Organisers

Seán Ó Fithcheallaigh

PhD Researcher, School of Computing, Ulster University.

Seán is a PhD Researcher within the Pervasive Computing Research Centre (PCRC), specialising in Federated Learning (FL) with a focus on developing trustworthy FL frameworks for sensor networks and IoT devices. He is also a researcher with the BT Ireland Innovation Centre (BTIIC), where he works on IoT Autonomics. With over a decade of experience in electronics and software engineering, including developing next-generation application-specific IoT sensors, he brings first-hand understanding of the practical constraints and opportunities that shape AI deployment at the edge.

Contact: o_fithcheallaigh-s@ulster.ac.uk

Dr Ian Cleland

Reader/Research Director, School of Computing, Ulster University.

Ian is a Reader in the School of Computing at Ulster University, where he serves as Research Director. His work focuses on applied AI, machine learning, and intelligent sensing technologies. He has over 15 years’ experience developing real-world AI systems across healthcare and digital innovation. Ian’s research interests include Edge AI, sensor-based activity recognition, wearable and embedded technologies, and the use of synthetic data to support data-driven modelling. He is particularly interested in how AI can move closer to the edge to enable scalable, privacy-aware, and real-time intelligent systems. He received degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science from Ulster University and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers in AI, digital health, and health informatics. Ian has contributed to over £20M in externally funded research projects, including major collaborations with industry through initiatives such as the Connected Health Innovation Centre (CHIC) and the PwC Advanced Engineering and Research Centre (ARC).