Victoria Donovan is a silversmith with almost 40 years experience. She was apprenticed to her late father, Master Silversmith, Peter Donovan in 1985. Victoria was awarded a Kilkenny Design Workshops scholarship in 1986 and became part of the team of the Precious Metals Workshop, under Master Silversmith Des Byrne. On completion of the scholarship, she returned to Master Silversmith Peter Donovan to complete her apprenticeship. Victoria continued her career working
with her father on numerous Silversmithing projects and has also collaborated with many artists and architects on projects ranging from Tableware to Tabernacles. The passing on of traditional Silversmithing skills, techniques and design form an important role in the preservation of her craft. Victoria’s work can be seen in many churches and private collections worldwide.

Anneliese Duffy Fallon, owner of The Linen Shirt Company and founder of Fashion Connect Ireland, is a third-generation Irish fashion designer with a deep love for Irish fashion.

Her mission is to ensure that Irish fashion continues to thrive so that future generations can enjoy high-quality, locally-made clothing.

Anneliese’s upbringing on a factory floor instilled in her a deep appreciation for the skill and dedication of sewing technicians. She recognised them as the cornerstone of any successful brand. However, even as a child, she couldn’t comprehend why they weren’t formally recognized for the expertise they honed over the years. Thus, her mission became clear: to rectify this oversight if ever given the opportunity.

On March 15th, 2024, Anneliese’s mission became a reality as the first cohort of Industrial Technicians graduated with the inaugural accreditation in the history of the state, to our knowledge.

This milestone marked a significant step towards recognizing and celebrating the invaluable contributions of these skilled artisans.

Katie Dominy is the Co-Founder & CEO of Arts Thread & The Global Creative Graduate Show with an extensive knowledge of the art & design education systems world-wide. Katie has over 20 years experience as Editor, Journalist and Writer both online and in print with Comme des Garçons Paper in Japan, design.nl, a Premsela initiative in the Netherlands, and Laurence King Publishing in the UK. Katie has over 20 years experience as design trend forecaster, researcher and analyst worldwide, having worked for companies such as WGSN in UK and Future Concept Lab in Itay.

Fiona Sheehan is an entrepreneur and brand owner with over 25 years of experience in the design, manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution of Irish-made products. Fiona took ownership of Latchfords of Ireland in 1999 and since then has built on the success of the Latchfords brand, expanding its product offering while staying true to its simple philosophy of supplying only the best Irish-made products of the finest quality. She is deeply passionate about sourcing natural products from ethical suppliers and is committed to bringing them to market. Her own brand Fia Clothing inspires a deep curiosity and appreciation of premium quality slow fashion that will stand the test of time.

Belén Llamas-Ferrier did her apprenticeship in Geneva, in the famous antique dealer and framer André Buchs’s workshop, and has worked as an art framer for more than 20 years. She is an expert in antique frames, in the artisan techniques of framing and gilding as well as in the design of contemporary frames. She has worked for numerous private collectors, galleries, and other institutions such as the Giannadda Foundation, the Musée de la Réforme, the Krugier gallery, Jacques de la Béraudière, Pictet, Rolex, Fabergé…

Very involved in the safeguarding of artistic craftsmanship, Belén regularly collaborates with other artisans: sculptors, cabinetmakers, lighting designers, trompe-l’oeil painters… as well as with the prestigious Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship (Geneva). She is a founding member of the Asociación Contemporánea de Artes y Oficios that defends artisan workshops and craftsmanship in Spain.