Transformation. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Aileen’s career has been distinguished by her leadership in managing large-scale programs and guiding cross-functional teams. Most recently, she played a pivotal role at Laya Healthcare, where she was instrumental in setting up the Technology Hub. In this capacity, she led development teams, guided enterprise architecture initiatives, and drove rapid innovation to deliver high-impact solutions.

Before her role at Laya Healthcare, Aileen worked at CoreHR, where she managed system implementations and integrations, building a strong foundation in technology management. Her early career included a role at Fidelity Investments, where she developed software solutions, further honing her expertise in project execution and technology development.

Currently, Aileen is participating in the Cyber Innovate program, where she is focused on leveraging her extensive experience to build a cybersecurity startup. She is motivated by the opportunity to apply her technical expertise and leadership skills to address critical challenges in the cybersecurity field.

With a robust background in technology management and innovation, Aileen is excited about this new venture and aims to make a meaningful impact in the cybersecurity domain. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with family and taking walks on the beach in Kerry.

I am a seasoned IT professional with over 25 years of experience specialising in network implementation, cybersecurity, and system administration. My career is built on a foundation of technical expertise, continuous learning, and a passion for delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges. I thrive in environments where I can collaborate with talented individuals, contribute to a positive culture, and make a tangible impact through my work.

Joining the Cyber Innovate programme is an exciting opportunity to channel my skills into developing real-world cybersecurity solutions that address industry needs and contribute to making Ireland a global leader in this field. I take pride in my ability to build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring clear communication and delivering results that exceed expectations.

Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, I have pursued advanced qualifications, including an MSc in Industrial Networks & Cybersecurity and an MSc in Information Technology Management. These academic pursuits reflect my dedcation to staying curious, learning, and enhancing my ability to find innovative solutions to challenging problems.

A commitment to fairness, collaboration, and inclusivity are core values that guide my professional journey. I am motivated by the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects and am always eager to take on new challenges that allow me to grow and make a difference. This programme offers the perfect platform to combine my dedication to work-life balance with a relentless drive to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on the future of digital defence.

As part of this cohort, I am eager to immerse myself in the Cyber Innovate Immersive Environment (CIIE), leveraging MTU’s academic rigour and industry support to evaluate, select, and validate ideas for new products and services. My goal is to contribute to the creation of an innovative cybersecurity startup that will drive job creation and position Ireland at the forefront of global cybersecurity innovation.