H.E. Mr. Manabu Miyagawa, Japanese Ambassador to Ireland
The Ireland Japan Association would like to acknowledge the gracious support of our Patron, Japanese Ambassador to Ireland H.E. Mr. Manabu Miyagawa.
Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Finnair/ATTS
Catherine established ATTS Travel Representation Solutions in 2002. The company provides a portfolio of cost-effective international services including sales, marketing, PR, finance and IT to the travel and tourism industry. Aviation is part of her DNA having had a successful career in management with international airlines such as British Airways, Qantas, SWISS and the Lufthansa Group.
Catherine graduated from Trinity College with a B.Sc. Management, M.A. and also holds a H.Dip. in Management Law (TU Dublin), Cert. in Marketing (UCD), H. Dip. Digital Marketing (DCU) and in 2022 completed a Dip. In Aircraft Leasing and Finance (Law Society of Ireland).
Catherine has a strong interest in Japan including its cultures and traditions since she spent three months studying in Japan and has visited the country on several more occasions. Catherine has been a Council member for two years.
Neil Cowhey, Dillon Eustace
Neil joined Dillon Eustace in 2012 as a legal intern and is now an Associate in the Litigation and Dispute
Resolution Department. Neil previously advised widely on personal injuries insurance related matters, with a
particular specialty in the aviation sector. His clients included a leading Irish airline and specialist aviation
insurer and he has expertise in dealing with a broad range of aviation liability issues including Montreal
Convention and all EU Regulations on delays, cancellation and denied boarding and claims relating to fatal
and catastrophic injuries arising out of aircraft incidents.
Neil now works as part of the commercial litigation team and advises on a broad range of matters. These
matters include advising banks, loan purchasers and companies on summary judgement proceedings in both
the Circuit Court and High Court. Neil advises these entities throughout the proceedings and assists them in
the recovery of their assets. This may include the appointing of receivers by way of equitable execution and
the enforcement of judgments. Neil acts for a number of Japanese clients with respect to the operation of
their business in Ireland.
In December 2000, Dillon Eustace opened its first overseas office in Tokyo to support its Japanese client
base. Since its establishment, Dillon Eustace has consistently been the law firm of choice for the majority of
Japanese financial institutions seeking to use Ireland as a gateway to Europe. Dillon Eustace has also
advised Japanese companies on property, construction, aviation, employment and corporate issues in
Ireland.
Atsushi Kadota, ElectroRoute
Coming soon!
Azumi Uchitani, Individual Member
Azumi is a global business & communication consultant, with over 25 years of experience in international business development, specializing in bridging the cultural gap between Japan and the West.
In addition to her career in business, Azumi is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, educator and public speaker. She was a founder of Japanese SALON art & culture in the Netherlands. She is an active member of the art & culture community in New York and across Europe, Her expertise and insights have been shared with audiences around the world through her TEDx talks and her YouTube channel "5 minutes on Japanese wisdom”.
Azumi has lived in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and now enjoys living in Dublin again. Azumi is delighted to be a part of Ireland Japan Association.
Darina Slattery, Oomi Travel
Coming soon!
David Tyrrell, NTT Data
Coming soon!
Eddie Hughes, Individual Member
Eddie Hughes is a former Director of Japan for the Irish Government’s Trade Development Agency Enterprise Ireland based in Tokyo. Prior to his career in Enterprise Ireland he worked for Ireland’s Foreign Direct Investment Agency IDA Ireland in a number of diverse roles and in particular specializing in the Food Processing Sector. He also was a member on a number of Research Boards including Moorepark Technology Limited at Teagasc Dairy Research Centre in County Cork. At the beginning of his career, he worked in the Irish Beef Processing Industry in financial management roles. Currently he is providing consultancy services to the Irish Food Processing Sector.
Graham Ryan, Yamamori
Born in Ireland and matured in Japan, one thing is for sure, Graham grew up in the F&B industry. After learning the ropes at his family restaurant business in Dublin, Graham joined the Jameson graduate programme in 2012. He spent 3 years in Tokyo with Jameson followed by 2 years with ABInBev handling business development in Japan managing the international beer portfolio with Kirin and Asahi beer corporations.
Having recently returned to take over the running of his family business in Dublin, the well-known Yamamori group of restaurants, bars and night club all based in Dublin city centre, Graham still has a real thirst for the FMCG business and loves to do no other than promote Ireland in East and Japan in the west with food and beverage as his tools.
