Brian Cowen Brian Cowen ICI Board Member Brian Cowen is a politician of high standing in Irish politics. He was Taoiseach (or Prime Minister) of Ireland from 2008 to 2011, and Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) from 2007-2008. He has served in a multi-ministerial capacity with the Irish government, as Minister for Foreign Affairs; Minister for Defence; Minister for Health, Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications; Minister for Finance and Minister for Labour. He was deputy Leader of his political party, Fianna Fáil, from 2002 to 2008 and he also served as an elected government representative (Teachta Dála) for the constituency of Laois–Offaly from 1984 to 2011. Born in Tullamore, Co Offaly in 1960, he studied law at University College Dublin and graduated in 1983. He was first elected into the Irish government aged 24, and remained an elected representative until 2011. Mr Cowen played a key role in the Irish peace process and the good Friday agreement, and made a significant contribution to Ireland’s work at the United Nations when it became a member of the Security Council. Later, during Ireland’s presidency of the EU in 2013, he was deeply involved in the expansion of the European Union. He became a member of the board of the Ireland China Institute in early May, 2018. BACK

Ann Corcoran ICI Board Member Ann Corcoran is founder and CEO of limetree, one of Ireland’s leading MarTech agencies. Based in Dublin, her career has comprised challenging roles in a broad range of fields including technical and communications work, branding, advertising and digital technology.   For over twenty years she has delivered complex, time sensitive and high profile projects at local and global levels. Prior to founding limetree, Ann was Head of Marketing for eir’s Consumer, SME & Corporate Internet divisions. She served on the council with the Marketing Society & has judged the bi-annual Advertising Effectiveness Awards (IAPI) and the Marketer of the Year Award (Marketing Magazine). Ann was selected as one of  “Europe’s Top 40 Young Achievers and High-flyers with inspiring talent, under the age of 40” by Media & Marketing Europe.  She was part of the judging panel for the Emmessneys, the European awards for the digital industry.  She is currently based in Dublin, but travels frequently for her work. BACK Ann Corcoran

Susan Barrett Susan Barrett ICI Board Member A graduate of Trinity College, Susan Barrett’s background has led her to a career in sales, marketing and business. She is founder and CEO of Select Ireland, a broad-spectrum business consultancy based in Ireland and working in the Chinese Market. Susan’s fields of interest are broad ranging, spanning the areas of property, equestrianism, education and tourism. She is interested in the cultural aspects of Ireland China relations; playing a key role on the Steering Committee for the Dublin Beijing Twinning project in 2010. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Dublin City Council Chinese New Year Festival. Susan’s focus has been both in China, assisting Irish businesses with market entry strategy and working with Chinese companies wishing to set up in Ireland. BACK