Dr Conor Neville

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Lecturer in Finance Director, MSc Corporate Finance

Accounting and Finance Department, O'Rahilly Building, Cork University Business School, University College Cork

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Biography

Dr Conor Neville holds a PhD in Finance from Trinity Business School at Trinity College Dublin, an MSc in Finance and Capital Markets from Dublin City University, and a BSc in Business and Management from Technological University Dublin. With an extensive background in research, academia, and industry engagement, Dr Neville integrates his academic rigour with industry insights to deliver transformative contributions across the intersecting realms of finance, innovation, and sustainability.

Dr Neville’s scholarly endeavours lie at the confluence of finance, innovation, and sustainability. His research focuses on addressing the intricate financial challenges and uncovering growth opportunities for high-tech SMEs and startups, enabling them to scale effectively and thrive in rapidly evolving global markets. His research explores critical themes such as optimising funding frameworks and capital structures for startups and SMEs while analysing the dynamics of scaling and growth in competitive markets. He also investigates sustainable financial strategies to bolster resilience and explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in improving business performance and efficiency. His work has been featured in esteemed academic journals, including the International Review of Financial Analysis. He has presented his research at conferences that include the Entrepreneurial Finance (ENTFIN) Conference, the INFINITI Conference on International Finance, and the Irish Academy of Management, among others, underscoring his commitment to advancing knowledge and offering actionable insights to foster innovation and long-term business sustainability.

Prior to his appointment at Cork University Business School, Dr Neville held the position of Research Specialist at the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), a government-backed institution dedicated to enhancing access to affordable credit for Irish SMEs and driving sustainable economic growth. During his tenure, He spearheaded transformative research initiatives in high-impact areas including ESG, digital transformation, innovation, and SME financing, making substantive contributions to national policy deliberations and shaping strategic economic framework. Dr Neville undertook two comprehensive primary research studies capturing insights from business advisors representing over 8,000 SMEs across Ireland.  He authored and presented incisive analyses on topics such as the effects of  Covid-19 on the future SME lending market, refinancing loans due to Covid-19: proposed capital needs, and the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on the Irish economy. These contributions helped to shape board-level strategies and address complex challenges in Ireland’s SME ecosystem.

As an academic leader, Dr Neville directs the MSc in Corporate Finance at University College Cork, where he guides and inspires the next generation of finance professionals, equipping them with the analytical expertise and strategic acumen needed to excel in the evolving financial landscape. He has also served as an External Examiner at Technological University Dublin, an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Finance at Dublin City University, and an MSc Thesis Supervisor at Trinity Business School.

Dr Neville demonstrates exceptional methodological rigour and analytical proficiency, leveraging advanced quantitative and qualitative techniques to produce insightful, evidence-driven research that informs theory and practice.  Dr Neville is recognised as a contributor to academic discourse and professional practice with a distinct focus on high-tech SMEs and startups and a proven track record in fostering innovation, sustainable growth, and financial resilience. A proponent of interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Neville actively pursues and is open to collaborative opportunities in research, consulting projects, and strategic initiatives, fostering synergies between academic inquiry and practical application to drive meaningful impact.