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Graduate Profiles
KATHERINE FITZPATRICK
I earned my BA in European Integration Studies in 2000. Having taught English in a business school in Florence, I returned to Cork where I worked for the tourist office. I earned a Masters in Italian Translation and then did in-house translation and interpretation in Siena and worked as a freelance translator for a Milanese company. I got a job in Cork Chamber of Commerce in 2006 where I am now the Director of International Relations responsible for overseeing European projects, trade missions and foreign delegations. I get to travel and meet international groups in this role and whenever possible use my languages.
MICHAEL KENNEALLY
I graduated with a BA International in Italian and Mathematics in 2016 and stayed in UCC to complete the MA in Languages & Cultures, while working as a Brand Ambassador at the Old Jameson Distillery, Midleton. My current position in the Bord Bia Milan office is very diverse: I organised the Bord Bia presence at Italian trade fairs, I liaise with Italian retail chains to co-ordinate in-store promotions, and engage in proofreading, reporting and PR work. My studies of Italian in UCC, especially my Erasmus year in Genova, prepared me well for the level of Italian required for this job.
ÚNA DILLON
I graduated with a BA Single Honours, Major Italian/Minor Economics in 1997. I am Managing Director of the Merchant Risk Council (Europe), the leading global trade association for eCommerce fraud, risk and payments professionals. I am currently chair of the European Payments Council Card Fraud Prevention Forum. I was responsible for Laser Card, the Irish national debit card scheme for 12 years and was Head of IPSO Card Services. My credibility with the press is widely known, as I became the go-to for TV, radio and print media journalists over the past 20 years, on all subjects relating to payments, financial crime and retail operations.
SIVE THOMPSON
I graduated in 2007 with a BA European Studies and moved to Florence to work as part of a graduate programme. I then moved to Portugal to work and do a masters in International Relations. Since then I have worked in software sales, opened a bar and worked in both the European Commission and the European Parliament (where I currently work). My time at UCC was wonderful and much of what I studied with the Italian department has come back to me over the years. I would highly recommend studying Italian at UCC, you never know where it might take you!