Name and Title:
Paul Johnston
Director General
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6020
Email: paul.johnston@iua.ie
Description: Paul Johnston, former British Ambassador to Ireland, is the new Director General of the Irish Universities Association following his appointment by the IUA Council. He took up his role at IUA in November 2025. Paul Johnston joined the UK Civil Service in 1990 and has had a wide range of diplomatic roles. Paul became Ambassador to Ireland in September 2020. Before that he was UK Ambassador to the EU for Political and Security affairs from 2017 to January 2020 and Deputy Permanent Representative to NATO. From August 2011 to August 2015, he was British Ambassador to Sweden. Throughout his career, Paul has championed the value of higher education. Commenting on his appointment, Paul Johnston said: “I’m honoured and delighted in equal measure to have been appointed to lead the IUA. Yeats called education “the lighting of a fire” and I know from my time in this wonderful country how important high-quality education has been to its development and will be to its future. I look forward to playing my part in the exciting and important years ahead.”
Name and Title:
Ronan O'Callaghan
Office Manager
Phone: +353 (01) 676 4948
Email: ronan.ocallaghan@iua.ie
Description: Ronan O'Callaghan is the interim Office Manager
Name and Title:
Lia O’Sullivan MPRII
Head of Communications
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6022
Email: lia.osullivan@iua.ie
Description: Lia O’Sullivan is Head of Communications at the Irish Universities Association. She is responsible for managing IUA’s external and internal Communications, Marketing and Events. Lia convenes the IUA Communications Directors Group and provides marketing advice and practical communications assistance to many university groups. She is currently a member of the studentsurvey.ie, Campus Engage and DARE HEAR Communications Working Groups, and the Rapid Response Task Force on Substance Abuse in Third Level. Prior to IUA Lia was Partner Relations and Events Manager at MIT’s Media Lab Europe. Lia joined Media Lab Europe from Shannon Communications Group Ltd, which includes Purple Moon Productions, a broad based Communications, PR and Video Production Company where she was Account Manager and Senior Partner. Lia began her professional career with the Bill O’Herlihy Communications Group as an account manager, video and television producer. Lia holds a BA (Hons.) in Media Studies from the University of Ulster at Coleraine, a Graduate Diploma ((1st Class Hons.) in Public Relations and a certificate in Social Media from the PRII. She is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland
Name and Title:
Andrea Bruton
Digital Content Manager
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6033
Email: andrea.bruton@iua.ie
Description: Andrea Bruton is the Media and Digital Content Officer for the IUA. Reporting to the Head of Communications she is responsible for assisting in all areas of IUA’s external and internal communications and marketing activities, social media and digital content. Andrea completed a BA (Hons) in Creative Digital Media from Munster Technological University (MTU) and completed a Certificate in Digital Marketing from MTU while working as a Videographer with University College Cork. Formerly Content Manager in the financial sector, Andrea created both video and graphic content, managed multiple social media channels and managed nation-wide marketing campaigns and events.
Name and Title:
Lewis Purser
Director of Learning & Teaching and Academic Affairs
Phone: +353 (1) 676 4948
Email: lewis.purser@iua.ie
Description: Lewis Purser is Director (Learning & Teaching and Academic Affairs) at IUA, where he works with the Vice-Presidents Academic/Registrars’ group. Within IUA he has overall responsibility for a broad portfolio of policy areas, including access, admissions, teaching and learning, student engagement, skills and graduate outcomes, graduate studies and quality. Prior to joining IUA in 2005, Lewis worked at the European University Association and with several United Nations agencies in educational, health and social fields. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies at the University of Geneva.
Name and Title:
Nora Trench Bowles
Head of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Quality (on maternity leave)
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6037
Email: nora@iua.ie
Description: Nora Trench Bowles drives policy matters and sectoral initiatives across areas including lifelong and flexible/ part-time learning, recognition of prior learning (RPL), the national and European skills agendas, and apprenticeships. Nora works with key stakeholders across the higher education sector and national policy-makers, and represents the IUA on several groups at national level, including implementation groups of the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the National RPL Project in Higher Education Steering Committee, and the National Apprenticeship Alliance. A graduate of University College Dublin, Uppsala University, Sweden and the University of Strasbourg, France, Nora previously worked in the Council of Europe and European Parliament in Strasbourg, and the European Commission in Brussels, before returning to Dublin to work as Policy and Advocacy Manager in European Movement Ireland. In a voluntary capacity, Nora is Vice-Chairperson of the Irish Stammering Association, a national charity working to raise understanding of stammering and provide support to the stammering community. She has appeared on TV, podcast and radio talking about stammering and stammering pride.
