Now in its 19th year, Transport Ireland has firmly established itself as a major annual conference event in the Irish transport sector’s calendar. Taking place in Croke Park, the 2026 conference will bring together key stakeholders from across Ireland – north and south.
Capital investment in Ireland has never been higher. In November 2025, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien secured approval for the €24.3 billion Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport under the recent National Development Plan (NDP) Review. The NDP Review is the largest and most significant capital injection in the economy in the history of the State. The Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, published at the end of 2025, focuses on the actions needed to accelerate the provision of critical infrastructure. This conference comes at a pivotal moment. As Ireland continues to invest in a modern, connected and climate-resilient transport network, the conference will focus on how this network will meet growing economic, social and environmental demands. With major projects underway, the event offers a platform for transport leaders to explore how we can ensure the acceleration of infrastructure delivery while also ensuring value, sustainability and long-term impact.
This year’s event will also look to Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU and what it means for national and European transport priorities. This is a significant opportunity to shape policy discussions around connectivity, decarbonisation, innovation and regional development. Delegates will gain insight into how Ireland can influence the European transport agenda and position itself at the forefront of progressive mobility policy.
Innovation will also be a central theme, with sessions on smart and shared mobility. From digital infrastructure and data-driven transport systems to integrated public transport and active travel solutions, the conference will explore how technology and new service models can create more efficient, inclusive and user-focused services.
Sustainability remains at the heart of Ireland’s transport future. The conference will address the transition to low-carbon systems, climate resilience, and the role of transport in meeting national and European climate targets. In this context, the Transport Ireland 2026 conference will host a variety of expert domestic and international speakers who will comprehensively explore the latest ambitions, challenges, and tangible opportunities for decision-makers and practitioners across the transport sector to accelerate the delivery of sustainable transport infrastructure.
Where
Croke Park, Dublin
When
Thursday 4th
June
Our line up of expert speakers, both domestic and visiting, will examine:
- Accelerating the delivery of sustainable transport infrastructure
- Transformative projects for Ireland: The future of mobility
- Emerging policy priorities for transport in Ireland
- Looking to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU
- The updated National Ports Policy
- Innovating urban mobility: Strategies for smarter, cleaner and connected cities
- Designing sustainable and shared mobility solutions
- Rail at the centre of a sustainable transport network
- Transport infrastructure priorities for the NI Executive
- Integrating shared mobility into transport planning and strategy
- Enhancing Ireland’s regional connectivity
- Ensuring safe, accessible and inclusive services for all
- Reimagining transport: Engagement and co-design of services
Event Speakers
Speakers confirmed so far include:
Darragh O’Brien TD
Minister for Transport
Liz Kimmins MLA
Minister for Infrastructure
Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin
Department of Transport
Lorcan O’Connor
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Anne Shaw
National Transport Authority
Veronica Vanterpool
AECOM
Cathal Masterson
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Willem-Frederik Metzelaar
EIT Urban Mobility
Michael Power
Iarnród Éireann
Derval Cummins
AECOM
Marcello Corsi
National Transport Authority
Richard Dilks
CoMoUK
Eamonn Kelly
Department of Transport
Orla McCann
Tilting the Lens
Rachel Cahill
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Denise Keoghan
Department of Transport
Philip Shiels
AECOM
Eimear Fox
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Jennifer McGrath
Dublin City Council
Russell Vickers
Future Mobility Campus Ireland
Dean Phelan
UCD
Martin Hehir
Department of Transport
Kevin Cullinane
daa
Aidan Sweeney
Ibec
Suzanne Meade
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Programme
Registration
Chairperson’s welcome and introduction
Philip Shiels, Regional Director, Transport Planning AECOM

Opening remarks
Lorcan O’Connor, Chief Executive Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Ministerial address
Darragh O’Brien TD Minister for Transport
Ministerial address
Liz Kimmins MLA Minister for Infrastructure Northern Ireland
Light Rail in Ireland – Expanding the Network
Cathal Masterson, Director of Commercial Operations Transport Infrastructure Ireland and
Marcello Corsi, Head of Rail Investment National Transport Authority
North American approaches to accelerate public transport infrastructure delivery
Veronica Vanterpool, Americas Transit Lead AECOM
Questions & answers / Panel discussion
Networking break
Chair: Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin, Assistant Secretary, Climate Action and EU/International Affairs Department of Transport
Delivering the future of mobility: Transforming Ireland’s public transport
Anne Shaw, Chief Executive National Transport Authority
Rail at the centre of Ireland’s sustainable transport network
Michael Power, Head of Transformation Iarnród Éireann
Shaping the future of Ireland’s Ports: Updating the National Ports Policy
Eamonn Kelly, Assistant Secretary, Maritime Policy Department of Transport
Questions & answers / Panel discussion
DISCUSSION PANEL: Looking to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU: Strategic transport priorities
