Board

About INBA

The INBA is run by a Board that is elected annually at the AGM and is presided over by a President.  Our Patron is the Ambassador of Ireland to The Netherlands. The Board members come from both Dutch and Irish private and public sectors and fulfill their duties on a completely voluntary basis.  INBA has an Executive Assistant to the Board who is responsible for regular communications with members and event planning.

Meet the board

H.E. Ambassador Brendan Rogers

Patron, Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Ambassador of Ireland to The Netherlands, H.E. Brendan Rogers is the patron of the INBA. Brendan has worked extensively in Africa with both the United Nations and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and was Director General of Ireland’s aid programme, Irish Aid from 2008 until 2014. Brendan opened Ireland’s new Embassy in Bangkok Thailand in 2014 and was also accredited as Ambassador to Myanmar. Ambassador Rogers returned to Dublin in 2018 as Deputy Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and headed Ireland’s successful campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council. Brendan enjoys cycling and jogging (he jogged the New York and Boston marathons) with his spouse Ms. Kevin Doris Ejon and they are also interested in films, travel and media affairs.

Dr. Gordon R. Campbell

Chairman, Former Chief Executive Officer SPAR International

Dr. Gordon R. Campbell was Chief Executive Officer of SPAR International responsible for the world-wide development and co-ordination of the SPAR organisation until 31 December, 2015. SPAR is the world's largest organisation of independent retailers with over 12,000 SPAR stores in 35 countries. In 2015 SPAR had global annual retail sales of €33 billion. Dr. Campbell continues to contribute to SPAR’s worldwide success as an advisor to the Board to SPAR International.

Helen Finn

Treasurer, owner Top Admin Reporting Accounting (T.A.R.A.)

Helen Finn is an Interim Financial Controller who supports CFOs and Finance Directors with accounting, reporting and internal financial controls and processes. Since 2016 Helen provides services through her company Top Admin Reporting Accounting (T.A.R.A.). Most recently Helen relished the opportunity of managing Project Brexit raising awareness for the potential impact of Brexit on all aspects of the business.

Loes Hennephof

Secretary, Sales Manager – Europe North for Aer Lingus

Loes Hennephof is Manager Benelux for Aer Lingus and based in The Netherlands. The core activities are promoting and selling of Aer Lingus routes to Ireland and via Dublin to North America. Loes carried out many different roles within Aer Lingus and studied at the TIO in Hengelo.

Emily Gallen

Board member,Strategic Business Consultant at Enterprise Ireland

Since 2019, Emily Gallen works with Irish SMEs helping them accessing international markets. As a Strategic Business Consultant at Enterprise Ireland, based in Amsterdam, she has a particular interest in the Digital Transformation, Fintech and strategically providing exporters with the right tools to facilitate successful business partnerships.

Frank Groome

Board member, Head of Economic, Trade and Multilateral Affairs at the Irish Embassy in The Netherlands

Frank Groome is Head of Economic, Trade and Multilateral Affairs at the Irish Embassy in The Netherlands. He has previously worked in various managerial posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and has worked in the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

Laura Crowley

Board member, Market Manager Bord Bia, The Netherlands

Laura Crowley is Manager of the Dutch market for Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board. Born in Cork and raised in Dublin, she has been living in the Netherlands since 2003. Laura holds a Masters in International Marketing from UCD Smurfit Business School, as well as archaeology-related degrees from University College Dublin and Leiden University.

Hildagarde McCarville

Board member

Previously the CEO of Veolia in the Netherlands, and a non-executive director of Veolia in Ireland, Hildagarde is .    very interested in sustainability and the circular economy. Prior to that Hildagarde spent 10 years working with the I.T. services sector. Hildagarde, a native of Co. Monaghan has lived in the Netherlands for the last 8 years.

JP McAllister

founding partner
of GrowEurBusiness

JP McAllister is a founding partner of GrowEurBusiness, a business consultancy based in Amsterdam helping businesses move and expand to the Netherlands and EU. Originally from Waterford, JP has lived 30 years in the Netherlands, much of that period working internationally in various business development and finance director roles. JP is married to Ingrid, a Dutch national, and they have two sons, Tom and Finn.

Méabh Shortall

Administrative Assistant

Since 2022, Méabh Shortall works part time with the Ireland Netherlands Business Association (INBA) as an administrative assistant. Méabh is a recent MA European Governance graduate, having studied in both Germany and the Netherlands. She has a keen interest in Irish markets, both at home and abroad.