EXPERIENCE
MAJOR PROJECTS
Strokestown House and Park
Completion of Commercial Plan and strategic review.
Mount Congreve
House & Gardens
New commercial plan supporting significant investment in visitor facilities at the Heritage Property.
Johnstown Castle
Commercial plan and review of visitor activities.
Lough Key Forest and
Activity Park
Creation of a 10-year masterplan including exciting new attractions, Interpretive themes and commercial activities and successful funding application under Just Transition Scheme.
Ashford Castle
Development of new range of outdoor activities for the 5 star Hotel.
Vandeleur Walled Gardens,
Co Clare
Visitor experience consultant for Investment
project at Stable block at Vandeleur
Walled Gardens.
Letterkenny Courthouse
Development of Business Plan and successful funding application for a new visitor attraction and community facility.
Hook Lighthouse
Visitor Experience Consultant for major Development project - Tourism and Interpretation.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
A SAMPLE OF PREVIOUS CONTRACTS INCLUDE:
Blacks of Kinsale
Distillery and Brewery Business Plan – visitor attraction, Restaurant and Retail.
Historic Royal palaces and Tourism Northern Ireland
Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland - Review of Operations and finance, operator model, revenue generation and delivery
Limerick City and County Council
Limerick Greenway hubs development plan.
Birr Castle
Strategic plan for Fáilte Ireland - Strategy, Governance, Operating Environment and main strategic activities.
Coillte Forest Parks
Future Strategy Masterplan - Portumna Forest Park, Lough Key and Ravensdale Forest Park - with Cunnane Stratton Reynolds.
Fáilte Ireland and Waterford County Council
Waterford Treasures Museums – Commercial Plan and strategic review of visitor experience.
Newry, Mourne and Down Council – Northern Ireland
Tourism advisory consultant for the Belfast City Deal funding project and strategic tourism development.
Slane Castle and Fáilte Ireland - Henry Mountcharles and Alex Conyngham
Strategic Business Plan development for family at Slane Castle Estate incorporating Slane Castle, Slane Whisky Distillery and Rock Farm – Workshops and business review and advice.
Clare County Council
Feasibility study for the re-imagining of the Coláiste Eoghain Ui Chomhraidh as a cultural college on Loop Head peninsula.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
John Ruddle Consulting
Founder/Director - 2018 to Date
Shannon Heritage
Chief Executive Officer - 2002 to 2018
The National Trust UK
Strategic Planning Manager/Deputy Director/Major Projects (NI) - 2000 to 2002
Financial Controller for Northern
Ireland – 1995 to 2000
The Rotary Group
Group Financial Controller - 1991 to 1995
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Chartered Accountant - 1987 to 1991
