InterTradeIreland is delighted to announce the appointment of Denise Walshe, Chris Shannon, Ryan Warren and Cathal Mallaghan MP to its board.
Established in 1999 under Strand Two of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, InterTradeIreland has directly assisted more than 60,000 businesses across the island, while thousands more have benefitted from its specialist information and advice. As a result, it has generated €1.95bn/£1.7bn in business development value, supported entrepreneurs to secure over €350 million in investment and led the way in growing collaborative innovation, all-island clustering and cross-border trade from €2 billion to €15 billion since 1999.
“It gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Cathal, Denise, Chris and Ryan as our newest members of the InterTradeIreland board. We recognise the exceptional calibre of talent and experience each of them brings from their respective fields. Their expertise will undoubtedly prove invaluable to our organisation and we eagerly anticipate the fresh perspectives and significant contributions they will offer.”
Richard Kennedy, Chair of InterTradeIreland
Cathal Mallaghan is the Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster and a member of the Good Friday Agreement Committee in Leinster House. A former councillor for 13 years, he focused on planning, policy, and resources.
He also runs an agri-business and has a background in logistics and export. Cathal has held several public appointments and played a key role in the £7 million Connecting Pomeroy Project. He continues to champion community development and economic growth across Mid Ulster.
Cathal Mallaghan will also take on the role of Vice-Chair on the board.
"I’m honoured to join the board of InterTradeIreland as Vice-Chair. I look forward to bringing my experience in public service, business, and community development to support its mission. As trade across the island goes from strength to strength, I believe strongly in the power of strategic collaboration to deliver real impact. InterTradeIreland plays a unique and valuable role in enabling collaboration between businesses, academia, policymakers and economic stakeholders that accelerates growth for all. I’m delighted to contribute to the important work ahead.”
Cathal Mallaghan MP, Board Vice-Chair
Denise Walshe is a strategic finance leader with over 30 years of experience in the agri-food sector, most notably as Group Strategic Finance Projects Manager at Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited. There, she led the organisation’s response to Brexit; oversaw group-wide tax and risk compliance across the UK and Ireland; and played a key role in the successful rollout of SAP, supporting the modernisation of finance systems and processes. Her work consistently bridged strategy, operation, and compliance across complex, cross-border environments.
She now works as a Fractional Finance Director and consultant, partnering with boards and senior executive teams to support strategic planning, risk management, governance, and business transformation.
“I am deeply honoured to join the board of InterTradeIreland at such a pivotal time. Having dedicated my career to fostering economic growth and collaboration, particularly within the dynamic agri-food sector and through strategic leadership roles, I am eager to contribute to InterTradeIreland's vital mission of driving cross-border trade and innovation."
Denise Walshe, Board Member
Chris Shannon’s career to date has focused on improving access to entrepreneurship support across rural communities and emergent entrepreneurial ecosystems. This is driven by first-hand experience in a family business and previously through enterprise and entrepreneurship roles within UK Higher Education Institutions.
As the Managing Director of Startium, Chris helps universities and enterprise support organisations across Europe digitally transform their entrepreneurship development services. He is also a Co-founder and Director of Venture Folk Ltd, a social enterprise and workers’ cooperative that tackles social and economic challenges through economic development consultancy and innovation training programmes.
“I believe that when ambitious minds connect across communities transformative ideas can emerge. I look forward to bringing my knowledge of entrepreneurial ecosystem building and entrepreneurship development to support the team and to maximise InterTradeIreland's impact on businesses, the wider community and economy.”
Chris Shannon, Board Member
Ryan Warren is a seasoned sales professional with over ten years’ experience across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on the construction and interior design industry. His most notable experience includes five years working across both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets, developing tailored solutions and building strong client relationships.
Ryan has a strong personal interest in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, particularly in how emerging technologies can be applied to help small businesses improve efficiency, enhance customer experience, and expand their market reach.
“I am delighted to be joining the board of InterTradeIreland. Having worked across diverse sectors in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, I understand the opportunities and challenges facing businesses here. I look forward to contributing my experience in developing practical, customer-driven solutions and building strong relationships, especially as we navigate an increasingly competitive landscape.”
Ryan Warren, Board Member