With a strong command of the Japanese language and a deep knowledge of the Japanese and pan Asian consumer, Graham assists Irish brands in there penetration of the eastern market and when he is not promoting and developing his family business assists in the roll-out of trade & consumer experiences for up and coming Irish whiskey brands.
Graham is honoured to be apart of the council and looking forward to meeting and nurturing the Japanese community in Ireland.
Maria Mardiki, Individual Member
Maria has been a member of the IJA since 2020, actively participating in the Association’s events.
In 2019, she independently studied and worked in Japan, gaining firsthand experience of the country’s culture and business environment. Passionate about the Japanese language, she has been studying for over 20 years and won the Special Mention Award in the 2023 JLTI Japanese Language Contest.
She holds two Master’s degrees, one in Political Science and another in Global Business, which she acquired in 2025. As a Council Member, she is committed to strengthening Ireland-Japan relations through cultural exchange and business collaboration.
Paula Kelly, Individual Member
A graduate of Carysfort College, U.C.D. and Trinity College, Paula is a qualified Primary School teacher. She is Deputy Principal in St. Anne’s N.S., Shankill. She has a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics.
Paula’s connection with Japan began when she worked in Kusatsu City in Shiga Ken as a JET programme participant, working in three high schools. She also worked for a year at Tsukuba International School, as Principal Teacher.
Upon returning to Ireland, she joined the Irish branch of JET Alumni Association and was Chairperson for a number of years. She represented Ireland at the international conferences and served as the first Chairperson of IJETAA.
She joined the Ireland Japan Association and served as Chairperson for three years from 2004 – 2007. She has an avid interest in Japanese language and culture and has been a member of IJA’s study committee since 2015. She has recently rejoined the Council as an individual member.
Peter Vambeck, Fitzwilliam Capital
Real Estate professional with international experience in commercial property investment and development. Since joining Fitzwilliam Group in 2012, Peter has led a team expanding their business interests globally, establishing ‘Fitzwilliam Capital’ with an emphasis on attracting inward investment from the Asia-Pacific region into Real Estate projects in Ireland.
With 25+ years of professional experience, Peter holds a BSc (Hons) in Real Estate from the University of West England and is licensed to operate under the Property Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland. Based from Fitzwilliam Group’s HQ in Dublin, Peter regularly travels globally to meet with Fitzwilliam Capital’s partners and HNWI clients.
Raymond Hegarty
Raymond Hegarty is an IP strategist who has studied in Ireland and France. He has a bachelor‘s degree in electronic engineering, an MBA, a master’s degree in medical AI, a postgraduate diploma in European law and a master’s degree in IP law.
He has built IP-intensive businesses in Japan, Ireland and Luxembourg, assembled & developed teams and implemented processes & systems for exploitation of IP. He has executed several billion dollars of patent and trademark transactions and has managed international commercialisation of a portfolio of 40,000 patents.
Mr Hegarty is the best-selling author of three books on IP strategy. He has advised the European Commission, the OECD and policy makers in several countries on national and international innovation strategies.
He currently advises CEOs of fast-growing technology and life science companies on IP strategy, is a regular conference speaker and is connected to the global professional IP community. He has been recognized by IAM Magazine since 2011 as one of the world’s “Top 300 IP Strategists.”
Verity Swan, Individual Member
Verity, who is a teacher by profession, was Deputy Principal of a large girls’ secondary school in Dublin. Subsequently she undertook educational research in Trinity College Dublin receiving her doctorate in 2010 in the area of leadership and learning.
As a member of Rotary International, she was the first female to be District Governor of Rotary Ireland (2013/2014) actively promoting Rotary International’s work in peace initiatives, humanitarian projects and educational opportunities. In 2009 Verity was asked to lead a Rotary Group Study Exchange Team to Matsue, Japan. The experience of Japanese life and culture which the five-member team (Verity and the four non-Rotarians who were in the first years of their careers) enjoyed, has led in each case to a life-long interest in Japan.
On return to Ireland, Verity became a member of the Ireland Japan Association, and having served for three years on the IJA Council (2015 - 2018) is pleased to have been elected for a second term. Having re-visited Japan in 2016, she hopes to make a third visit in 2020.
Yuka Nagano, Clerkin Lynch LLP
Coming soon!