The PR Training Academy Team

Ellen Gunning
Director
Ellen is a thought leader, author of the academic textbook (Public Relations, a Practical Approach, Macmillan Higher Education International, UK, 3rd edition, October 2018), and founder of the online training provider, The Irish Academy of Public Relations. An international conference speaker and lecturer, Ellen is globally networked through IPRA (past national president), PRII (conferred with a fellowship), EADL (central council member, 5 million online students), SERAS CSR Awards for Africa (board member), Dublin City FM (chairman of the board of directors), and active membership of PRSA, NUJ, EAJ and the World Trade Centres. Ellen is a regular media commentator on Breakfast Television (Virgin Media 1).

Michael Kealy
Finance Director
Michael has 35 years’ experience in financial strategic management. A director of Dublin City FM radio station and Company Solutions Ltd, Michael specialises in advising companies on business growth and disposal strategies. He is a regular conference speaker and has lectured students at Dublin Institute of Technology and Dublin Business School. He specialises in the FinTech area.

Diane Roberts
Investment Director
Diane Roberts works with the PR Training Academy to progress future business development and opportunities. Diane has spent her early career in international technology sales and marketing roles, and brings over 25 years rich industry experience developing new business in the UK, USA, Europe and Asia Pacific. From 2002 to 2007, Diane lived and worked in Silicon Valley, where she was the West Coast Director and the Manager of Enterprise Ireland’s US Software and Services team. During this time she developed a strong network of contacts and an up-close understanding of the some of the world’s leading technology companies and the approach of the world’s largest venture capital community. Whilst there she completed the Executive Management program at Stanford University. From 2009 to 2012 Diane was the inaugural National Director for HBAN, Ireland’s angel investment network establishing six angel syndicates and creating over €4m seed equity investment in technology startups companies. Over 2009 to 2016 Diane held the role of Programme Director for the Invest NI Propel Programme, the leading startup accelerator programme in Northern Ireland, where she oversaw the development of over 100 companies, gaining equity funding in excess of £15m and the creation of over 500 jobs. Since its establishment in 2007, Diane has led XPinnovates to become one of the most successful new business venture consultancy and advisory companies in Ireland. Diane holds a BA in Business Studies and is currently enrolled as a candidate for a MSc in History at the Queen’s University of Belfast. #Leader #Enthusiastic #Networker #Passionate

Colette Newport
COO
COO Colette Newport has overall responsibility for the management of the PR Training Academy team. Colette is a graduate of both University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. Her academic ability is complimented by her extensive range of skills, honed from a decade in education and a further decade running her own business.

Mollie O'Sullivan
Content Creator
Mollie O'Sullivan has come to us from New Media at IADT, Dublin. Her speciality is videography and she has made both short films and documentaries. In her role with the Public Relations Training Academy, Mollie looks after filming, editing and sound recordings. Her creative spirit means we are never short of new ideas or vision.

Callie Hardy
Content Creator
Callie is a New Media student from IADT. Her specialty is writing and editing, and she has experience working with multiple online publications as a freelance journalist. With the PR Training Academy, she produces blog and course content and uses her experience with WordPress to make sure our website is in good health.