Irish Maritime & Energy Resource Cluster

National Maritime College of Ireland

Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, Thursday, May 31st, 6.30pm

Ireland currently faces economic difficulties of a depth and scale unknown since the foundation of the State. Our economic crisis presents us with an opportunity to derive greater efficiencies from investment in national infrastructure and to innovate to achieve optimum benefits from Ireland’s vast marine resource.

IMERC aims to harness and integrate diverse research and industry expertise through the development of an innovation cluster. The cluster is serving as a stimulant for enterpirse and innovation in the maritime sphere with a particular focus on marine energy, shipping logistics and transport, maritime security and safety and marine recreation.

The IMERC vision is to promote Ireland as a world-renowned research and development location, that unlocks Ireland’s maritime and energy potential. Launched in March 2010, specific targets for IMERC are for 70 new research jobs by 2014, five companies incorporated by 2015, and two foreign direct investment clients secured by 2016.

Cormac Gebruers, Director – IMERC

Cormac joined the National Maritime College of Ireland earlier this year to oversee capacity building in NMCI’s new research pillar. Previously Cormac was a Business Unit Director, Product Development Director and Business Development Manager with Transas, a leading maritime navigation systems multinational. He ran his own company for 6 years as well as spending some time in a Science Foundation Ireland funded research Centre. He started his career as a deck officer in the merchant navy and is a University College Cork computer science graduate and a nautical science graduate of Cork Institute of Technology. Cormac is currently Acting Director of the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster

Cormac will speak on : “IMERC, its origin, planned impact and how to get involved”

Cmdr Mark Mellett, Head of National Maritime College of Ireland

 Commodore Mellett has responsibility for the delivery of defence, security, government and other services in Ireland’s Maritime Domain and beyond. Overseeing the attainment of a government policy strategy match, he has over thirty five years practical seagoing experience including three naval commands. During shore rotations Commodore Mellett has held appointments in Naval Headquarters, Naval Operations and Support Commands.

For almost two decades he has been a change leader in the Irish Defence Forces, contributing significantly to ongoing transformation and positioning the Irish navy in a post-modern setting. As a Commander he has served as Head of Naval Plans and Policy and as Commandant of the Naval College and Associate Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI).

NMCI covers a broad pallette of civil/military professional maritime and industry related training and research. More recently, he has had responsibility for naval fleet operations. Besides citations for service in Afghanistan (2004) and Lebanon (1989) in 1994 he received an Irish Government decoration for intercepting a major maritime narcotics shipment.

He is a founding member of the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) and a member of its governing authority. Its sectoral research development and innovation areas are underpinned by cross cutting themes in ocean engineering, maritime operations, ecosystem governance and enabling maritime technologies.

Commodore Mellett has a PhD (2009) in Oceans Governance from the National University of Ireland, Galway and M Com (2004) in Government and Public Policy from University College Cork. He is a Visiting Professor at Liverpool Hope University. He is the distinguished top graduate of the US Naval War College Newport RI (1999), the Irish Command and Staff College (1998) and the Royal Naval College Greenwich (1989).

Commodore Mellett has a keen interest in research and has been a member of the European Security Research Innovation Forum (ESRIF). He has published numerous papers on security, governance and maritime affaires.

After the presentations, there will be a networking opportunity with light refreshments served.