Wealth Management Conference 2025

Jim Connolly

Head of Pensions, Goodbody

Jim Connolly is Head of Pensions Technical with Goodbody and is also Module Coordinator for the Retirement Planning module on the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning with IOB.

Jim has held many senior roles in the industry and is widely regarded as one of Ireland's leading pension consultants. He has a reputation for challenging the norm and is regularly featured in the media on pension related issues.

Kevin McConnell

CFA, CEO GEM Strategic

Kevin, a Chartered Financial Analyst, is an external specialist consultant in the banking and investment sectors with over 30 years of experience in financial markets. Working with banks, regulators and investors in Credit, Capital, Stress Testing and Strategy, Kevin has experience in over a dozen regulatory jurisdictions across Europe, US and Emerging markets.

He has worked through a range of top tier M&A transactions providing stress testing/due diligence consultancy, and transaction advisory. He was a member of the Committee on Collective Investment Governance (CCIG) of Central Bank of Ireland (2014) which supported the development of CP86. Kevin has presented and provided training at European Central Bank, and has delivered expert programs to European and Middle Eastern based regulators on Bank Capital, Credit and IFRS9.

He was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Certified Investment Fund Director Institute for seven years, delivering programs in Investment Management to board directors, and is a Senior Associate of Faculty, Institute of Banking (IOB) Executive Education- Certified Bank Director Program since 2012. He has designed and delivers the Structured Finance/Credit program for the Msc in Finance in Michael Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin, the Graduate Diploma in Alternative Investment, the Professional Certificate in Capital Market Investment & Funds program for the Institute of Banking (IOB-UCD), and the Asset Management/Sustainable Finance program on the Msc. in Finance, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) for over a decade.

Kevin has also delivered programs on Bank Capital, Investments and Credit, in association with the IOB and Cambridge University. Kevin is also an adjunct Professor of Finance with TCD, and Examiner for the Certified Financial Planner examination for Financial Planning & Standards Board in Ireland.

Kevin is also deputy chair of the Irish platform of one of the largest CLO originators in Europe, sits on a range of investment fund boards and is chief executive of GEM Strategic, a specialist banking and investment consultancy firm.

Emer Kirk

CEO of the Financial Planning Standards Board

Emer Kirk is CEO of the Financial Planning Standards Board Ireland and a CFP® professional with over 20 years’ experience in financial services, specializing in financial planning.

A Chartered Tax Adviser and Associate of the Irish Tax Institute, she chairs the FPSB Europe Forum and serves on the FPSB Chief Executive’s Committee. Emer is a lecturer on the IOB Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.

She is a founder and former chair of the Connect Women in Pensions Network, and a past chair of Young IBA.

Karena Duane

Director of Financial Planning, Fenero Financial Advisors

With nearly 25 years of hands-on experience, Karena is an expert in pension advice, helping a wonderful mix of clients through the years, from PAYE customers to company directors. As the manager of Fenero Financial Advisors , she and her team are providing tailored Financial Planning Advice for Contractors, ensuring her clients feel confident navigating the sometimes-tricky pension landscape in Ireland.

Karena’s passion for pension planning shines through her dedication to continuous learning. She loves collaborating with her team and clients to keep everyone updated on the latest developments and potential challenges in pension regulations so they can make informed decisions. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and a proud member of the Financial Planning Standards Board, Karena is all about ensuring her team are delivering personalised pension advice that truly fits their client's unique needs and dreams.

With an MBA from Trinity College Dublin, she's enthusiastic about weaving in the latest industry trends and best practices into her advisory services. Beyond her consulting role, Karena actively contributes to the community through her involvement with The Pension Authority Technical Support Board and as a Board member of Venture Out, a not-for-profit social enterprise.