Name and Title:
Grace Edge
Head of Lifelong Learning & Skills (Interim)
Phone: +353 (1) 676 4948
Email: grace.edge@iua.ie
Description: Grace Edge drives policy matters and sectoral initiatives across areas including lifelong and flexible/ part-time learning, the national and European skills agendas, apprenticeships and recognition of prior learning (RPL). Working with and on behalf of the seven IUA universities, she engages with government departments, agencies and a wide range of stakeholders, to strengthen Ireland’s capacity for inclusive and responsive lifelong learning and skills development. Previously, Grace was Project Director of the National Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Higher Education Project—a collaborative initiative spanning all publicly-funded higher education institutions. Under her leadership, the project delivered a national RPL policy framework, significantly increased learner uptake, and positioned RPL as an important enabler for workforce development and lifelong learning. Her career is defined by leading complex, multi-stakeholder change initiatives, including the development of Ireland’s DARE-HEAR admissions schemes for underrepresented learners and the Mountjoy Prison–Maynooth University Partnership, Ireland’s first formal prison-university partnership. Grace is deeply committed to shaping higher education policy and practice that advances equality, inclusion, and opportunity for all learners.
Name and Title:
Jennifer Cleary
Head of International & HR Manager
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6023
Email: jennifer.cleary@iua.ie
Description: Jennifer is an accomplished leader in international education and human resources, with a proven track record in higher education, internationalisation, EDI, and researcher mobility. As Head of International and HR Manager at the Irish Universities Association (IUA), she provides strategic leadership in international education while overseeing the organisation’s HR function. In her role, Jennifer convenes the IUA Vice Presidents for Global Group and international committees, leading the development and implementation of the IUA International Education Strategy in alignment with the Global Citizens 2030 framework. She works closely with stakeholders and represents Irish universities in government and state agency engagements, advocating for policies that enhance Ireland’s global position in higher education. Previously, Jennifer managed the EURAXESS Ireland Office, offering expert guidance on researcher mobility and contributing to European Commission initiatives. Her career also includes HR manager at Media Lab Europe (MIT Media Lab’s European research partner) and roles in HR and training across the IT and hospitality industries. Jennifer holds a First-Class Honours B.A. in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from the National College of Ireland. She is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Irish Institute of Training and Development (IITD), reflecting her commitment to excellence in people management, professional development and international education strategy.
Name and Title:
Daniel McFarlane
Head of Access
Phone:
Email: daniel.mcfarlane@iua.ie
Description: Daniel McFarlane is the Head of Access at the Irish Universities Association. In this role, he oversees the outreach, delivery, membership and governance structures of the HEAR and DARE schemes, driving policy initiatives in to improve these schemes for the next generation of access and disability students. Daniel plays a key role in leading various accessed-based IUA groups such as the Access Leader Network, Access Steering Group, DARE HEAR Practitioner, Communications and Operations such group. He also sits on various national groups including the MySUSI project and the National Access Plan Steering Group. Daniel holds both undergraduate and post-graduate qualifications from Trinity College Dublin. His Master of Education (M.Ed.) focused on access policy in the contemporary Irish context. He has an extensive background in access policy and practice, teaching both Leadership and Change Management in Education and Social Inclusion in Higher Education master’s programmes. Prior to his current role, he worked with at the Trinity Access Programmes leading access initiatives for Senior Cycle Students ahead of their transition to higher education. Outside of the IUA, Daniel is actively involved in ensuring better access to arts and cultural opportunities for all as he sits on the board of directors of the Douglas Hyde Gallery, there he leads initiatives in fundraising and engagement. Her serves on international education collaborations such the Freiraum NGO which he co-founded with fellow practitioners who work to ensure freedom of education, culture and society in Europe today.
