Who Are We?

Louis Goor is a Bachelor of Engineering from University College Galway, graduating in 1991.
He has since served in JLGoor & JLGoor Materials in Sales, Operations, Managing Director, and now Chairman’s roles.

Louis is currently Chairperson of the IPG.

Catherine Collins is Network Manager with First Polymer Training Skillnet in Athlone, a training network promoted by Ibec. She studied Polymer Engineering in AIT (TUS) graduating in 1989. She joined Merck Millipore, where she worked as a process engineer, before moving to Medtronic Athlone in 1992. She held various technical roles in the industry before joining First Polymer Training Skillnet in 2001, where her role includes programme development & accreditation, industry engagement and centre management. Catherine is a member of the Governing Body of TUS (Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest), Irish Polymer Group, Midland Regional Skills Forum, Polymer Processing Apprenticeship Industry Consortium and Programme Board, APT Industry Steering Committee and also represents Polymer Technology Ireland (Ibec) on various industry working groups.

Joe Wall has worked in the Petrochemical industry for over 40 years mostly in Polymer sales. His Degree in Management was followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Strategy & Innovation.

After nearly 20 years with ExxonMobil, including jobs in Shipping, Business Analysis, Finance and Sales – Joe joined JL Goor Materials as a Director and Shareholder and moved to Dublin in 1999.  Joe retired from JL Goor Materials in 2018 and has more recently joined JL Goor Ltd as a Non Executive Director.

Joe is currently the Hon. Treasurer of the IPG.

Dr. Michael Hopkins is the Managing Director of Ross Polymer Services Ltd, a single-source contract manufacturing partner specialising in injection moulding projects and the processing of complex polymer materials. With extensive experience collaborating with leading medical, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor manufacturers in Ireland, Michael has played a key role in New Product Introductions (NPI), material characterisation, and process optimisation across these industries.
Michael graduated from Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) in 2013 with an Honours Degree in Polymer Engineering, after which he joined the National Polymer Research Centre, Applied Polymer Technologies (APT), where he worked for several years. He earned his Doctorate in Polymer Engineering in 2019, contributing to peer-reviewed publications and securing multiple patents within the field. Since 2018, he has been an active committee member of the Irish Polymer Group and currently serves as its Vice Chair.

Lorna O’Gara has a B.Sc. in Polymer Technology from Athlone IT, now TUS and has many years’ experience working in the polymer industry. After graduating, she started her career working with Irish Custom Extruders, then spent time working in the UK and Europe in Technical sales roles for Polyurethane systems and Conductive Coatings for plastics. She then worked for Trend Technologies as Key Account manager working with global OEMs of computers, telecoms, consumer goods and healthcare products. After a career break to spend time with her family, including a relocation to Brazil for 4 years, she joined the Ultrapolymers team in 2015. Her current role is European Business Development Manager for Healthcare.

Paul Bryan is Managing Director of P3 Solutions Ltd, focusing on Training, Product & Process Development, NPI & Commercialisation. He has more than 35 years of experience, having started out as a Polymer Apprentice and progressed through various technical, project & programme management roles, to become Technical Director of one of the largest Medical Device and Technical Packaging manufacturers in Europe.

He then turned towards Operations and General Management, leading and growing a number of small and medium sized polymer processing companies and was most recently Director of JL Goor Ltd.

As well as the IPG Committee, Paul has served as a member of the First Polymer Training Skillnet steering group and is a keen advocate of polymer education and training.

Caitríona Mordan is Cluster Manager of ATIM (Advanced Technologies in Manufacturing), Ireland’s national?leading advanced manufacturing cluster, hosted by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and representing over 100 member organisations across industry, academia, and the public sector.

With a MSc in Science Communicator and with over 20 years’ experience in stakeholder engagement, Caitriona specialises in building bridges between complex technical work and the people and organisations it serves. Since joining ATIM in 2021, she has led flagship initiatives including PolymerConnect and DreamBig, driving internationalisation opportunities for members, forging European partnerships, and engaging industry in strategic, collaborative programmes and events.

