Business

Fintech entrepreneur receives Science Park’s highest honour

Brian Conlon with Steve Orr of NISP CONNECT and Ian Sheppard and Julie-Ann O’Hare from Bank of Ireland UK.
Brian Conlon with Steve Orr of NISP CONNECT and Ian Sheppard and Julie-Ann O’Hare from Bank of Ireland UK. Brian Conlon with Steve Orr of NISP CONNECT and Ian Sheppard and Julie-Ann O’Hare from Bank of Ireland UK.

BRIAN Conlon, founder and chief executive of financial software firm First Derivatives, has been named as the Northern Ireland Science Park’s ‘Innovation Founder’ for 2015, which recognises an individual who has achieved distinction in founding, leading or building a celebrated local science or technology business.

He returned to Northern Ireland from London to set up First Derivatives in Newry in 1996, helped by a loan of £5,000 from the Credit Union, and last year the company posted earnings of £83.2m. It has also acquired four companies in recent months, and its global workforce numbers have grown to more than 1,200.

Mr Conlon was nominated by a member of the public and selected for this year’s award by the previous recipients, who include Dr William Wright of Wrightbus (2014), Dr Peter FitzGerald of Randox Laboratories (2013), and Tom Eakin of TG Eakin (2012).

He will formally receive his accolade on October 8 at the NISP Connect INVENT 2015 Awards, a competition for inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs and students to pitch their prototypes and new inventions to technology and commercial leaders.

:: Mr Conlon is pictured being presented with the honour by (from left) Steve Orr of NISP CONNECT and Ian Sheppard and Julie-Ann O’Hare from sponsors Bank of Ireland UK.