Meet The Team
Catherine Collins 
Catherine Collins is Network Manager with First Polymer Training Skillnet, a training network promoted by Polymer Technology Ireland (Ibec). She studied Polymer Engineering in AIT (TUS) graduating in 1989. She joined Merck Millipore, where she worked as a process engineer, before moving to Medtronic Athlone in 1992. She held various technical roles in the industry before joining First Polymer Training Skillnet in 2001, where her role includes programme development & accreditation, industry engagement and centre management.
Catherine is a member of the Irish Polymer Group (IPG), Midland Regional Skills Forum, Polymer Processing Apprenticeship Industry Consortium and Programme Board, APT Industry Steering Committee and a former member of the Governing Body of TUS (Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest). She also represents Polymer Technology Ireland on various industry working groups.
To contact Catherine, email firstname.surname@ibec.ie or telephone 090 6471223/ 087 6188596/087 2396447
Alan Harrington
Alan Harrington is Technical Training Specialist at First Polymer Training Skillnet, and joined the team in 2020. He graduated from Athlone I.T.(TUS) in 1998 with a Diploma in Plastics Engineering and joined Raychem Shannon Co. Clare, after one year working with the Moulding team, he then attended North London University and graduated with a B.Eng. in Polymer Engineering.
In 2000 he joined Solplax in Tralee Co. Kerry as R & D technician developing water soluble plastic solutions. In 2003 he joined Medtronic (formally Covidien) as an Injection Moulding Technician, within this role Alan was involved in process improvements, new machine/equipment installations and more recently managing tooling repairs/upgrades and project management for new mould builds and injection moulding machine replacements. Alan’s Key objective is to develop and deliver training to industry members.
To contact Alan, email firstname.surname@ibec.ie or telephone 090 6471223/ 087 1603445
Christine Harkin
Christine Harkin is the Centre Co-ordinator at First Polymer Training Skillnet (FPT). She graduated from the Technological University of the Shannon in 2016 with a BSc in Biotechnology. Prior to joining FPT in March 2025, she worked with Abbott Ireland as a Diagnostic Technologist and then gained international experience in Canada and Australia across the medical device and logistics sectors, before returning to Ireland to work as a Project Manager with ThermoFisher Scientific. Her experience includes project coordination, administration, communication, customer service and regulatory compliance.
To contact Christine, email firstname.surname@ibec.ie or telephone 090 6471223 / 087 396 8989.