Retirement Planning Workshop being delivered by John Higgins

Retirement Life is a training organisation which delivers 1 or 2‑day retirement planning workshops for you & your co‑workers.

Profile of Facilitators & Speakers

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John Higgins – Course Facilitator

John is a former CEO of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (2008 to 2013) and was later Programme Manager with the Council (2013/14). He is an acknowledged expert on issues relating to “The Third Age” and is involved in membership of many relevant bodies in this sector. John has a keen knowledge of the range of Social Protection Programmes that are of relevance to retirees. As a teacher, he was a student of psychology which he practised during his teaching career and subsequently as a lecturer with the Retirement Planning Council. Earlier John worked in regional development and was CEO of the Western Development Board and Commission; later he worked as a political advisor and general secretary of the Progressive Democrats. He established Retirement Life Ltd. after his retirement from the Retirement Planning Council. He has also a keen interest in local community development, working with a number of Local Authorities as JH Public Affairs Ltd. John holds a Masters in Political Communications; a BA Degree in Economics; and Diplomas in Accounting and Finance and also in Life Coaching.

Mary Roche is a highly experienced transformational executive coach, career coach, life coach and facilitator. She has worked in Public, Private and Not for Profit Sectors delivering group workshops and individual coaching to generate successful client transitions. Supporting clients to manage Life and Career change and achieve successful outcomes is central to her work. She has worked with Private Sector organisations on transformational programmes. Sectors include, Energy, Pharma, Medtech, Manufacturing, Legal, Healthcare and Financial Services. In the Not-for-Profit sector, she works with leaders to clarify issues and develop strategies to achieve organisational goals. Mary has also designed and delivered programmes around workforce mobilisation, career development and return to workforce, with one programme shortlisted for an Irish Institute of Training and Development award. Her background includes direct experience in Management in Financial Services and International Banking in Ireland, UK and Australia. An EMCC accredited Executive and Personal Coach, she also holds qualifications in Training, Marketing (Marketing Institute of Ireland) along with qualifications in Leading Others, Strategy and Implementation and Self-Management from NUIG, (now University of Galway).

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Mary Roche
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Noel Fahy – Financial Management Trainer
Noel is a qualified financial advisor with over 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector. He has held a number of senior management positions in both Bank of Ireland and National Irish Bank and also held the position of National Sales Manager for Danske Bank Ireland. He left banking in 2011 to set up and establish his own very successful business, Fahey Financial Solutions Ltd., specialising in providing independent financial advice to Personal, Business and Corporate clients nationwide. He also works closely with a number of agencies presenting tailored financial programs at both national and local level. His qualifications include a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from National University of Ireland, Galway. He is a Qualified Financial Advisor, holds a Financial Services Diploma and is also a member of the Professional Insurance Brokers Association (PIBA).
Bill was a founder, director and general manager of Docutex Limited, a Xerox Concessionaire business in Northern Ireland employing circa 45 staff. He has proven leadership skills running these multimillion businesses and has significant experience recruiting, training and managing multi-functional teams with more than 20 years business development experience in the UK and Ireland. He has also held senior management positions in blue chip companies Canon (UK) and Xerox Corp. and has developed leading edge managerial and sales skills through their highly acclaimed training and development programmes. Bill has given considerable support and time as a volunteer business adviser and board member of Young Enterprise.
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Bill McKendry – Assistant Course Facilitator
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Brendan Malone – Financial Management Trainer

Brendan is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland; with over 34 years’ experience in private practice. His expertise is focused with particular emphasis on advising in the areas of personal and corporate taxation and financial management. He is a former non-executive director of Rabobank (formerly ACC Bank), the Rail Procurement Agency (Luas) and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA). Brendan was a member of the executive committee of AFrI (Action from Ireland), a not-for- profit-organisation, involved in Justice and Peace issues and served as chairman of the Board for 12 years. He is an accredited mediator and a member of Mediation Forum Ireland and a panel member of mediators with Chartered Accountants Ireland. Brendan is also a member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland.

Aisling holds an honours degree in BSc Human Physiology & Exercise Science from IT Carlow and a PGDip. Nutrition & Exercise Science from University of Chester. She has worked in private practice for musculoskeletal assessment for the past 12 years with clients ranging from teenagers, professional athletes to senior citizens. She has managed a fitness facility for five years and provided mobility programs to the elderly in nursing home environments. Her area of specialisation is in functional movement for ‘life’ and optimal nutrition to fuel the working body.

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Aisling Fahey – Healthy Living Trainer
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Sinéad Bradbury – Healthy Living Trainer

Sinéad Bradbury set up The Nutrition & Clinic in Galway in 2008. Over the last 12 years Sinéad has worked with some of Ireland’s top personalities and sporting heroes. She sees clients on a one to one basis as well as group and event settings. Sinéad looks at each client as an individual, taking into account current lifestyle, past health and future goals. Sinead is regularly described as “engaging, passionate and relatable”.

Gillian is a member of the Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI). She works as a self-employed dietitian and has set up private dietetic clinics based in South Dublin and Co. Wicklow. She manages her own business called Inside Out Nutrition. Gillian holds a BSc (Hons) Dietetics, MINDI, PgCert Applied Sports Nutrition. Gillian also has extensive experience working in large teaching hospitals both in the UK and Ireland. She graduated from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh in 2001 with an honour’s degree in dietetics. She is also a member of a working group of entrepreneurial freelance dietitians in Ireland.

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Gillian McConnell – Healthy Living Trainer
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Olivia Beck – Healthy Living Trainer


Olivia Beck works with Retirement Life in the general Munster Area as a presenter on Healthy Living in retirement. Olivia is a Certified Nutritional Therapist, Lecturer and Speaker with her own well-established Clinic in Limerick City. She helps people to help themselves, through diet and lifestyle. A healthy, balanced diet can improve one’s energy, mood, digestion and overall vitality, at every age. Olivia is currently doing her Master’s Degree in Advanced Nutrition and hopes to continue to educate people on healthy eating for longevity.

Olivia uses evidence-based research to inform her practice and talks, as well as her belief in walking the walk-in order to inspire others to make positive diet and lifestyle changes.

Shelagh is an Entrepreneur and Author, a Chartered Accountant working in her own practice, Firm Advice providing Business Advice and Debt Restructuring services over 25 years in the UK and Ireland. Her mission is to create a safe space to empower people struggling with their finances, be it lack financial literacy or negative self-talk that you are no good with money or the shame around debt, discover their self-worth and develop a positive relationship with money, to live a more fulfilling life. She went on to attend Mindfulness, Yoga, Meditation Trauma and Communication courses and has a unique approach by tackling financial and emotional issues around your relationship with money. Shelagh holds a B. Comm, Chartered Accountant, Certificate in Personal Insolvency, Diploma in Forensic Accounting and is an Accredited Mediator. In July 2023 Rebel Ma was published and is a collection of twenty-five women’s stories of reclamation. Shelagh is one of the 25 Authors.

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Shelagh Marshall
Ali Dorgan

Ali’s passion and interest in well-being stems from her background in competitive sports. She qualified in 2003 with a degree in Social Science, and went on further attaining her Injury; Sports Treatments qualification in 2005. As healthy eating and nutrition are such an integral part of Ali’s lifestyle, she was keen to further her knowledge and undertook a 4-year Nutritional Therapy qualification, graduating in 2018 as a Nutritionist. Ali uses a hands-on approach in her physiotherapy and rehab treatments.  She enjoys working closely with clients to make long-term changes to improve their health. Her previous career in Social Work has given Ali the tools in supporting clients to make difficult changes. Her special areas of interest are in gut health, auto- immune disease and sports performance.