Name and Title:
Leesa Flanagan
Access Project Officer
Phone:
Email: leesa.flanagan@iua.ie
Description: Prior to joining IUA, Leesa worked extensively in the community sector in a variety of roles including Family and Community Engagement Coordinator and Early Years Coordinator where she focused on promoting inclusion and equitable access to education for young children and families. Since 2020, she has held academic and professional education roles across higher education sector, including Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and TUS Moylish. Leesa holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and a Postgrad Certificate in Autism Studies from Mary Immaculate College as well as an MA in Leadership and Advocacy from ATU Sligo. She is currently completing her PhD at Dundalk Institute of Technology where her research explores mindfulness practice in early childhood education in Ireland. Leesa sits on several research groups related to early childhood education and wellbeing and serves as a reviewer for academic journals in her field. She is passionate about widening participation and fostering inclusion across all stages of education. Outside of her professional role, Leesa facilitates workshops and speaks at conferences on mindfulness practice, inclusion and holistic wellbeing.
Name and Title:
Tony McMahon
HR and EDI Advisor
Phone:
Email: tony.mcmahon@iua.ie
Description: Tony McMahon is IUA's HR and EDI Advisor providing sectoral leadership and advice on HR, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion activities. Working closely with the IUA Human Resources Directors Group (HRDG) and the Vice-Presidents Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group (VPEDI), Tony also represents the IUA in our engagements with key external stakeholders. Tony has a professional background in Human Resources, and was previously Director of Human Resources from 2007 to 2014, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion 2015-2020, in Trinity College Dublin. He has professional qualifications in HR management, Arbitration and Mediation, and has trained as an unconscious bias and diversity training provider. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the EU funded Gender Excellence in Research (GenderEX) Project, and in a voluntary capacity, is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Gheel Autism Services, a charity providing services to people with autism in the greater Dublin and North Kildare region.
Name and Title:
Dr Lisa Keating
Director of Research and Innovation
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6034
Email: lisa.keating@iua.ie
Description: Dr Lisa Keating works with the Vice-Presidents & Deans of Research (VPDoR) of our member universities and leads the work programme of the VPDoR Group within the IUA to advance university research and innovation through strategic policy coordination and development. This includes working with external stakeholders in government, funding agencies and the enterprise sector. Lisa has overall management responsibility for the IUA Research Office which has a significant role in relation to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) and EURAXESS initiatives within the EU Framework Programmes for Research. Lisa graduated with an BSc in Industrial Microbiology from University College Dublin where she then completed a Ph.D. in microbial biochemistry. This was followed by an EU TMR post-doctoral fellowship at Universität Hamburg in Germany and a Postdoctoral Research Scientist position with the University of Kent at Canterbury. Subsequently, Lisa moved to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where she was a key player in the UK Government’s flagship genomics project in TB research. Lisa moved in to research & innovation policy development and implementation when she joined the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy where she was the Department’s liaison with the UK Research Councils (BBSRC, EPSRC, etc) and Innovate UK, in addition to leading the Life Sciences Knowledge Transfer Team. Returning to Ireland, Lisa joined Enterprise Ireland to set up and manage the Commercialisation Fund and subsequently led the development and delivery of New Frontiers, Ireland’s National Entrepreneur Development Programme. Having returned to the UK to lead a University Partnership programme tasked with increasing research translation capability across Yorkshire’s five universities (Leeds, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds Beckett) Lisa came back to Ireland to join Science Foundation Ireland before being appointed Director of Research & Innovation at the IUA.
Name and Title:
Dr Magdalena Wisłocka
Head of EURAXESS Ireland
Phone: +353 (1) 799 6030
Email: magda@iua.ie
Description: Dr Magdalena Wisłocka is the Head of EURAXESS Ireland an office which provides practical advice and assistance to researchers and their families wishing to move to Ireland or move abroad to continue a career in research. Magda is also the Irish Representative on the EURAXESS Services Network across 40 countries. Through this network Magda has participated in various European Commission funded projects focusing on researchers’ mobility (MOREBRAIN, EURAXESS TOP 1 and People Network). She is also involved in managing the day to day activities of the Scientific Visa Scheme (Hosting Agreement) in Ireland since its introduction in 2007, building links and successfully collaborating with various key institutions in Ireland such as the Office of Science & Technology and the Work Permit Section of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and also with the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service. She has promoted the Irish Hosting Agreement Scheme as an invited speaker on numerous international conferences in Italy, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Brussels. Madga is a biologist by training with an M.Sc. in plant ecology and a PhD in Environmental Biology from Wroclaw University (Poland). During her research and academic career she has been internationally mobile having done her post doctoral research in Ireland and has worked for both academia and industry in Ireland and Poland. She was previously employed as an assistant lecturer at NUI Galway and a scientific officer at the Irish Environmental Protection Agency where she administrated various research projects of the ERTDI programme. As an academic teacher at Dublin City University she was actively involved in organising field trips for Irish students to her native Poland as part of one of the environmental modules.
