Gillian O’Dowd is a Director at Azon, Executive Search partners for leadership succession, business scaling, and new ventures. She has previously been involved in advising on the scaling and subsequent successful sale of two Irish based Recruitment firms to a UK Plc and to a Private Irish Group. Gillian has over 15 years’ industry experience gained working within Financial Services institutions and Real Estate Investment firms in Ireland, London and Continental Europe. Earlier in her career, Gillian gained experience working within Ireland’s first Venture Capital Investment firm and a pre-eminent M&A advisory firm. Gillian holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UCC and a Masters in Financial Services from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD. Gillian has served as a Lead Entrepreneur for Going for Growth and as a Peer Supporter for the Irish Cancer Society for many years.