NIBRT Board Announcement – Brendan Hughes Announced as New NIBRT Chairperson

NIBRT is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Brendan Hughes as the new Chairperson of the NIBRT Board of Directors.

Brendan will be succeeding Julie O’Neill, who has served with distinction as NIBRT Chairperson since September 2022, and as a non-executive director since 2015.

CEO Darrin Morrissey stated, “We would like to sincerely thank Julie O’Neill for her dedication and massive contribution to NIBRT during her time as Chairperson. With nearly 12 years of outstanding service and leadership, Julie has made an enormous contribution to the success of NIBRT and the evolution of the biomanufacturing sector in Ireland. Today, we are delighted to announce Brendan Hughes as Julie’s successor. Personally, I am looking forward working closely with Brendan in leading the organisation forward in the delivery of world-leading training and research impact as we navigate a rapidly evolving biomanufacturing sector.”

Dr Brendan Hughes joined the NIBRT Board in December 2022, and has previously chaired both the Scientific Advisory Board and the Audit & Risk Committee at NIBRT.

Brendan is a senior biopharmaceutical executive with more than three decades of international leadership in process development and manufacturing operations. He has led teams internationally working on the technical process development, launch and lifecycle management of several innovative medicines. He was formerly Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing Operations at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Vice President, Manufacturing Sciences and Technology at Pfizer. Earlier in his career Brendan held leadership roles at Glaxo Wellcome and Wyeth, where he was a member of the senior leadership team that established Ireland’s first major biopharma plant at Grange Castle.

Brendan holds a B.Sc and Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of Galway. In parallel to his NIBRT duties, he will continue his industry engagement serving on advisory boards for biotech companies and specialist consultancy firms.

Brendan commented, “I’m delighted to be appointed Chairperson of NIBRT and to work with its excellent team. As the biopharma sector evolves, I look forward to leading the development of NIBRT’s new strategy and making sure it continues to play a leading role in strengthening Ireland’s position as a world-class location for high-value biopharmaceutical manufacturing.”

NIBRT is also pleased to announce the appointment of Conor Delaney to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. Conor has more than 25 years’ experience in biopharmaceutical Operations, Supply Chain and Commercial management at Pfizer Ireland and Australia. Since joining BioMarin in 2013, he has led the expansion of its Shanbally site in Cork and held a series of senior roles, including VP Shanbally Operations and VP Global External Operations. He now leads Partnering and Network Strategy and sits on the Tech Ops and Business Development leadership teams within BioMarin. 

Conor holds a degree in Industrial Microbiology from UCD and an MBA from UCC, and has served on NIBRT’s Training Advisory Board and the board of BioPharma Chem Ireland.

NIBRT warmly welcomes both Brendan and Conor into their important new roles with the NIBRT Board.  

Brendan Hughes