Advisory Board
Anne Looney is the Executive Dean of Dublin City University’s Institute of Education, Ireland’s largest faculty of education. From 2001 until 2016 she was the CEO of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the agency responsible for curriculum and assessment for early years, primary and post-primary education in Ireland. She also held the position of Interim CEO at the Higher Education Authority until March 2017. A former teacher, she completed her doctoral studies at the Institute of Education in University College London. In 2014/2015 she was Professorial Research Fellow at the Learning Science Institute Australia, based at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. Her current research interests include assessment policy and practice, curriculum, teacher identity and professional standards for teachers and teaching. She has also published on religious, moral and civic education, and education policy. She chaired the task force on gender-based violence in higher education institutions in Ireland, and is an advisor to the Gender Awareness and Transformation through Education (GATE) project at the University of Dar es Salaam. She has conducted reviews for the OECD on school quality and assessment systems, and is a member of the International Advisory Group for the review of curriculum and assessment in Wales. She is a member of the boards of Early Childhood Ireland, and the Ark Cultural Centre for Children and the President of the International Professional Development Association.
Anne Looney
Executive Dean, Institute of Education Dublin City University
Paula Neary is a Managing Director within Accenture’s Communications, Media and Technology Client Service Group. She has extensive experience of leading the successful design and execution of large scale, complex business and Digital transformation programmes across a range of industries. Paula is the Ireland MD sponsor for Accenture’s work in the area of promoting STEM education and careers for women. Paula is a board member of Junior Achievement Ireland, a member of the Steering Committee for 30% Club in Ireland and also Connecting Women in Technology.
Paula Neary
Senior Managing Director, Accenture
Gillian Harford is the former Head of HR Strategy & Planning with AIB. With a career spanning almost 40 years, she has been responsible for significant people change with particular focus on Culture, Career, Diversity and Agile Work. Gillian is the Country Executive for the 30% Club in Ireland, helping to build their future strategy, and also works directly with client organisations focusing on diversity and workplace change. Gillian is a member of the Institute of Directors, fellow of CIPD, a fellow of the Institute of Bankers. She is a member of the Board for the RCSI Hospital Group and is the Chair of the Board for Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Gillian Harford
Country Executive 30% Club Ireland
Paul McCabe is Chief Operating Officer at VLE Therapeutics
He is a senior business executive with 30 years’ experience in the Biopharmaceutical industry with expertise that spans Operations Leadership, Culture Transformation, Strategy Development and Execution, Change Management, Innovation, New Product Introduction / Technology Transfer and establishment of both “greenfield” and “brownfield” site operations.
He has diversified experience across multiple life science fields including Biotechnology, Aseptic Drug Product, Packaging & Inspection, Virtual / External 3rd Party Manufacturing, API, Vaccines and in the Semi-Conductors field. Outside of his commercial responsibilities, he is a board member of IBEC BPCI, a member of the National 30% Club Ireland SteerCo, Co-Lead of the Pharma Sector Working group on Diversity & Inclusion (BPCI DIB Working group) and on board of IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research)
Paul McCabe
Chief Operating Officer, VLE Therapeutics
Katie Keogh has previously served in roles with the STInt Programme, University of Notre Dame, the Childhood Development Initiative, the U.S. Embassy in Dublin and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. In her volunteer capacity, she leads the FIRST LEGO League programme for the Irish Girl Guides. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BA, 1998) and University College Dublin (MA, 2000) and is currently pursuing her PhD at Dublin City University.
Katie Keogh
Graduate Studies, Dublin City University