Her earlier roles at the ADAPT Centre, Dublin City University, and Engineers Ireland shaped her expertise in responsible innovation, inclusive policy, and translating research into real?world impact.

Across all her work, Caitriona champions the belief that diverse talent, collaborative ecosystems, and responsible innovation are essential to solving the most complex challenges facing manufacturing today.

Pat Whyte is a highly experienced Plastics Engineer with over 40 years of business leadership in the medical devices industry. He has a strong track record in establishing and scaling successful manufacturing companies, with particular expertise in the application of plastics for minimally invasive medical technologies. 

Since 2006, Pat has served as CEO and owner of InverMed, where he leads the development and manufacture of innovative medical devices from concept through to commercialisation. Under his leadership, the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, precision-engineered solutions to the global healthcare sector. 

Pat’s contributions to the plastics industry have been widely recognised. He has received multiple awards, including the TUS Polymer Department Alumni Award for Services to the Plastics Industry and an Outstanding Contribution Award at the Skillnet Ireland 25th Anniversary Awards. 

In addition to his commercial achievements, Pat is deeply committed to industry development and skills training. He was instrumental in establishing First Polymer Training Skillnet, serving as its first Chairman, and continues to play an active role on its Steering Committee. He has also been a long-standing member of the Irish Polymer Group, including serving as Chairman for several years. 

Jacqueline Tyrrell is co-owner of Embankment Plastics, one of Ireland’s largest and leading injection moulding specialists. She worked in global tourism marketing before joining Barry Armstrong at Embankment Plastics in 2007. Since then, their team has grown to 45 staff who sustain 24hour manufacturing, satisfying international clients across production areas of injection moulding, blow moulding and assembly. Jacqueline has spent 15 years in manufacturing and is a well known female business-owner in the plastics industry.

Alan Harrington is Technical Training Specialist at First Polymer Training Skillnet, where his key objective is to develop and deliver training to industry members. He graduated from Athlone I.T. in 1998 with a Diploma in Plastics Engineering and then went onto North London University and graduated with a B.Eng. in Polymer Engineering.

In 2000 he joined Solplax in Tralee, Co. Kerry, as R & D technician, developing water soluble plastic solutions. In 2003 he joined Medtronic (formally Covidien) as an Injection Moulding Technician, within this role Alan was involved in process improvements, new machine/equipment installations and managing tooling repairs/upgrades and project management for new mould builds and injection moulding machine replacements.

Kenny O’ Brien is currently Centre Manager at Applied Polymer Technologies (APT) based in TUS (since September 2024)  and former General Manager at Athlone Extrusions Ltd. who  are part of the Swiss Schweiter Technologies Group. Kenny started his career in 1990 having completed a degree in Polymer Technology from Athlone IT, now a Technical University. Kenny has worked in the Polymer Industry in Ireland for 36 years in Injection Moulding, Blown Film, Electronics and Sheet Extrusion and has extensive experience in Manufacturing and Strategic Management, having worked for Japanese, American, British, Irish and Swiss companies including Motorola. He also completed a Masters Degree from Trinity College in 2009 in International Business. He is currently a steering Committee  member of  First Polymer Training Skillnet and regularly contributes to education as a part time Lecturer      (HR and Management/ Leadership) and Upskilling at the Technical University of Shannon: Midlands and Midwest. Former roles include IBEC National Committee member, Chairman Plastics Ireland, Enterprise Ireland Manufacturing Group Committee Member, Company Director.

Kenny has unique experience in General Management, Operational Management and Plant Management combined with multinational Company working experience, sale of Athlone Extrusions in 2017 and post-sale integration experience to August 2024 and is now leveraging his experience within TUS, APT and PRISM to further develop TUS Industry collaboration and Applied Polymer Technologies.

John Logan is the Founder and Managing Director of JHL Engineering Ltd, in Athlone. With nearly twenty years of experience supporting the Irish polymer industry, JHL Engineering provides service, maintenance and supply solutions across ancillary systems, material handling, robotics, temperature control and injection moulding equipment. Built around a practical approach, the company helps polymer manufacturers improve equipment performance, modernise processes and maintain reliable production.