Digital Business Ireland (DBI) is the voice of the Irish digital commerce sector.
Set up in 2019, DBI is a not-for-profit representative body that counts over 8,000 businesses as part of its community spanning across a range of sectors to include technology, retail, hospitality, professional services, travel, transport, education, leisure, agri-business and property. Our network of affiliate members include Health Stores Ireland, the Association of Fine Jewellers, Donegal Women in Business Network, County Kildare Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Inspire Network, the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, Digital HQ, Dún Laoghaire and The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland.
DBI is proud to offer cutting-edge training, insights and events to those that form part of our network. Businesses are guaranteed complimentary advisory services, insights, advocacy and public policy influence at National and European level – all of which helps businesses to thrive and achieve their digital ambitions. We also partner with companies that are aligned to the core interests of the organisation and demonstrate a value-proposition to the membership.
Lorraine Higgins is Founder of Digital Business Ireland.
Lorraine is a former Senator, barrister, and a highly experienced public policy professional, media commentator and strategist.
She has worked as an external consultant to a number of blue chip multinational companies and was previously CEO of Ireland’s largest retail representative body.
A public speaker she has contributed to many public discussions on eCommerce and digital development and most recently addressed the United Nations eCommerce Week in Geneva and the Greek eCommerce Expo. She has worked closely with the largest lobbying body in the world, the NRF (USA), on the implementation of the GDPR for American retailers and served as a Director of eCommerce Europe (Brussels).
During her time as a Senator she was a regular contributor on matters including business, entrepreneurship and EU issues and in an independent study conducted in 2014 she was named the second most influential member of Seanad Éireann in terms of shaping public policy and opinion. In December 2015, she was also named by the Irish Times as one of the Top 5 People in Politics to Watch and one of the Top 50 People in Ireland to Watch.
Lorraine is also currently Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic and plays a role in the economic and cultural development of the relationship between the Slovak Republic and Ireland. She serves on the Australian Embassy’s Women in Leadership Committee and is Chair of the Emerald Leadership Programme established by the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce. She is also a Trustee of Sightsavers International (Ireland).
She previously worked as a Barrister and was a Lecturer teaching Contract Law and Tort Law to students undertaking the Law Society FE1 exams. She currently guest lectures for the Public Relations Institute of Ireland.
The Digital Business Ireland
Advisory Council
Our Advisory Council is committed to delivering sectoral insights and formulating policy that will guide digital businesses in Ireland, to grow, thrive and achieve their ambitions.
Caroline Dunlea
Core Optimisation, Chair of Digital Business Ireland
David Campbell
eCommerce Proposition Manager
DHL
Ashley McDonnell
eCommerce Director
PUIG
Lorraine Higgins
Founder
Digital Business Ireland
Oonagh McCutcheon
Corporate Communications Manager
.IE
Victor Timon
Head of the ByrneWallace LLP Technology Group
Rose O’Donovan
Financial Services Expert
Eamon Moore
Founder & CEO
Hikari Data Solutions
Tracey O’Brien
MD
The People Password
Graham Patrick Merriman
eCommerce Lecturer
Trinity Business School
Dinos Kerigan Kyrou
International Cyber
Security Expert
Jordan McCarthy
Sales Director
Checkout.com
Kieran O’Brien
Director of Marketing & Communications
Core Optimisation
Orla Cooney
Chief Operating Officer
Magico
Gráinne Mullins
Founder and CEO
Grá Chocolates
Rachel Hennessy
Founder
Happy Days Fashion Rental
Marisa Ronan
Global Leadership Development
Microsoft
Tom Sharkey
Head of Retail Sales
Planet Payments
David de Patoul
Co-Founder
Strike Digital
Ecommerce Europe
DBI are proud members of Ecommerce Europe – the voice of the European Digital Commerce sector.
Ecommerce Europe represents, via its 23 national associations, more than 100,000 companies selling goods and services online to consumers in Europe. Ecommerce Europe acts at European level to help legislators create a better framework for online merchants, so that their sales can grow further.