State Body Governance

Dr Orlaigh Quinn has extensive experience in governance and leadership, gained over a distinguished career in public service at both national and international levels. She has led major policy, strategic and legislative initiatives and has a proven ability to set direction, drive organisational change and manage multiple, complex and sensitive policy agendas. Orlaigh was the first woman appointed as Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (2016 -2023), where she advised Government, Ministers and led the Department and its fourteen offices and agencies in promoting the creation of high-quality and sustainable full employment; by championing enterprise, supporting and incentivising a competitive and innovative research and enterprise base, negotiating international trade agreements and promoting fair employment and competitive and regulated 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 and the Trade and Investment Strategy. A career civil servant, she has held leadership positions across several public bodies, spearheading reform of Ireland’s public and civil service at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, leading Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union as Head of EU and International Affairs and developing national policies as Head of National Pensions in the Department of Social Protection. She has also worked in in several other public sector organisations, including the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Central Statistics Office. At international level, she was the first Irish person appointed as a national expert on employment and social policy in the European Commission. She has extensive experience as chair and board member at national and international level and is currently a board member of several organisations including The Convention Centre Ireland, the Institute of International and European Affairs, Business in the Community Ireland, University of Galway ( J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics). She is Chair of the Governance Board of CONNECT, Ireland's leading Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications. She is a former Visiting Research Fellow of Trinity College Dublin and holds a Masters in Public Management and a Doctorate in Governance from Queen’s University Belfast. She is the author of two books on public policy topics.

Dr Pat O’Mahony, MVM, MBA, CDir, provides strategic management consultancy to selected clients across various sectors including Biopharmaceuticals, Med Tech and Health Care Systems. Particular interests at present include Value Based Healthcare, Clinical Research and Genomics. Pat is also Chairman of the Board of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and Chairman of the Board of the Irish Medicines Verification Organisation (IMVO). Pat previously served as CEO at Clinical Research Development Ireland, the clinical and translational research partnership of the universities in Ireland from 2017 to 2019, Deputy Secretary General and Head of Governance and Performance at the Department of Health in Dublin for 15 months, prior to which Pat was Chief Executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) from 2002 to 2015. Having spent a number of years in private clinical practice and as technical manager in the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland and the UK, Pat worked in public health and was Director of Consumer Protection at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Pat has previously served on a variety of public and private sector boards including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), where he served as Chairman from 2007 to 2011, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the National Patient Safety Advisory Group and was vice Chair of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities. Pat was appointed Chair of the Ministerial Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy in 2023.

Jim Breslin advises leaders, boards and governments on strategic decision-making, innovation and governance to accelerate their business transitions. He holds a range of directorships and advisory roles across the private, not for profit and public sectors including as Chair of Renewable Energy Ireland (a partnership between Ireland’s leading sustainable energy associations) and as a non-executive Board member of Ashdale Care, St.Vincent’s Healthcare Group, the Expert Oversight Body of the Defence Forces and others. He enjoyed a 30-year career in the Irish senior public service including as Secretary General of three different Government Departments. His qualifications include a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, an MSc (Econ) from Trinity College, a Certificate in Business and Climate Change from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge and a Diploma and Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. He held a Policy Leader Fellowship at the Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge.

Corné Mouton is a partner in the Forvis Mazars Consulting team, leading the firm’s governance, risk advisory, internal audit and forensic investigation services. He works closely with Boards, Audit & Risk Committees, and executive management teams, primarily across the public and charitable sectors. With over 25 years of experience, Corné is a qualified accountant, a member of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors and a certified IT auditor. His expertise spans risk management, corporate governance and forensic investigations, helping organisations enhance their resilience and operational effectiveness.

Caroline Spillane CDir is Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Directors Ireland. She commenced the role in July 2022. Caroline has held several senior leadership roles including most recently as Director General of Engineers Ireland, the all-Ireland professional body for engineers, CEO of the Medical Council of Ireland, the independent statutory regulator of over 25,000 medical practitioners and Assistant National Director of the Health Services Executive. Caroline is an experienced Non-Executive Director serving as a board member of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), ESB Networks and Irish Manufacturing Research. She is also a member of the Advisory Group to Balance for Better Business, an independent business-led Review Group established by the government to improve gender balance in senior leadership in Ireland. Caroline's qualifications include a BA from UCC and an MA from TUD. She is currently undertaking a Doctoral programme with SETU.