• Maria Moynihan Lee

    Managing Director

    As Managing Director of Milestone, Maria develops and fosters client, partner and sponsor relationships, ensuring the vision of projects and productions is executed to the highest standard. Currently, Milestone is the national coordinator for Culture Night and Cruinniú na nÓg, and also produces the flagship Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, now in its 70th year. Milestone further specialises in feasibility research and economic impact evaluation and has delivered tourism marketing campaigns.

    Past Milestone productions include ‘A Nation’s Voice’ 1916 Centenary concert at Collins Barracks in partnership with the Arts Council and RTÉ, involving a choir of 1,000 and the National Symphony Orchestra; The Playboy of the Western World - The Musical, The Tall Ships Races Dublin 2012 and coordination of National Heritage Week.

    Maria has been centrally involved in the festivals and events sector in Ireland since 2000, beginning her career in this field as CEO of Ireland’s St Patrick's Festival. She went on to serve as Festival Director of the Volvo Ocean Race Galway in 2009 before co-founding Milestone Inventive in 2011

  • Katie Shackleton

    Creative Director

    As Co-Founder and Creative Director of Milestone Inventive, Katie has overseen programming, event planning and delivery, and the commissioning of suppliers and performers for Milestone's in-house productions over the last decade. Katie also has a strong background in research and evaluation, working with clients including Gaillimh le Gaeilge, The Heritage Council, the IRFU, and Galway County Council in this capacity, focussing primarily on consumer trends, audience behaviour and economic impact. Most recently Katie has begun working in the area of creative film production for Milestone, producing the 2021 Culture Night video and TV ad which captured the zeitgeist of the return to cultural gatherings.

    Katie has been working in the events and cultural sector since 2006 in the areas of event marketing, programming, PR, planning and production. She has also worked as a consultant in marketing and market research, as well as statistical analysis and evaluation.

  • Fiona Lawless

    Operations Director

    Since joining the Milestone team in 2011 Fiona has managed end to end operations in all of their productions. She has worked on numerous national projects including Cruinniú na nÓg, Culture Night, the Papal Visit in 2018, National Heritage Week, A Nation’s Voice and stretching back to The Volvo Ocean Race in 2009 as well as being involved in Milestone’s own productions The Galway Summer Garden, The Galway Christmas Market and Playboy of the Western World, A Musical.
    Her role with Milestone centres on logistics, production and people management, including staff and volunteers. Recently she has specialised in planning and permit applications, liaison with statutory bodies, online booking & registration systems and web maintenance and online advertising.

    Fiona has over 20 years’ experience in the arts, culture and theatre sector in operations and project management. She has worked as a school liaison and BEAST! project coordinator with Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, as front of house manager with Druid theatre and was also volunteers manager with Food on the Edge, a two-day symposium that takes place annually in Ireland for chefs and food enthusiasts. She has also worked with St Patrick’s Festival Galway, coordinating communications and social media.

  • Susan Collins McGrady

    Project Manager

    Susan runs the day-to-day administration for Milestone as well as general communications and social media. Since joining the team in 2021, she has worked on ‘Playboy the Musical’, Culture Night and Night Visions 2021, The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, Cruinniú Na nÓg, and The Galway Christmas Market.

    Susan studied Media, Public Relations and Business Enterprise but her main strengths derive from her campaign experience, which included the management of all aspects of both national and local election campaigns and referendums. She was the owner of MerchAddicts, a merchandise company specialising in alternative approaches to campaigning and has designed and produced art for hundreds of badges. She came to Milestone via The Galway Film Fleadh, where she was involved in volunteer management, running the volunteer crew for the Galmont Industry Events and the Junior Film Fleadh.

  • Ava Kavanagh

    Creative Producer

    Her role within Milestone involves social media strategy development, media outreach, project and event coordination and strategy as well conducting market research for various projects.

    Ava studied Law and Business in NUIG specialising in areas such as Copyright , Intellectual Property as well as Business Strategy and Marketing. She combines her business background with a passion for coordinating and facilitating creative projects and events. Ava previously worked primarily in the food industry working as a project coordinator and media liaison for Jess Murphy , owner of the award winning Kai restaurant. Here, she worked on multiple national projects and campaigns with NEFF, the Irish Times, Musgraves Group, Irish Socksciety and Blasta Books. She has also worked freelance in business development across a range of sectors helping founders and new businesses develop their brand narrative and business management strategy, helping to offer a fresh client centred approach.

  • Karen Hillery

    Production Assistant

    Karen is a recent graduate of ATU having obtained a degree in Event Management and PR relations. As a part of her final year placement she worked as an intern for Milestone Inventive where she gained valuable experience working on some of Ireland’s much-loved events such as the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, The Galway Christmas Market and Culture Night. She has led the social media campaign for both the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, Galway Christmas Market and most recently, Tonnta Festival.

    Since joining the team full-time in 2023 as a Production Assistant, other productions she has worked on include The Arts Council: Festival Makers conference, BIM Irish oyster industry meetings and networking event 2023, the Cula 4 channel launch (for TG4), Samhain: Fire & Shadows Processions, Solas at Corkmas, Christmas in Limerick and currently involved in the University of Galway, “Gateway to Galway” programme along with training and networking events for the university’s Active* Consent programme.

    She is hardworking and competent with a flair for statistical analysis, websites and social media communications.

  • Kelsey Sheridan

    Production Co-Ordinator

    Kelsey joined the Milestone team full-time at the end of summer (after previously working several events with us) with years of event experience behind her.

    Since joining Milestone, she has assisted in coordinating Irelands National Culture Night & and Galway International Oyster Festival (winners of Travel 2 Ireland's Best Food Festival Award).

    Kelsey is a globe-trotting DJ and promoter, known for lighting up dancefloors from Vietnam to Tenerife, Dublin to Galway. In 2022, she founded the @teighsios collective, hosting inclusive, multi-disciplinary parties in Galway & fundraising events for Galway Rape Crisis Centre & Ukranians in need. Fresh off an exhilarating festival circuit, including Boomtown Fair (UK), All Together Now, and Electric Picnic, where she fused genres into her sets along with regular gigs at Galway's Blue Note and collaborating with Ping Pong Disco. Her most recent project RaggaPuffin is where she curate genre-bending DJ sets performed live with drummer Iarla Fox former member of Irish reggae band Intinn and Lady Grew American performance artist and rapper.

    Kelsey also runs kids disco- when it's time for the younger crowd to have some fun, she bring the party to them! With kid-friendly tunes and interactive entertainment, she turns any children's event into an unforgettable adventure. Most recently, she took this to Electric Picnic. Kelsey brings a high level of creativity to the Milestone team.