The CONNECT Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Orlaigh Quinn as its new Governance Chair. Dr Quinn brings extensive experience in governance and leadership, gained over a distinguished career in public service at both national and international levels.
Dr Quinn welcomed the opportunity to lead the Governance Committee, noting the importance of the CONNECT Centre to Ireland:
“CONNECT plays a major role in leading the future direction of telecommunications research, development and innovation in Ireland and internationally. It has an outstanding record in harnessing world-class expertise from Irish academic institutions and industry, including large multinationals, SMEs and start-ups. This research excellence and partnership approach has seen it recently nominated as the national institution for 6G initiatives in Europe. I look forward, working together with my fellow committee members, to developing and supporting CONNECT’s future vision and strategy to deliver major societal and economic value to Ireland and beyond”.
Trinity Provost, Linda Doyle remarked on the appointment:
“Dr Orlaigh Quinn has had a distinguished career in public service at both a national and international level. She will now bring great experience and wisdom to the CONNECT governance board, and I wish her well with this important work.”
Dr Quinn has significant experience in policy, strategy and legislation with a proven ability to set direction, drive organisational change and manage multiple, complex and sensitive policy agendas. She is currently serving as a non-executive director on several boards in the private, not-for-profit and public sector.
She was the first woman appointed as Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (2016 -2023), advising Government and leading the Department and its offices and agencies in the delivery of high quality and sustainable full employment; by championing innovation and enterprise, supporting and incentivising a competitive enterprise base, promoting trade and fair and competitive employment and markets.
She led the Department through major events including Brexit, Covid and the effects of the war in Ukraine, at the same time heading the development and implementation of key national strategies including the White Paper on Enterprise, the National Digital Strategy, National AI Strategy and the Trade and Investment Strategy.
She also spearheaded reform of Ireland’s public and civil service at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, led Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union in respect of social affairs and related policy as Head of EU and International Affairs and developed national policies as Head of National Pensions and the Office for Social Inclusion in the Department of Social Protection. At international level, she has worked for the European Commission, as an expert on employment and social policy.
Professor Dan Kilper, CONNECT Centre Director, commented on the impact of Dr Quinn’s appointment:
“Dr Orlaigh Quinn’s appointment as Governance Chair brings an exceptional level of experience and strategic insight to CONNECT. Her distinguished career in public service, alongside her expertise in governance, policy strategy, and organisational change, will be instrumental in shaping our future initiatives. Dr Quinn’s guidance will be invaluable to CONNECT’s mission as we continue to explore advancements in communications technology, leading on the international stage. We are excited to welcome her to the CONNECT team.”
As Governance Chair at the CONNECT Centre, Dr Quinn will apply her considerable expertise to help shape the Centre’s strategic direction, ensuring its continued contribution to research and innovation in communications technology.
Dr Quinn takes the Governance Chair at CONNECT in succession to Dr John Travers, the former CEO of Forfás, former Director-General of Science Foundation Ireland, and former senior civil servant, who chaired CONNECT from its inception in 2015, until his retirement in 2023. On behalf of all in the CONNECT Centre, the Director, Professor Dan Kilper expresses thanks to Dr Travers for his distinguished contribution to CONNECT during its first nine years.
CONNECT is the world leading Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications. CONNECT is funded under the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres Programme and is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. We engage with over 35 companies including large multinationals, SMEs and start-ups. CONNECT brings together world-class expertise from ten Irish academic institutes to create a one-stop-shop for telecommunications research, development and innovation.
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