Martin Hehir, Principal Officer, EU and Central Policy Department of Transport
Kevin Cullinane, Deputy Director of Communications, Acting Policy and Public Affairs Lead daa
Aidan Sweeney, Head of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability Ibec
Diarmaid Kehoe, Head of Office European Investment Bank (invited)
Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive Dublin Port Company (invited)
Networking Lunch
INNOVATION IN TRANSPORT: SMART, SHARED AND INCLUSIVE
Chair: Derval Cummins, Transport Director – Ireland AECOM
The future of public transport and shared mobility solutions
Willem-Frederik Metzelaar, Regional Director Innovation Hub West EIT Urban Mobility
Gender Mainstreaming for Inclusive Transport Design - a TII Case Study
Rachel Cahill, Director of the Executive Office and Sustainability Lead Transport Infrastructure Ireland and
Eimear Fox, Senior Landscape Architect Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Integrating shared mobility into transport planning and strategy
Richard Dilks, Chief Executive CoMoUK
Inclusive mobility by design: Reimagining transport for everyone
Orla McCann, Senior Consultant, Built Environment Tilting the Lens
The CONUNDRUM Project: Advancing the design of sustainable and shared mobility solutions through co-creation with communities
Dr Dean Phelan, Research Social Scientist UCD
Questions & answers / Panel discussion
Comfort break
DISCUSSION PANEL: Smart, shared, and innovative: The future of transport in Ireland
Denise Keoghan, Principal Officer, Sustainable Mobility Management and Implementation Department of Transport
Jennifer McGrath, Head of Road Safety and Micromobility Dublin City Council
Dr Suzanne Meade, Senior Engineer Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Russell Vickers, CEO Future Mobility Campus Ireland
Hugh Cooney, Chairperson Mobility Partnership Ireland (invited)
Joe Seymour, Assistant Director National Transport Authority (invited)
CHAIR’S CONCLUDING REMARKS AND CONFERENCE CLOSE
Registration
Chairperson’s welcome and introduction
Philip Shiels, Regional Director, Transport Planning AECOM

Opening remarks
Lorcan O’Connor, Chief Executive Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Ministerial address
Darragh O’Brien TD Minister for Transport
Ministerial address
Liz Kimmins MLA Minister for Infrastructure Northern Ireland
Light Rail in Ireland – Expanding the Network
Cathal Masterson, Director of Commercial Operations Transport Infrastructure Ireland and
Marcello Corsi, Head of Rail Investment National Transport Authority
North American approaches to accelerate public transport infrastructure delivery
Veronica Vanterpool, Americas Transit Lead AECOM
Questions & answers / Panel discussion
Morning coffee / networking break
Chair: Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin, Assistant Secretary, Climate Action and EU/International Affairs Department of Transport
Delivering the future of mobility: Transforming Ireland’s public transport
Anne Shaw, Chief Executive National Transport Authority
Rail at the centre of Ireland’s sustainable transport network
Michael Power, Head of Transformation Iarnród Éireann
Shaping the future of Ireland’s Ports: Updating the National Ports Policy
Eamonn Kelly, Assistant Secretary, Maritime Policy Department of Transport
Questions & answers / Panel discussion
DISCUSSION PANEL: Looking to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU: Strategic transport priorities
Martin Hehir, Principal Officer, EU and Central Policy Department of Transport
Kevin Cullinane, Deputy Director of Communications, Acting Policy and Public Affairs Lead daa
Aidan Sweeney, Head of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability Ibec
Diarmaid Kehoe, Head of Office European Investment Bank (invited)
Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive Dublin Port Company (invited)
Networking Lunch
INNOVATION IN TRANSPORT: SMART, SHARED AND INCLUSIVE
Chair: Derval Cummins, Transport Director – Ireland AECOM
The future of public transport and shared mobility solutions
Willem-Frederik Metzelaar, Regional Director Innovation Hub West EIT Urban Mobility
Gender Mainstreaming for Inclusive Transport Design - a TII Case Study
Rachel Cahill, Director of the Executive Office and Sustainability Lead Transport Infrastructure Ireland and
Eimear Fox, Senior Landscape Architect Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Integrating shared mobility into transport planning and strategy
Richard Dilks, Chief Executive CoMoUK
Inclusive mobility by design: Reimagining transport for everyone
Orla McCann, Senior Consultant, Built Environment Tilting the Lens
The CONUNDRUM Project: Advancing the design of sustainable and shared mobility solutions through co-creation with communities
Dr Dean Phelan, Research Social Scientist UCD
Questions & answers / Panel discussion
Comfort break
DISCUSSION PANEL: Smart, shared, and innovative: The future of transport in Ireland
Denise Keoghan, Principal Officer, Sustainable Mobility Management and Implementation Department of Transport
Jennifer McGrath, Head of Road Safety and Micromobility Dublin City Council
Dr Suzanne Meade, Senior Engineer Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Russell Vickers, CEO Future Mobility Campus Ireland
Hugh Cooney, Chairperson Mobility Partnership Ireland (invited)
Joe Seymour, Assistant Director National Transport Authority (invited)
CHAIR’S CONCLUDING REMARKS AND CONFERENCE CLOSE
Sponsorship & Exhibition opportunities
There are a small number of opportunities to get involved with the Transport Ireland conference 2026 as a sponsor or exhibitor. Now in its 19th year, Transport Ireland has established itself as a significant event in the Irish transport sector’s calendar and is attended annually by key sectoral stakeholders. For further information on sponsorship contact Lynda Millar on +353 (0)1 661 3755 or email Lynda.Millar@eolasmagazine.ie and for exhibition details contact Rebecca Sterritt at Rebecca.Sterritt@eolasmagazine.ie
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