AI without the Hype: Case Studies, Challenges & Frameworks

WITS is honored to be part of Dublin Tech Week and is presenting the first event in an AI in the industry series of discussions on case studies, challenges, addressing AI fluency faced by key industry stakeholders. This event focuses on the life sciences, pharma & healthtech industry. Join us for an engaging community event in this space and contribute to the constantly evolving space of AI.

Date: May 26, 2026
Time: 6pm-8.30pm

Venue: Deloitte Campus, Dublin

Organisers: WITS Ireland (Rochelle Carvalho, Aisling Cronin)

Panel:
Susan Treacy (Healthtech Ireland)
Having a positive mindset in a hyped AI world (healthtech focus)
→ “How to stay grounded, optimistic, and focused on real impact amid the hype of AI in healthtech.
Kate O Reilly (Roche)
AI-enabled solutions built with patient communities
→ “Co-creating AI-powered health solutions with patient communities from the ground up
Kathleen McQuone-Elliott –
Rolling out AI Fluency in a Large Organisation
→ “How to build enterprise-wide AI fluency that moves beyond training into business impact and adoption.”

Agenda
6pm – Networking & Welcome Drinks
6.30pm - 6.45pm -Data insights on AI in the industry
6.45pm - 7.45pm - Panel discussion
7.45 - 8.30pm - Networking, snacks & drinks

Speakers

Kate O’Reilly
Healthcare Transformation Partner, Roche Products Ireland

Kate is a pharmacist with over 10 years of experience working across the health and life sciences sectors, including clinical settings, pharmaceutical regulation, academia, digital health and consulting.

As Healthcare Transformation Partner at Roche Products Ireland Limited, Kate focuses on driving patient and system partnership activity, working closely with patient communities to integrate lived experience into decision making.

She is a strong advocate for digital innovation and has led digital health strategy engagements for global pharma, med-tech and hospitals. She is also a co-author of the peer-reviewed textbook Digital Therapeutics: Scientific, Statistical, Clinical, and Regulatory Aspects (2022).

Alongside her work in patient engagement, Kate serves as President of the Dublin Chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, leading a team of 20 volunteers. She holds a Master’s degree in Ph*rm*cy and a PhD in Neuropharmacology from Trinity College Dublin.

Susan Treacy
CEO, HealthTech Ireland

Susan Treacy is CEO of HealthTech Ireland, the national association representing health technology and life sciences providers across Ireland.

A former Biomedical Scientist with over 25 years’ experience across clinical science, commercial leadership and executive governance, she has supported organisations through her own consulting practice as well as senior roles in multinationals, SMEs and startups.

She led a significant collaboration between industry and the Irish health system, including a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the HSE that established the National Health Collaboration Council, the first governed structure globally linking industry with a national health service. She also established a pioneering MoU with RCSI to strengthen clinician–industry partnership in healthcare transformation and leadership.

Susan serves as an external representative on HSE steering groups, contributes to HIQA working groups on AI and Health Technology Assessment and sits on the Research and Innovation Board Subcommittee at Tallaght University Hospital. She has also supported WHO-aligned initiatives, bringing practical industry insight to global health system challenges.

Representing Ireland on MedTech Europe and the Global Medical Technology Alliance, she contributes to national strategies in digital health, AI and sustainability. She has been recognised as HealthTech CEO of the Year 2023 and CEO of the Year 2025.

She is passionate about supporting young women and men in STEM and has served on the WITS council for several years. A leader operating across a complex and rapidly evolving health ecosystem, she regularly engages with public audiences on strategic collaboration, leadership and the future of healthcare.

Kathleen McQone Elliot
Kathleen is the Global Head of Development AI Academy in Novartis.

She leads AI capability building programs for leaders, associates and champions with a focus on AI adoption, experimentation and proficiency across Development teams globally.

Kathleen’s work centres on enabling safe and responsible use of AI in Development, with a strong focus on role‑specific learning, practical application and scalable capability, covering areas such as M365 Copilot, GenAI, AI agents and partners with the line functions and innovation teams to provide AI readiness for the DevAI Portfolio.

Through the Development AI Academy, she works closely with Development leadership to ensure AI learning translates into real impact in Drug Development.

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Host or Publisher WITS Ireland