Some of the minds behind the mission
Our leadership team has worked in fast-growing, ambitious businesses in the tech and SaaS industries.
Stride brings together expertise from the worlds of event management, project management office (PMO), branding, marketing, internal comms, HR and people leadership, strategic operations, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).
GET TO KNOW ME
Barry (he/him) is passionate about creating meaningful impact through his work, partnering with companies to improve how people collaborate and make decisions at work. With a strong belief in the power of teams over individuals, Barry co-founded Stride to empower people to do their best work. Committed to a global perspective and human-centred approach, he values collaboration, both internally and with partners. Outside of work, Barry enjoys travel, which fuels his curiosity about people.
Barry Plunkett
Founder & CEO

Barry Plunkett
Founder & CEO
Imer (she/her) is a versatile leader with a rich blend of experience across the SaaS, Tech, Digital and PR & Communications sectors, having guided companies from Series A to post-IPO. Recently pivoting to Chief Operating Officer after 20+ years as an HR and people leader, Imer excels in cross-functional roles, driving growth and championing equality in the workplace. Guided by values of integrity, she brings a people-first approach to every challenge. Beyond work, Imer enjoys live music, fashion, travel, and is an advocate for feminist beliefs.
Imer Cakiroglu
Chief Operating Officer

Imer Cakiroglu
Chief Operating Officer
Ashley (she/her) is a dynamic experience designer, employee engagement nerd, and co-founder of The Optimist Collective. With over a decade in tech at companies like Uber and Asana, she creates innovative spaces for connection, from brand events to company kickoffs. Driven by a commitment to fostering authentic experiences, she weaves purpose and delight into every interaction. A matcha enthusiast and avid traveller, she makes ordinary magical, one thoughtfully curated moment at a time.
Ashley Frabasilio
Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Ashley Frabasilio
Head of Experience Partnership AMER
Jane (she/her) is a seasoned communications leader and brand strategist with a strong background in people engagement, marketing, event management, and experience design. Jane brings a unique blend of strategic vision and creative execution to her work, crafting dynamic experiences that inspire connection and engagement. When she’s not curating unforgettable experiences, Jane loves exploring different parts of the world, adding to her long list of favourite restaurants and spending quality time with family and her dogs.
Jane Dundon
Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Jane Dundon
Head of Experience Partnership EMEA
Thais (She/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride with a passion for events and fostering meaningful connections across the globe. With experience delivering impactful events across EMEA, AMER, and APAC, she excels at creating spaces where people come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Having moved from Brazil to Ireland seven years ago, Thais deeply values the power of connection and belonging. In her free time, Thais enjoys cold sea swims and discovering new coffee shops.
Thais Rebua
Experience Partner

Thais Rebua
Experience Partner
Debby thrives on producing events that inspire people to be the best version of themselves. In her role as Lead Experience Partner at Stride, she combines 25+ years of event production expertise with a passion for leading creative teams that love connecting people in impactful ways. Outside of work, Debby enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and enjoying live music with her family and lifelong friends.
Debby Courtney
Experience Partner

Debby Courtney
Experience Partner
Niall has a deep passion for events, fuelled by nearly 20 years in the industry. He thrives on creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow together. As an Experience Partner at Stride, Niall combines his expertise with a people-first approach to deliver impactful results. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated sports enthusiast and loves sharing his passion with his kids, building memories one game at a time.
Niall Slowey
Experience Partner

Niall Slowey
Experience Partner
Claire Horan (she/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride who is passionate about delivering events that stand out. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to bring ideas to life, Claire thrives on creating memorable experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. With her enthusiasm and approachable style, Claire brings a fresh perspective and a personal touch to every project she takes on. When she’s not immersed in event planning, you’ll find her exploring new places, staying active, or catching live music with friends.
Claire Horan
Experience Partner

Claire Horan
Experience Partner
Carla (she/her) is a numbers enthusiast with nearly 10 years of accounting experience spanning various industries. She brings a positive, can-do attitude to her role as Accounts Assistant while supporting Stride’s mission to build meaningful connections and deliver memorable and impactful experiences. When Carla's not working, you’ll find her playing tennis, at live gigs with her friends, or exploring new walking spots with her dog.
Carla McEllone
Accounts Assistant

Carla McEllone
Accounts Assistant
As an Experience Coordinator, Natalie combines her background in sports and hospitality with her love for teamwork and problem-solving. Natalie channels her adventurous spirit to curate events that are as dynamic and engaging as she is. Outside of work, Natalie’s adventurous spirit comes alive, whether she’s playing sports, attending live music events, exploring new food spots with friends, or capturing moments through her camera lens. Her enthusiasm and love for exploration ensure every event she coordinates is unforgettable and impactful.
Natalie Calbario
Experience Coordinator

Natalie Calbario
Experience Coordinator
Passionate about systemising business finance functions, Richard believes in empowering people by providing them with accurate, complete and meaningful financial information, and also equipping them with an understanding of it, so that they can make informed decisions (to bring about whatever it is that they desire). As well as enjoying translating all things into their equivalent spreadsheet form, Richard loves to surf, dance (sometimes simultaneously) and chill out while sipping some homebrewed kombucha or some curious blend of organic medicinal tea.
Richard Boate
Head of Finance

