Dr Orlaigh Quinn is the Governance Chair for the CONNECT Reserach Ireland Centre. 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 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.