Some people enter the registry world through policy or law. Stephen Brandon arrived through technology, curiosity, and a passion for solving problems, but over the years, he has become much more than a technologist, he has become a very respected and quietly influential voice in the global registry community.
Today, Stephen is widely recognized across the registry community as a trusted advisor, interoperability specialist, and one of the driving forces behind some very forward-thinking registry innovation initiatives. As Head of Professional Services Europe at Foster Moore and Technical Advisor at the European Business Registry Association (EBRA), he works closely with registry leaders around the world on interoperability, strategy, modernization, and collaboration. He is also the technology and engineering lead behind MetaReg™, the world's first global interoperability platform for registries.
What makes Stephen particularly respected is not just his technical capability, but his ability to connect technology with real operational and strategic outcomes for registries. Equally comfortable discussing APIs, governance, registry operations, or long-term modernization strategy, he has built a reputation as one of those rare professionals who deeply understands both the engineering and the human side of registries.
We spoke with Stephen about his journey from building websites as a teenager to helping shape the future of registry collaboration.
Stephen Brandon at the EBRA Conference in Milano in 2025 - Image courtesy of EBRA
Let’s start from the beginning: Do you remember what first got you interested in technology?
I’ve always had an interest in computers, but the real turning point came when my uncle bought me a domain name as a birthday present when I was around thirteen or fourteen. I remember thinking, “Okay, now I need to figure out what to actually do with this.”
That led me into teaching myself how to build websites. While I was still in secondary school, I started creating websites for local businesses, hotels, car dealerships, and eventually the family business as well. It was my first real exposure to how technology could help organizations operate better.
Were registries or even software engineering always the plan?
Not at all. I actually wanted to become a pilot and originally applied for aviation programmes before eventually falling into computer science almost by accident.
But once I got deeper into software engineering and systems design, I really connected with it. I realized I enjoyed solving problems, building things, and understanding how systems work together. That was the moment technology became more than just a hobby.
You completed your postgraduate studies at the renowned Trinity College in Dublin. What a beautiful campus! How did your studies shape your career?
That’s right. I studied Information Systems before completing a Master’s in Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin. The Information Systems degree gave me a balance between business and technical thinking, which has been hugely valuable throughout my career.
During university, I had a placement working in customer service at an online insurance company before moving into their IT team. It was very exciting because back then they were one of the first fully online large businesses in the country. Also, that experience taught me something important very early on: technology only works properly if you understand the people using it. I still carry that mindset into registry projects today.
You have a deep understanding of the technology and great business acumen. How do you apply that balance between the tech and CX to your job?
Technology systems are meant to serve the people using them. Sometimes the people designing systems do not fully understand the operational reality of the people using them every day. I always value sitting with operators and understanding how they actually interact with systems.
Often the solution is not purely technical. You need to understand the workflow, the pressure points, and the broader operational environment as well to deliver the best possible value.
After Chill insurance you got recruited to go work at Big Bang, an Irish web/app development company. What impact did that have on you?
We were based in Dublin’s Digital Hub during a period when the city’s technology scene was really growing. It was an exciting environment surrounded by startups and innovation.
That was a hugely influential time in my career. I worked with the founder, Jim, who was extremely detail-oriented and very focused on quality, accessibility, and continuous learning. He was a mentor. From Jim I got a lot of the attention to detail and engineering mindset that I still carry with me today.
So, the big question: How did you end up in the registry world?
A friend from university introduced me to Enterprise Registry Solutions while I was completing my Master’s. At the time, I was still studying while also involved in a Smart City research project using machine learning and crowd-sensing technologies. After I finally finished my studies, I joined the company.
When I joined registries, one thing that immediately stood out was the scale of impact. Even as part of a relatively small technical team, we were building systems that supported governments, businesses, and national economies. That made the work feel meaningful very quickly.
What were your first impressions of registries and government technology?
It felt much more formal than the startup environments and the technology landscape was often quite dated at the time and moving slow.
But I also saw opportunities. There were lots of areas where relatively small technical improvements could make systems more user-friendly and efficient. That challenge became one of the things that kept me very interested in the industry.
