In the news: Supply chain security is key, advises Jim Barry
We’re in the news: Thank you to Joe Dermody for featuring our event in “On The Grapevine” section of the Irish Examiner. Here is the piece.
Mr Barry was the keynote speaker at PODA25, the annual business conference hosted by professional services firm Paul O’Donovan & Associates, in association with VBC, with the theme `Navigating Tomorrow: Finance, sustainability and strategy for Irish SMEs’.
The former CIO of Black-Rock BlackRock Alternative Investors (BAI), Mr Barry advised businesses on the localised impacts of evolving global issues. BAI is BlackRock’s $330bn alternative asset business. Jim now advises businesses on energy transition and investments.
“In terms of you as a business owner or service provider, whatever your particular interest is, it’s time for caution.”
It’s a volatile world with massive uncertainties and big downside risk, and so you’re gonna have to be very thoughtful about how and when you’re deploying.
You’ve got to scenario test your resilience to economic slowdown, to the impact of the tariffs, to the cost of your leverage in the context of any business challenge.
You’ve got to look at your supply chain. You’ve got to see what the implications are directly or indirectly. Think second or third order.
Mr Barry’s speech also analysed the broader geopolitical issues around the evolving tariff negotiations between the US, the EU, China and others. He also delivered indepth insights on the reasons why energy transition and climate action need to remain a priority for the world’s leading economies.
The conference addressed the turbulent times and issues that Irish businesses are currently operating in. Topics included tax, treasury, finance and sustainability, as well as trends both locally and globally. It outlined why Irish businesses should be thinking about the future with optimism as well as how to deal with current pressures effectively.
The conference also featured:
- John Finn, MD of Treasury Solutions Ltd, on the global banking and treasury outlook;
- Taxation experts Julie Healy, tax director at KPMG, and Mairead Hennessy, MD of Taxkey, who discussed succession, M&A, retirement and business exits, along with entrepreneurial relief.
- Collectively, the panel of finance experts addressed the recent evolution of the private investment market, funding options for SMEs, and preparing for investment. Panellists discussed the availability of funds, creating resilience through market volatility, and some benefits of private capital.
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Our keynote speaker – Jim Barry
We’d like to thank Jim for his insightful and topical talk at our recent event. He was one of the expert speakers at our recent SME Finance conference, held on April 15th 2025 in Cork.
Jim has been pioneering energy transition for over 25 years. He was CEO from 2000-2011 of NTR plc, one of the first leading global investors in energy transition. He joined BlackRock in 2011 to lead their entry into infrastructure equity, with a Renewable Power investment strategy, helping them build one of the world’s leading energy transition investment platforms. He was latterly Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock’s then $330bn Alternative Asset business.
Jim finished with BlackRock in 2023 and is now spearheading the development of a global insurance carrier, developing risk solutions in the energy transition space.
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If you have any questions for John, or want more information, please contact jackie@paulodonovan.ie.