A global Eisenhower Fellow, Professor Joyce O’ Connor is the Founding President of theNational College of Ireland (NCI), and the first woman to be appointed President of aUniversity level College in Ireland. She is recognised as a leading academic and researcherand has published widely, establishing two research centres focusing on social andeconomic issues. Throughout her career, Professor O’Connor has championed access toeducation through her roles as President of NCI, and as Chair and Board member of a widerange of organisations and Government agencies in further and higher education andcommunity development.
Recognising the importance of early learning in the area ofdisadvantage, she established the Early Learning Initiative inNCI. As Chair of the Vision for Change she was involved inredefining government policy in mental health. As a non -executive director she served on the Board of CRH plc, Bankof Ireland ICS Building Society, Hugh Lane Gallery, DigitalHub Development Agency, Governor of St Patrick’s MentalHealth Services ( SPMHS) and Chair Patrick’s Mental HealthServices Research Ethics Committee (SPMHS ).
Currently Professor O’Connor is a Founding Member andChair of BlockW, Chair of the Digital Group Institute ofInternational and European Affairs (IIEA), Chair of Europe’sDigital Future Think Tank, Chair Digital Policy Group ( IIEA),Member of the INATBA Academic Advisory Board, Co-Chairof the INATBA Education Working Group and a member ofthe Thematic Working Group for the Women in DigitalForum.