Pádraig Walsh
Founder
Pádraig is an experienced Behavioural Psychologist whose work focuses on applying behavioural science to solve real world problems. He is an internationally accredited Board Certified Behavior Analyst and an Associate Fellow of the Psychological Society of Ireland.
He lectures in Behavioural Psychology on Doctorate Programmes at the University of Limerick and Master Programmes at Trinity College, Dublin & National University of Ireland, Galway.
Pádraig regularly contributes behavioural insights to topical media discussions including appearances on Virgin Media, RTE News, RTE Radio One and Newstalk.
Ben Casperz
Communications expert
Ben is a communications expert specialising in social change. He is the founder of Claremont, one of the UK’s leading behaviour change communications agencies.
He has worked at a senior level with a wide range of organisations including NHS England, Mayor of London, Design Council, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Save The Children UK, MS Society, Brunel University, City University, Department for Education, Department for Transport, Cabinet Office, Met Police, National Audit Office, National Apprenticeship Service, Ikano bank, Capita Group plc, Unite Students plc, National Careers Service, Welsh Government and the UN World Food Programme.
An early advocate of ‘nudge’ and behavioural economics, Ben specialises in behavioural change, strategic communications, systems change, creative development, co-design, qualitative prototyping of interventions and all aspects of campaigning.
Ben speaks regularly at universities and conferences on behaviour change and strategic communications.
Christopher Robin Van Rugge
Behaviour Scientist
Bob is a behavioural scientist with a specialisation in environmental psychology. His work has predominantly focused on using simple social interventions to tackle complex societal issues.
These interventions target individual and group behaviour while maintaining and enhancing autonomy.
He has worked on a range of topics with different companies, including promoting cycling with NextBike, encouraging healthy eating with Bupa, and the acceptability of a meat tax for the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
As a Dutchman having studied Behavioural Science in Stirling, UK, followed by a PhD in the Netherlands and now living in Dublin, he dreams of a country that has both ubiquitous cycling infrastructure and beautiful mountains to climb.
Dr Rebecca Brown
Senior research fellow
Becky is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, based in the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. Her work focuses on ethical issues arising in healthcare, particularly public health promotion. She has experience collaborating with behavioural scientists, medical professionals and health service researchers in order to support ethical healthcare provision.
Research projects have included work on the introduction of immunity passports during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of financial incentives to encourage healthy behaviour change, ethical policy and practice in reproductive and obstetric care, and the requirements for ethical public health communication.
Becky teaches philosophy and practical ethics at the University of Oxford and has presented her work at international conferences. She has appeared on BBC radio and television, amongst other outlets, to discuss her work.
Kaylee Cortese
Assistant psychologist
Kaylee Cortese is an Assistant Psychologist for ChangeAble Behaviour Solutions. She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she completed her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Special Education and Trinity College Dublin where he is finishing up her degree in Applied Behavioural Analysis.
She has been involved in working with and teaching special needs children, teens, and adults in different settings and has an active interest in bettering the lives of those around her.
She is fluent in American Sign Language, conversational in Korean, and has an interest in using behavioral insights to solve problems within the world, and the people within it, as well as digging into research that backs these claims.
Dr Mícheál de Barra
Senior lecturer
Dr Mícheál de Barra is a senior lecturer in Brunel University, London. His research is on health and behaviour, and he has a particular interest in understanding how maladaptive ideas and behaviours about health and healing spread and persist. The work has been published in leading scientific journals and featured on the BBC. He had a wide range of research skills including large online experiments, fieldwork (worked in Bangladesh, Mauritius and Zanzibar), qualitative interviewing, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and analysis of online health communication.
Eram Shaikh
Assistant Psychologist
Eram Shaikh is an Assistant Psychologist for ChangeAble Behaviour Solutions. She has completed her MA in Clinical Psychology and is currently starting her degree of MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Trinity College Dublin.
She has been involved in various settings such as counseling platforms, hospital set-ups, training teens and adults and working and teaching children with special needs. Seeking fulfillment from working in the care sector and making meaningful changes in people’s lives has always driven her to give her best.
Eram is adept at providing a humanistic touch to her approach. She has an interest in practical research. She loves cats and scenic hikes on sunny days!
Peter Dunne
Creative Director
Peter Dunne is an award-winning writer, playwright, producer and creator of audio dramas, podcasts and unusual experiences. His plays have been staged at the Abbey Theatre, Project Arts Centre, Bewleys Café Theatre, Dublin Castle and Smock Alley Theatre amongst others.
His various podcasts have garnered a New York Radio Drama Award and two Irish Podcast Awards alongside multiple nominations worldwide. For the Bram Stoker Festival, he created the audio experiences Eerie and Bram, and Instaterror – the world’s first ghost story to take place completely on Instagram.
In his career as a journalist, he has created articles for news sites such as RTE and the Irish Times. Peter was also the editor of GCN and the Dublin LGBTQ Pride Guide for over 4 years.
Vish Venkatesh
Behavioural Scientist
Vish holds a Master’s degree (MA) in Economics from St. Joseph’s University, India. Her academic journey continued with a Master’s degree (MSc) in Behavioural Economics from University College Dublin.
Vish has previously interned with the Department of Foreign Affairs. There, she contributed to critical national and foreign policy strategy development projects within the Evaluation and Audit Unit.
Vish is also an avid reader, she delves into diverse topics, constantly expanding her knowledge base. Her interest in behavioural economics fuels her passion for researching consumer behaviour patterns to provide simple insights and solutions to solve daily consumer problems. During her time in India, Vish led the Postgraduate Economics Society which honed her skills in marketing, communication, and research.
Outside of work, Vish enjoys staying active through travelling, workouts and hiking.
