Yvonne Comer
Yvonne Comer, Senior Innovation Catalyst, PorterShed
Yvonne Comer is an innovation leader, entrepreneur, board director, and former Irish international rugby player. Throughout her career she has brought people, organisations, and ideas together to drive growth, shape strategy, and create lasting impact across sport, business, and innovation.
A BioInnovate Fellow and Senior Innovation Catalyst, Yvonne works with founders, start ups, SMEs, investors, and ecosystem partners to support innovation, strengthen investment readiness, and accelerate growth. Her work spans technology innovation, entrepreneurship, AI adoption, and regional economic development, including Energy West, a collaborative initiative focused on advancing renewable energy innovation across the West of Ireland.
Yvonne is an experienced governance leader and serves on the Board of the Irish Rugby Football Union, where she is Chair of Women's Rugby. She has played a key role in the strategic development of the women's game in Ireland and was a member of the group that developed the IRFU Women's Strategy. She also serves as a Board Director of Vision Sports Ireland and Changing Ireland, contributing to initiatives that promote accessibility, inclusion, and community development.
Before moving into innovation leadership, Yvonne founded RugbySmarts, a sports technology company focused on athlete development and performance. Her entrepreneurial journey, combined with leadership experience across multiple sectors, has given her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in building organisations, developing talent, and leading change.
Recognised as Network Ireland's STEM Businesswoman of the Year, Yvonne brings a distinctive perspective shaped by entrepreneurship, innovation, governance, and elite sport. She is passionate about helping people and organisations realise their potential and creating opportunities for the next generation of innovators and leaders.