ABOUT US
Align Advisory is different. We pride ourselves on being employee-owned and independent. Our advisory services have only our client needs in mind - ensuring the best tailored solution for the task at hand. Established in 2021, the intention is for Align Advisory to grow and become a leading provider of pension, investment and risk management advice.
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KEITH BURNS
Keith is an Actuary and founding Director of
Align Advisory. He has over 30 years’ experience advising DB and DC clients on all aspects of managing their pension schemes.
Prior to Align Advisory, Keith was a Senior Director in Willis Towers Watson and is a former Head of the Towers Watson administration practice. He also previously worked with McKinsey and Company as a Management Consultant.
Keith is a former member of Council of the Society of Actuaries (SAI) in Ireland and a former Chair of the Society’s Pension Committee. In 2013 he received the annual SAI award for outstanding contribution to the Society.
Keith is married to Michelle and they have two children. Outside of work, Keith likes to spend time with family and friends and watch and play a range of different sports. He is a keen cyclist and wine enthusiast, although it should be said generally not at the same time!
BRIAN GRIFFIN
Brian is an Actuary and investment consultant and founding Director of Align Advisory. He is an experienced business leader with over 30 years’ experience in pensions and investment.
Prior to setting up Align Advisory, he spent 16 years working with Mercer where he managed the Investments business for a number of years and, subsequently, the Defined Benefit business. He also worked previously with Bank of Ireland Asset Management and Irish Life Assurance.
Brian has provided investment and governance advice to, and managed customer relationships with, a wide variety of pension funds and other institutional investors. He also served as a member of the Society of Actuaries Finance & Investment Committee.
Brian is married to Colette and they have three kids. Brian also gets out on the bike from time to time and spends time also as the Treasurer of a local football club (having moved “upstairs” from an active coaching role).
OLIVE REID
Olive is an Actuary with over 20 years experience in the pensions, investment and insurance industry.
Prior to Align Advisory, Olive worked for over 15 years as a Pensions Consultant for both individual and corporate clients with Mercer. She also worked previously with AXA Insurance and Willis Towers Watson.
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At Mercer, Olive was Head of the Product Review Group. She was actively involved in the investment portfolio review process and risk management advice, particularly around enhanced transfer value exercises.
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Olive was also Client Manager for a number of corporate defined benefit and defined contribution schemes. As well as her consulting skills, Olive has a strong training and mentoring background, with prior responsibility for the delivery of trustee training courses at Mercer.
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Olive is married and has three young children. When there is an opportunity to have some free time Olive enjoys running, yoga and the great outdoors. She has a background in fitness instruction and has a passion for healthy cooking, much to the annoyance of her children.
SEAN WHELEHAN
Sean is an Actuarial Analyst and the newest member of our team here at Align Advisory. He is a recent graduate from UCD where he received a bachelor’s degree in Actuarial and Financial Studies.
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Prior to joining Align Advisory, Sean gained experience in The Central Bank of Ireland, completing an eight-month actuarial internship, where he worked in the life insurance department and gained a well-rounded insight into the industry.
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Sean is sitting the professional actuarial exams and has started his journey to becoming fully qualified over the coming years. He is also a member of The Society of Actuaries of Ireland and The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
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Outside of work, Sean is a sports enthusiast having played rugby for Mullingar, as well as hurling, golf and football. He enjoys travelling and spending time with family and friends.
TOM GILLIGAN
Tom Gilligan is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Data Protection Officer. Tom worked for Mercer from 2000 to 2016 in a number of roles, including financial control, administration operations (including pension payments, client monies and pension fund accounts), internal audit liaison, data protection, Pensions Act compliance and risk management.
Tom was the chair of the Regulation and Administration Working Group from 2010 to 2022, a sub-committee of the Irish Association of Pension Funds. Tom represented the IAPF and the pensions industry at meetings with various Regulators (Pensions Authority, Revenue, Central Bank of Ireland and the European Central Bank) on the implementation of legislation e.g. registered administration, pensions levy and ECB/EIOPA statistical reporting.
Tom is an expert on data protection and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Data Protection Officers (Ireland). He holds a number of data protection certifications.
Tom is married to Grace and they have two children. Tom likes to spend his spare time, reading, playing tennis, walking the dogs and following Galway hurling.
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