John Quinlivan is a native of Newmarket-on-Fergus County Clare where he still lives. Educated in Newmarket-on-Fergus National School and Colaiste Iosagáin Ballyvourney County Cork. He joined the Property Division of Shannon Development in 1973 and has worked in Industry Group both Indigenous and Overseas. In 1989 he moved to the Clare Regional Office as a project executive with responsibility for Clare based industry. In 1991 he was appointed Regional Development Manager Clare, where he is responsible for Industry and Tourism promotion in the County.

John has undertaken a number of overseas consultancy and training programmes in Scotland, Wales, the Czech Republic, Western Macedonia, Sweden and France.

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Shay Power is Manager of the Mid West Region of IDA Ireland, incorporating Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary and North Kerry. He has been working with IDA Mid-West since February 2002.

A native of Crusheen, Gerry was educated at Crusheen NS and Ennis CBS. He holds a BSc degree in Mutual Business from UCC. A career civil servant, serving in the Department of Social and Family Affairs, he has worked as an Inspector and as Job Facilitator in Co Clare.

In recent years has been Area Manager in Limerick City and is currently the Department's Regional Co-ordinator in the Mid West with responsibilities for Employment, Education and Family Supports. He also has responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in the Mid West. As Area Manager in Limerick he served on the Board of the Paul Partnership. He is currently on the Boards of Eirí Corca Baiscinn and Ennis West Partners. He is also a member of the Limerick City Social Inclusion Measures Working Group and Roscrea 2000 Community Action Partnership.

Gerry is well known in Community and GAA circles within Co Clare having a long involvement in these areas both in his native parish and at county level. He was Community Representative on RRD Ltd for the first LEADER Programme. In addition to hurling he also has a keen interest in local history and genealogy.

Liam Quinn is a native of County Kilkenny and a member of An Garda Síochána since 1966.

Holds diplomas in Social Studies, Criminology and was recently awarded an honours degree in Police Management. The subject of this thesis was “A Multiagency or Partnership approach to Policing”. Before being allocated to the Clare Division in 1994 he served in a number of locations including Limerick City, Garda Computer Division, Garda Press Office and Research and Planning.

He is married to Angela and they have four sons. He is a member and Past President of Ennis Rotary Club.

Following her graduation from Trinity College Dublin with a B.A. in Economics & Geography, Bernadette completed the Masters in Rural Development with University College of Dublin. She worked with BNS Rural Development Ltd., LEADER agency for County Kilkenny and South-East Tipperary, for over four years and gained extensive experience in enterprise and community development. She recently completed the Certificate in Renewable Energy with Tipperary Institute. In 2005 she joined the Western Development Commission as Rural Development Executive. Since its establishment, the Western Development Commission has given high priority to supporting the competitiveness and expansion of the natural resource based sectors in the region. Bernadette’s work areas include renewable energy and organic food production.

From County Limerick, he is a graduate of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and University College Dublin. Holds a number of qualifications in Education, Philosophy and Politics.
Taught in Dublin and served as a school Principal (700 pupils) for 14 years. He has a particular interest in community development and in supporting families experiencing disadvantage. Worked for several years with the Probation and Welfare Services, serving as Chairperson of a young offenders project. With four others he established a community based limited company in 1994 and served as Chairperson and Secretary. This company still employs approx 40 staff and provides education, training and leisure facilities for young people at risk.
Appointed to the DES in 1999 and now works as a Senior Inspector. He has been involved within the DES particularly, in Traveller education, educational research, school exclusions and as a Board member of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency.