Our Board Members

Toby Scott

Toby Scott is a catalyst in the creative industries and an innovator within the commercial and public sectors. As a facilitator, he has been a director of the UK Design Council, a director of Arts Council England as well as head of Creative Industries for the UK Government. He established the Irish Centre for Design Innovation and was Senior Design Strategist for the Design 4 Growth pilot scheme delivered by Dublin City Local Enterprise Office (LEO). He has also been a board member of the UK Crafts Council. As a developer, Toby is a co-founder and Learning Director of FRAMLABS and Knowinnovation. He works with a number of NGOs and agencies such as the United Nations, the NHS and NASA to apply design thinking to solve “Wicked Problems”. Within business, he helps companies such as Cisco, Liberty Mutual and Irish Life create future value for their customers through the strategic use of design.

Thomas Murray

A career Civil servant, Thomas Murray currently has responsibility at Principal Officer level at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a number of policies and programmes and related to the development of indigenous industry in Ireland including oversight of Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. His brief includes working with stakeholders to drive a national policy for design, including through the National Design Forum, and to develop plans for a national design centre in support of innovation and competitiveness. Through the oversight and provision of various business supports by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, he has responsibility for supporting EI and the LEOs in pursuing their strategies for developing enterprise, growing exports and job creation and in achieving strategic targets in these areas. He previously served for a number of years at Ireland’s Permanent Representation in Brussels as Ireland’s Trade Counsellor and on the EU’s Trade Policy Committee where he was responsible for a number of EU trade negotiations and for pursuing Ireland’s trade policy interests

Breda Fox

Approved 38 creatives for financial support to grow their business since 2010. Approved 44 creatives for trading online vouchers since 2015. Progressed creative clients by subsidised participation at Showcase annually including providing mentoring, training and upskilling merchandising in advance of the international trade show. Established a local craft network, to share best practice, support and learn from each other. Worked with Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCOI) to develop Galway creatives including the provision of DCCOI mentors and training. I have supported four Building Craft and Development programmes in Galway to date. Funded, organised and managed the Local Food and Craft fair to take place showcase the best of local Galway creatives and providing a platform for sales pre-Christmas since 2012. This initiative was borne from needs identified by the craft network Supported creative events, local markets and pop up shops such as Potters Market (from 2011), Creative Makers pop up shops (from 2016) and the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards since its foundation in 2010 Chaired the collaboration of creative innovation in 2019 with funding from Creative Ireland and Galway City Council and supported by the IDA Galway. The project matched local Galway business, designers and artists and involved collaboration with 5 local makers and 5 local multinational companies culminating in the creation of 5 unique and remarkable pieces of work. Connecting the business engineers with local artists, textile, jewellery, ceramic and furniture makers had lasting impacts on industry and makers creative processes. In 2010 I joined the Galway County & City Enterprise Board (now the Local Enterprise Office Galway) and have led the service delivery of the agency since then. In 2010 I joined the Galway County & City Enterprise Board (now the Local Enterprise Office Galway) and have led the service delivery of the agency since then. Training and advisory supports have increased threefold, and 37 clients businesses have transitioned to Enterprise Ireland to continue to develop and grow. I am particularly passionate about the design and craft sector and work hard to support the sector in my day to day role. Since I joined the enterprise agency, supports to creatives include: themselves. My history prior to enterprise support work included The Point (now The 3 Arena), Dublin as Finance Director in the 1990’s. During this time, I was also one of the youngest people ever appointed to a state board, serving as a nonexecutive Director of An Post for 5 years. Moving to Galway in 2000, I became Finance Director of Transitions Optical in 1999, dealing with everything from pricing to compliance. Two years later, I became Supply Chain & Customer Service Director for Europe. In 2006, I started my own business advising start-up and established businesses in the West including projects for locally based multinationals and helped clients with funding, efficiencies, cost-cutting and positioning for growth/recovery.

Maeve Murphy

Maeve is a passionate advocate for Irish craft & design and brings with her a breadth of experience spanning arts management and practice. She holds a BA (Hons) in Design in Textiles from GMIT and an MA in Cultural Policy & Arts Management from UCD. With over 10 years’ experience working in the Arts across multiple disciplines, Maeve has worked with Music Network, Music Generation and was the Programme Coordinator for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Also an entrepreneur, Maeve co-founded Forest & Flock, an independent Irish craft & design retail shop. She is the Operations Manager with Cork Craft and Design and Programme Coordinator for Cork Craft Month working closely with over 100 Craftspeople and Designers in County Cork.

Berina Kelly

Born into an entrepreneurial family, I have over 20 years’ experience in retail. I have also staffed the jewellery departments of high-end retailers. As a Retail Manager, I have had invaluable experience as a buyer, and working with colleagues to provide the best possible experience for our customers. In my role as Maker, I understand a client’s needs, from aspects of design and fabrication to customer satisfaction. As a Mentor I bring my experience to makers in my area, from setting up a studio, creating collections of a high standard for competitive target markets, to packaging, marketing and all that is involved with running a business. With it's roots firmly set in the West of Ireland, Making.ie has played a role in highlighting the challenges, successes and stories of makers across Ireland. I am drawn to the network’s desire to celebrate all aspects of the community, and as a member, I am cognizant of issues that are important to makers. I desire that small studios feel heard and supported, and can engage with all that DCCI has to offer as they are the highly skilled, design leaders of tomorrow. I bring a knowledge of design and business to the board of DCCI.

Edel MacBride

I am an experienced creative with a demonstrated history of working in the world of craft and design for many decades as a maker, business owner, educator, and volunteer. My main skills are textiles, knitwear, ecommerce, small business management, social media and community building, craft retail and cultural tourism. I graduated from Limerick School of Art and Letterkenny Institute. I have entrepreneurship and business training from Ulster University and Boston College.I have exhibited frequently at home and Internationally 1991-2022. With my award-winning craft brand in handmade luxury knitwear,I work with many knitters, crocheters, and textile artists country wide to create authentic ‘Made in Ireland’ clothing with a clear ethical and eco footprint.I founded ‘Knitfield’ in 2012 to inspire new or aspiring textile makers.I’m a founding member of Number 19 Craft and Design retail outlet, Derry Craft Village.I am directed by the history and value of our Traditional Skills and passionate about developing opportunities for makers and GANS. Having mentored many craftmakers and worked collaboratively with craft businesses, I am familiar with the many challenges facing us all.

Niki Collier

I am a Dublin-based award-winning visual artist and designer working in fibre art and wearable technology. My work uses scale to spark empathy & empowerment. I disrupt science and art to elevate the viewer to a protagonist. My practice blends many sources. Forged as an academic makes me relentlessly curious. Grown as a disabled woman I look for resilience with die hard attitude. My practice is nurtured by the meaningful connections with folk with various ability & diverse background. All is done with wool. My work has been curated in national and international shows most recently in the World Crafts Council Exhibition and I had a very successful solo show at University of Atypical UK.I have developed products and experiences in the last ten years with various collaborators. I export my products to US, Europe, including the British Museum Shop and Milan multiple. The current changes have given me to combine my PhD in Computer Science and understanding of craft. I got the opportunity to create online educational engagements commissioned by CI, DCCI and RTÉ. I am very passionate about diversity and inclusion and my aim is to diversify funding to cater for all needs so we lift Irish creative community through digital experiences globally.