I joined European Business Registry Association in 2021 after being recommended by a colleague. Around that time, EBRA was building out its operational team, and I joined alongside Helen Fletcher and Chiara Gaffuri.
As Technical Manager for the EBR Network, my role involved overseeing the operational side of the platform, supporting members, reporting to the board, and providing technical advice around interoperability and data exchange in Europe. It gave me exposure to registry collaboration at an international level.
As part of your role with EBRA you also helped modernize Business Registry Insights (BRI). What was that experience like?
The original goal was to digitize the old International Business Registers Report (IBRR) and modernize how the information was presented and analysed. I ended up learning tools like Power BI and helping transform the reporting into a much more interactive and data-driven experience.
I should give credit to the BRI team because they already had a strong vision and had built an excellent reputation long before I became involved. My role involved providing technical advice and supporting implementation. What is exciting now is seeing the project evolve toward deeper analytics and more meaningful insights that can help registries better understand trends, challenges, and opportunities across the industry.
What attracted you to Foster Moore?
I was looking for new challenges, and Foster Moore offered the opportunity to work with people I knew and respected while also being exposed to registries globally.
What really changed for me was the broader perspective. Suddenly I got exposure to different registries, and I was working not just on implementations, but also on establishing the brand in Europe, research, advisory work, etc. It became much more about helping create better solutions for registries than just implementing technology.
You are now heavily involved in registry advisory. What do you enjoy about that work?
Registry advisory is fascinating because every registry is different. Even if two registries appear similar on the surface, the legislative, operational, and political environments behind them can be completely different.
What I enjoy most is the opportunity to deeply understand those environments and how we help organizations think through challenges strategically. Every engagement is different and teaches you something new, and those learnings become valuable when working with other registries around the world.
And now you are leading the technology arm behind MetaReg. What is all that about?
Registries are under increasing pressure to verify data and respond to changing legislation. MetaReg is focused on helping registries connect and collaborate more effectively through seamless interoperability.
A simple way to think about it is as if it was an online shop where you can browse through registries from different domains and jurisdictions and when you find the one you are interested in, you can select the services you want and add them to your shopping cart. Instead of building isolated 1-to-1 connections between organizations, MetaReg creates a framework where registries can share services and information in a more scalable and secure way.
You are a technology person. What technology trends do you think will have a significant impact in registries in the coming years?
Interoperability is obviously a major one, the impact that platforms like MeatReg will generate will be very significant.
There is also a growing focus on data quality, automation, the application of machine learning, AI-assisted processes, and making registry systems easier to use. I’m very excited about the implementation of machine learning algorithms to improve data quality, for example.
Finally, on the personal side, who is Stephen Brandon outside of registries? What do you do to disconnect?
I am very family and outdoors oriented. I love hiking, camping, swimming, surfing, and spending time near the sea whenever I can.
I am also involved with the cave rescue team in Ireland, which combines a lot of my interests around exploration, teamwork, and technical problem-solving. I started there after university and I enjoy the camaraderie, being able to keep my training up-to-date, and engage with a team of very dedicated and passionate people.
From smart city research and machine learning projects to interoperability initiatives and global registry advisory, Stephen Brandon has built a career around understanding how technology, people, and systems connect together.
As registries continue evolving into increasingly digital and interconnected ecosystems, voices like Stephen’s are helping shape what comes next.
If you ever find yourself in Ireland, take the train down to the coastal town of Bray. Walk along the seafront, stop for a coffee at the Little Fire coffee kiosk, and take in the views of the Irish Sea. While placing your order, ask about Stephen, there is a good chance the barista will have a story or two about him.
--
Stephen Brandon is Head of Professional Services Europe at Foster Moore and Technical Advisor at the European Business Registry Association (EBRA), where he works closely with registries around the world on interoperability, modernization, and advisory initiatives. Known for his thoughtful approach, deep technical expertise, and ability to connect technology with real operational outcomes, Stephen has become a trusted voice in the registry community. From interoperability frameworks to registry strategy and innovation, he plays a key role in helping governments and registry organizations navigate an increasingly connected digital future.
Subscribe to our newsletter to read more Registry People profiles and expert perspectives from across the global registry community.