Stephen is the Head of Research Centres with responsibility for Research Ireland’s Research Centres and Rinn Network portfolio. Prior to this, Stephen led the National Challenge Fund (NCF) at Research Ireland. Stephen has significant expertise in innovation and research valorisation (incl. engagement and commercialisation) and has played a central role in the growth of Research Ireland’s challenge research capabilities. He has developed and led several national challenge programmes including Research Ireland’s inaugural challenge programme, the Future Innovator Prize, along with the AI for Societal Good Challenge and the Research Ireland-Defence Organisation Innovation Challenge in partnership with the Irish Department of Defence and Defence Forces Ireland.