Alastair is a former Chief Executive of Invest NI. He led the trade and investment agency for over 10 years and throughout his tenure he played a key role in developing and implementing economic strategies to help home-grown companies to expand and to attract foreign direct investment into Northern Ireland. Prior to joining Invest NI, he held a number of senior management positions at BT, including, Managing Director of BT Business Ireland and Director of BT Health UK. During this time, Alastair also served for a year on secondment as Chief Economic Advisor to the First Minister of Northern Ireland. Alastair was pleased to receive honorary doctorates from both Queen’s University and Ulster University and was recognised with a CBE in the 2020 New Year Honours. In addition to his role as Chair of the Advisory Board of Pinnacle Growth Group, Alastair is also Non-Executive Director at Danske Bank (UK) and a Director of FP Mission Society Africa, an NGO which operates in Kenya and Uganda.
SPECIALISMS: Customer Engagement and Satisfaction, Internationalisation, Business Governance
Robert is a Chartered Director, Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining. Twice IoD NI Director of the Year (2017 & 2019), Robert is an expert in international business, operational excellence and business growth. For over 15 years Robert has provided strategic direction and operational leadership to local, regional and international organisations. Graduating in both Engineering and Business, Robert combines technical ability with astute commercial awareness, providing clear and logical advice to support Pinnacle Growth Group’s many and varied clients.
SPECIALISMS: Financial analysis, projections and business planning
Judith Neill is Head of Business Growth at Pinnacle Growth Group, bringing over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and business leadership to the team. She is skilled in business development, commercial acumen and building lasting customer relationships. Judith has worked in a variety of different roles across several different sectors and has a strong drive and determination to succeed and win business. Judith will play an immediate and important role in developing long-lasting and impactful relationships with our clients.
SPECIALISMS: Business improvement
Joining Pinnacle Growth Group in February 2022, Fiona brings nearly two decades of experience within the public sector. Fiona specialises in project and programme management, having led and supported the strategic delivery of various multimillion pound public sector and EU programmes, focusing on both the wider economic and specialist industry sectors. In her role as Senior Business Consultant, Fiona will support clients across Finance for Growth on important areas of business development, such as grants and funding applications, creation of business plans and developing detailed and robust financial analysis and projections.
SPECIALISMS: Programme Development, Management and Monitoring
Girvan Gault, former Director of Commercial Banking at Ulster Bank, brings over 30 years experience across all business sectors and an extensive knowledge of the banking sector and productive offerings, as he joins Pinnacle Growth Group as Finance and Banking Consultant. Whether it is advice on banking relationships, funding structures, bank credit appetite or ensuring your bank costs are competitive, Girvan can add value to your business and enable your business growth. Girvan is now available to undertake a review of your current banking, funding and credit relationships, proposing changes and improvements where applicable.
SPECIALISMS: Banking Sector, Productive Offering
Lynsey joined Pinnacle Growth Group in January 2023 as Lead Consultant for Sales and Export Growth. She brings over eight years’ experience gained working within international trade and customs. During her career to date, Lynsey has worked closely with a wide range of businesses who have traded internationally, sought to enter new markets, and aimed to grow their export offering. She works collaboratively with the wider team at Pinnacle Growth Group to ensure the highest levels of quality, customer service and project success. Lynsey is also a participant in the Boardroom Apprentice Programme, and currently sits on the board of Action Mental Health.
SPECIALISMS: Sales and Export Growth
A qualified Prince2 Agile Project Manager, Johnny is a Senior Business Consultant currently supporting the Finance for Growth and Public Sector pillars. Joining Pinnacle Growth Group in 2019 following university, Johnny was assigned to the Trade and Export for Growth team and provided expert support on the EU Exit Process to clients across Ireland and has completed his Level 3 Certificate in International Trade. Johnny has led the completion of applications for business supports from organisations such as InterTrade Ireland, Invest NI and Innovate UK for clients across the UK and Ireland, successfully supporting their strategic business growth targets within staffing, research and development, external trade and strategic planning. Additionally, Johnny has led and supported on delivery of public sector contracts.
SPECIALISMS: Strategic funding and public sector tendering
Katie joined the Pinnacle group as a Business Analyst in 2021 and has progressed to Business Consultant through her hard work and diligence. She has a First-Class Honors BA in English, and her excellent written communication, research, and analytical skills are of great value to the team. Katie’s skillset and sharp eye for detail supports both the Pinnacle team and clients with Invest NI and funding applications. She is currently working towards a Marketing MSc, and this will bring to the team a richer knowledge of digital communication, advertising, branding and creative solutions to marketing challenges.
SPECIALISMS: Public sector and promotional activities
Business Consultant, Hannah Quinn, joined Pinnacle Growth in February 2023, bringing 6 years’ experience gained across a range of industries including IT Recruitment, Payroll Bureau Services, Waste Management and Manufacturing. Hannah has worked both regionally and internationally, with a focus on building strong client relationships. She has extensive experience expanding teams for technology companies across Ireland, as well as using in depth market analysis and insights to enhance recruitment strategies and staff retention for her clients. She has strong ties to both public and private sector companies where she has provided payroll compliance and invoice processing services to improve efficiency. She utilises her consultative and sales experience to enable business growth and achieve goals. Hannah holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and has completed research, statistical analysis and predictive modelling on UK/EU trade deals and their potential effect on the Agriculture industry.
SPECIALISMS: Finance for Growth
Joining Pinnacle Growth Group in May 2022 upon completion of a BSc (Hons) in Business with Accounting and graduating with First class honours, Samuel brings current business knowledge to the team at Pinnacle Growth Group. Samuel specialises in business analysis, development and research while also bringing additional finance and accounting experience to the team. In his role as a Business Analyst, Samuel has and will continue to engage and communicate with clients while assisting them in crucial areas of business development, such as leading funding and grant applications, construction of business plans and the development of financial projections to further enable business growth for our clients.
SPECIALISMS: Business Analysis, Development and Research
A recent graduate in MA (Hons) International Business Management, with nearly two years’ experience in Business Development at an international level, Harry joined Pinnacle Growth Group in 2022 as a Business Analyst supporting multiple functions within the team. Bringing his excellent communication skills, experience in business development and project delivery, with a particular focus on Sustainability, Harry is of great additional value to the team and clients.
SPECIALISMS: Business development, Project Delivery, Sustainability
Described as “the best bid manager I have ever worked with” by the Ireland General Manager of a €1 billion corporation, Michael is a trusted consultant helping clients win proposals and tenders. With 20 years’ international experience, working across multiple sectors on contracts of up to £250M, he has helped land millions of pounds worth of deals. Many of his clients have built 100% annual win rates and he has coached even bid novices up to a 100% score (practically unheard of in proposal and tendering circles).
SPECIALISMS: Tenders
Breige is an experienced HR Consultant, providing independent and expert advice and support to organisations This includes advising management on the administration of human resources policies and procedures and analysing a company’s current HR programmes and recommending solutions. In addition, Breige is skilled in developing, revising, and implementing HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with best practice, laws and regulations, developing and coordinating workflow and resource changes, and delivering Human Resources training.
SPECIALISMS: HR
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