Meet the team

Mastermind Facilitator

​

Neil O'Brien is a Chartered Management Accountant and published author who has worked with more than 250 professional services firms and business owners. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, he helps firms grow profitably and with focus. His work blends financial and behavioural understanding with practical tools such as 80:20 analysis and pricing strategy to identify and act on priorities that deliver measurable improvement. Neil facilitates structured Mastermind programmes that encourage reflection, accountability, and progress.​

​

Integration and Value Optimisation

Duncan Emery is the Managing Director of Emery Quinn, a specialist firm that supports clients through significant strategic and operational change. With over 25 years of experience, he has delivered transformation across global manufacturing, industrial, and service organisations. Earlier in his career, Duncan spent six years with McKinsey & Company before moving into senior roles, including Global Operations Director and COO. His expertise covers mergers, acquisitions, and post-integration value creation, helping firms improve performance, strengthen leadership, and realise long-term gains.

Executive Coach and Leadership Facilitator​

​

Philip Brady is an experienced executive coach, leadership facilitator and 2x TedX speaker. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with senior leaders across international financial services, including a long-standing relationship with Citi on talent, learning, and leadership development. His approach combines presence-based coaching, physiological awareness and practical leadership tools to strengthen communication, decision-making and resilience in complex environments. Philip works with firm leaders and the next generation on the development that shapes how they lead and perform.​​

Co-founder | Advisor

​

Jim Irving is a retired business leader, author, and mentor with more than 40 years of experience in sales and business growth. As a former UK Managing Director for a global software company, he led teams through complex, high-value transactions and strategic change. Over the past decade, Jim has shared his experience through mentoring start-ups and SMEs and as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Catalyst, Northern Ireland Science Park. He is the author of three Amazon bestselling business books. Jim played a key role in shaping Practice Edge in its early years and now supports the team in an advisory capacity.

Research and Strategic Insight

​

Fiona Norman is the Managing Director of FN Research and an experienced market research and insight specialist with more than 35 years’ experience supporting organisations to make evidence-led decisions. She works with professional services firms to bring structured research into leadership discussions, helping them understand how they are experienced by clients, teams, and stakeholders, and how this shapes performance over time. Fiona supports Practice Edge clients through research that informs direction, positioning, and internal alignment during periods of growth, change, or integration.

Fractional CFO | Advisor

​

With more than two decades of international business experience, spanning ten years in accountancy practice and the rest in industry, Kevin McNulty specialises in strategic business planning, data analytics, and financial performance. His background in chemistry, food technology, and pharmaceuticals across Ireland and Europe gives him a distinctive blend of technical and commercial insight. Kevin has developed budgets exceeding £500 million, led financial due diligence on deals up to £130 million, and helps firms turn financial data into actionable insights that improve profitability and growth.

Executive Coach and Team Facilitator

​

Noel Clerkin has been practising as an executive coach and team facilitator since 2002, following a career in financial services across Dublin, Paris, London, and New York. He works with senior leaders, founders, and HR directors to help them lead effectively, manage change, and build alignment within their teams. Noel's international experience and pragmatic style make him a valued resource for leaders who want to strengthen collaboration, culture, and performance across their firms.

Project and Bid Management

​

Jules Alexander brings over a decade of experience in project management, business development, and competitive bid strategy across professional services and construction. A certified proposal management professional (CF APMP), she has supported teams at Deloitte and other leading firms across the UK, Ireland, and EMEA. Jules combines structure and clear communication with a collaborative approach that keeps projects aligned, efficient, and outcome-focused from start to finish.