Richard Boate
Head of Finance
The minds behind the mission
Our leadership team has worked in fast-growing, ambitious businesses in the tech and SaaS industries.
Stride brings together expertise from the worlds of event management, project management office (PMO), branding, marketing, internal comms, HR and people leadership, strategic operations, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).
GET TO KNOW ME
Barry (he/him) is passionate about creating meaningful impact through his work, partnering with companies to improve how people collaborate and make decisions at work. With a strong belief in the power of teams over individuals, Barry co-founded Stride to empower people to do their best work. Committed to a global perspective and human-centred approach, he values collaboration, both internally and with partners. Outside of work, Barry enjoys travel, which fuels his curiosity about people.
Barry Plunkett
Founder & CEO

Barry Plunkett
Founder & CEO
Imer (she/her) is a versatile leader with a rich blend of experience across the SaaS, Tech, Digital and PR & Communications sectors, having guided companies from Series A to post-IPO. Recently pivoting to Chief Operating Officer after 20+ years as an HR and people leader, Imer excels in cross-functional roles, driving growth and championing equality in the workplace. Guided by values of integrity, she brings a people-first approach to every challenge. Beyond work, Imer enjoys live music, fashion, travel, and is an advocate for feminist beliefs.
Imer Cakiroglu
Chief Operating Officer

Imer Cakiroglu
Chief Operating Officer
Ashley (she/her) is a dynamic experience designer, employee engagement nerd, and co-founder of The Optimist Collective. With over a decade in tech at companies like Uber and Asana, she creates innovative spaces for connection, from brand events to company kickoffs. Driven by a commitment to fostering authentic experiences, she weaves purpose and delight into every interaction. A matcha enthusiast and avid traveller, she makes ordinary magical, one thoughtfully curated moment at a time.
Ashley Frabasilio
Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Ashley Frabasilio
Head of Experience Partnership AMER
Jane (she/her) is a seasoned communications leader and brand strategist with a strong background in people engagement, marketing, event management, and experience design. Jane brings a unique blend of strategic vision and creative execution to her work, crafting dynamic experiences that inspire connection and engagement. When she’s not curating unforgettable experiences, Jane loves exploring different parts of the world, adding to her long list of favourite restaurants and spending quality time with family and her dogs.
Jane Dundon
Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Jane Dundon
Head of Experience Partnership EMEA
Thais (She/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride with a passion for events and fostering meaningful connections across the globe. With experience delivering impactful events across EMEA, AMER, and APAC, she excels at creating spaces where people come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Having moved from Brazil to Ireland seven years ago, Thais deeply values the power of connection and belonging. In her free time, Thais enjoys cold sea swims and discovering new coffee shops.
Thais Rebua
Experience Partner

Thais Rebua
Experience Partner
Debby thrives on producing events that inspire people to be the best version of themselves. In her role as Lead Experience Partner at Stride, she combines 25+ years of event production expertise with a passion for leading creative teams that love connecting people in impactful ways. Outside of work, Debby enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and enjoying live music with her family and lifelong friends.
Debby Courtney
Experience Partner

Debby Courtney
Experience Partner
Niall has a deep passion for events, fuelled by nearly 20 years in the industry. He thrives on creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow together. As an Experience Partner at Stride, Niall combines his expertise with a people-first approach to deliver impactful results. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated sports enthusiast and loves sharing his passion with his kids, building memories one game at a time.
Niall Slowey
Experience Partner

Niall Slowey
Experience Partner
Claire Horan (she/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride who is passionate about delivering events that stand out. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to bring ideas to life, Claire thrives on creating memorable experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. With her enthusiasm and approachable style, Claire brings a fresh perspective and a personal touch to every project she takes on. When she’s not immersed in event planning, you’ll find her exploring new places, staying active, or catching live music with friends.
Claire Horan
Experience Partner

Claire Horan
Experience Partner
Carla (she/her) is a numbers enthusiast with nearly 10 years of accounting experience spanning various industries. She brings a positive, can-do attitude to her role as Accounts Assistant while supporting Stride’s mission to build meaningful connections and deliver memorable and impactful experiences. When Carla's not working, you’ll find her playing tennis, at live gigs with her friends, or exploring new walking spots with her dog.
Carla McEllone
Accounts Assistant

Carla McEllone
Accounts Assistant
As an Experience Coordinator, Natalie combines her background in sports and hospitality with her love for teamwork and problem-solving. Natalie channels her adventurous spirit to curate events that are as dynamic and engaging as she is. Outside of work, Natalie’s adventurous spirit comes alive, whether she’s playing sports, attending live music events, exploring new food spots with friends, or capturing moments through her camera lens. Her enthusiasm and love for exploration ensure every event she coordinates is unforgettable and impactful.
Natalie Calbario
Experience Coordinator

Natalie Calbario
Experience Coordinator
Passionate about systemising business finance functions, Richard believes in empowering people by providing them with accurate, complete and meaningful financial information, and also equipping them with an understanding of it, so that they can make informed decisions (to bring about whatever it is that they desire). As well as enjoying translating all things into their equivalent spreadsheet form, Richard loves to surf, dance (sometimes simultaneously) and chill out while sipping some homebrewed kombucha or some curious blend of organic medicinal tea.
Richard Boate
Head of Finance

Richard Boate
Head of Finance
