Cilian Fennell is a Director of Stillwater Communications and is one of Ireland’s leading communications and messaging development experts. He is known for his authenticity, passion and understanding of storytelling and communication, and works with leaders across all sectors in Ireland and internationally.

After travelling extensively as a fisherman and sailor, Fennell began a career in television. His experiences as producer of the Late Late Show in RTÉ and Head of Programmes in TG4 gave him an insight into connection and engagement with a wide range of audiences. In 2016, he was the Creator and Producer of RTÉ’s Centenary Show, which won an IFTA and Celtic Media Award for Best Live Show and Best Entertainment respectively.

Fennell has successfully adapted the story model to a business model and now helps companies and individuals to discover, develop and deliver their story effectively. Working with narrative enquiry he guides organisations to find the true story that drives them and helps them articulate it to their various audiences.

He has extensive experience coaching start-ups and established businesses in London, San Francisco and Dublin that are pitching for investment or growth opportunities. The resident pitching coach at PCH’s Highway 1 incubator programme in San Francisco, he has coached over 100 start ups since 2014, who between them have raised over $160 million.