Name and Title:
Dr Blanca Suarez-Bilbao
IUA Policy Manager - European Research and Innovation
Phone:
Email: blanca@iua.ie
Description: Blanca earned her Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from TU Dublin. Subsequently, she pursued and completed a PhD at Maynooth University within the School of Business, focusing on the career management and sustainability of international professionals. Her familiarity with MSCA programmes is derived from her experience as a DN candidate at the University of Bamberg in Germany during her doctoral studies. With over 20 years’ experience in project and account management across both Ireland and Spain, Blanca's professional journey encompasses a diverse range of roles in industry and academia.
Name and Title:
Michael Casey
Director of Finance & Operations
Phone: +353 (1) 676 4948
Email: michael.casey@iua.ie
Description: Michael Casey holds the position of Director (Finance and Operations) at the IUA. He is responsible for the financial, operational and fiduciary affairs of the organisation. He convenes the Universities Chief Financial Officers Group (UCFOG) which is responsible for developing areas of policy and proposals in respect of finance related matters. He provides executive leadership and polity support to the planning and implementation of many of the efficiency measures undertaken in Irish Universities, such as shared procurement and shared services.
Name and Title:
Aidan Mullany
Asst. Director of Finance & Ops. Head of Governance
Phone: +353 (1) 6764948
Email: aidan.mullany@iua.ie
Description: Aidan Mullany holds the position of Assistant Director (Finance and Operations) and Head of Governance at the IUA. He convenes the Universities Secretaries Group, the Financial Managers Group, the Research Accountants Group and is IUA Company Secretary
Name and Title:
Eimear Radley
Finance & Data Officer
Phone:
Email: eimear.radley@iua.ie
Description: Eimear Radley is a Finance and Data Officer with the Irish University Association. She is responsible for all internal and external financial reporting requirements including management accounts, external project reporting and statutory financial reporting. She is responsible for all internal governance related requirements and supports university finance related groups on finance related issues. She is also involved in developing the data capacity of the IUA to support sectoral advocacy. Eimear most recently worked as a project accountant with South East Technological University (SETU) and held previous roles as a practice accountant, auditor and tax advisor to various sectors in the economy since 1999. Academically, she holds a BA from UCC, a postgraduate diploma from UCD Smurfit graduate school of business and a postgraduate higher diploma in teaching in further education. She is also professionally accredited with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA) and the Irish Tax Institute (ITI).
Name and Title:
Jools O'Connor
Project Lead for MicroCreds
Phone:
Email: jools.oconnor@iua.ie
Description: Jools O'Connor is Project Lead for the MicroCreds Project, based at the Irish Universities Association (IUA). MicroCreds is a five year project which has received €12.3 million in funding through the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative, aimed at establishing an innovative system of quality assured and accredited micro-credentials across the seven IUA universities. Prior to joining the IUA, Jools worked in the education sector in a variety of roles including strategic planning, operations, marketing, stakeholder management and business development. She has worked across undergraduate, postgraduate and professional education at institutions including Imperial College London, the Royal College of Physicians London and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Jools holds an MBA from Trinity College Dublin and Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications. Jools is very passionate about governance in the not-for-profit sector and is an active Board Member for Laois Volunteer Centre and Chronic Pain Ireland.
Name and Title:
David Corscadden
Communications Manager for MicroCreds
Phone:
Email: David.corscadden@iua.ie
Description: David Corscadden is the Communications Manager for the MicroCreds project, based at the Irish Universities Association (IUA). MicroCreds is an initiative funded by the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3, aimed at establishing a system of quality-assured and accredited micro-credentials across IUA universities. David leads on national communications, marketing and digital engagement initiatives for MicroCreds. He also led the development of MicroCreds.ie, Europe's first national platform for micro-credentials. Prior to joining IUA David worked for over seven years in Higher Education across various marketing, communications and student recruitment roles at University College Dublin. Most recently, David was the Marketing Manager at UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business. David holds an MA in Journalism & Media Communications from Griffith College Dublin and also a BAgrSc in Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management from University College Dublin. Recently he has completed micro-credentials in Digital PR for Enterprise at the University of Limerick and Psychology of Consumer Behaviour at University of Galway. He is also a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland.