Board Members

Peter Kearney was appointed as Chief Executive of AirNav Ireland in June 2018. A state-owned company, AirNav is the country's air navigation service provider (ANSP). Placing innovation at the core of its leadership, Peter is keen to ensure that AirNav delivers best in class service to its customers and stakeholders and is regarded as a leader in the Irish aviation sector and amongst small to medium ANSPs.

Prior to being promoted to this role, Peter held a number of positions within AirNav Ireland. As Director of ATM Operations and Strategy between 2012 and 2018, Peter was responsible for all aspects of AirNav's commercial ANSP business. In this role, Peter ensured that AirNav continued to deliver a safe, high quality service whilst also growing AirNav's commercial revenue in a sustainable manner.

Peter has worked with AirNav Ireland since 1998, holding various management positions and also working initially as an air traffic controller. He has a strong interest in innovation in ATM, being a key advocate of AirNav Ireland's successful remote towers project (which won the Single European Sky Award in 2017) and being heavily involved in Aireon, AirNav Ireland's investment in the world's first satellite based air traffic surveillance system. 

Committed to strategic collaboration, Peter has been a strong supporter of COOPANS, AirNav Ireland's world leading partnership with Naviair, LFV, AustroControl, Croatia Control and now NAV Portugal. He is currently chairman of the COOPANS Alliance. Peter has represented AirNav Ireland and the country at a range of European and international fora, including ICAO, CANSO, EUROCONTROL and EASA and in negotiations with the European Commission.

Peter holds a Masters in Human Factors and Safety Assessment in Aeronautics from Cranfield University and a BSc. (hons) Business Management from Trinity College Dublin. Peter is also a graduate of Harvard Business School.

Peter has a PhD in Future Air Traffic Management Systems. His PhD research focussed on the design and deployment of advanced ATM systems to ensure enhanced safety and efficiency of the air traffic management system by placing the air traffic controller at the heart of the design.

Cian is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years' experience covering professional services, aviation and other industry sectors.

He has worked as a management consultant with Accenture, a partner with Grant Thornton - where he was responsible for governance, risk, control and internal audit services - and as Head of Internal Audit and Group Treasurer with Ryanair.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Law, a master's degree in Risk Management, diplomas in Corporate Governance and Aviation Financing, and a private pilot's license. 

Eimer worked in the representational sector for more than 15 years.

As Director Retail with the Irish Banking Federation, she acquired significant experience in analysis, influence and implementation of regulatory, legal and strategic change arising at both domestic and EU level.

She holds a Professional Diploma in Corporate Governance, as well as an MBS in Financial Services and a BA in Psychology.

She is a non-executive Director on the Board of St. John of God Community Services clg. and she previously served on the Dormant Accounts Board and on the Board of the Investor Compensation Company Ltd.

James O'Loughlin is a Principal Engineer at AirNav Ireland's North Atlantic Communications Centre. He has expertise in HF and VHF Communications, Flight Data Processing, and Data Communications Systems. Previously, James worked as an Aeronautical Radio Officer with the Irish Aviation Authority.

James has extensive experience in ATM systems engineering, and project management as well as safety management and regulatory compliance. He is also a member of the Services and Enterprises Divisional Executive Committee of FORSA and was Chair of the IAA Staff Panel of Unions for many years. James has significant Industrial Relations experience and has overseen the negotiation of several company-wide labour agreements. He has also assisted a number of other companies with the introduction of dispute resolution charters.

Before entering the aviation sector, James worked with Laing O'Rourke as a Project Manager with responsibility for several national utilities projects.

An engineering graduate of University of Limerick, James holds a Masters Degree in Computational Fluid Dynamics and has lectured in Aerodynamics, Theory of Flight and Aircraft Systems.

Lourda Moloney has a commercial aviation industry background with 37 year's experience at senior executive level in the aircraft leasing sector.

Lourda was previously the Chief Servicing Officer at AerCap, responsible for managing its servicing business division that provided aircraft asset management and corporate administrative services to a broad range of third party clients over an 18 year period. She was a Board Director of AerCap Ireland for many years.

Lourda began her career in the aircraft leasing sector at GPA Group plc in a variety of roles including Director of Research. She also worked in various commercial roles for a number of other aircraft leasing organisations including a remarketing services company and engine lessor based in London. 

Lourda graduated from University College Galway with a Batchelor of Arts degree and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Aidan Skelly retired from EirGrid plc in 2022, having served as Chief Financial Officer since 2005. He was Finance Director of Waterford Stanley from 2002 to 2005, and from 1987 to 2002 held a number offinance and commercial roles within Waterford Crystal in Ireland and the UK. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with PWC and holds a B.Comm from UCD as well as an MBS in Corporate Leadership from DCU.