Governance

ATU’s Governing Body was established on 1 April 2022 under the provisions of the Technological Universities Act 2018. On that day, the three merging Institutes of Technology were dissolved. The Governing Body is made up of members representing the University and community interests. 

Governing Body Minutes 

Minutes of ATU’s Governing Body meetings are available here. 

Meet ATU’s Governing Body

• Maura McNally S.C., Chair
• Dr Orla Flynn, President
• Joe Cunningham, SIPTU General Secretary
• Kathya Rouse, Partner, McMoreland Duffy Rouse
• Naomi Walsh, Head of Internal Audit, EirGrid plc
• Conor Murphy, Site Director, Abbott Diagnostics Longford
• Seamus Hughes, Corporate Vice President International Affairs, Zeus Industrial Products, Inc.
• Prof Rachel Ashworth, Professor in Public Services Management, Cardiff University Business School
• Joanne Grehan, Director of Services, Mayo County Council
• Dara Foynes, Senior Counsel and Civil Aid Board Member
• Joseph Sweeney, Students Union President (Donegal)
• Thomas Gallagher, Students Union President (Galway-Mayo)
• Emil Kindl, Students Union President (Sligo)
• Dr John Bartlett, Academic Staff Representative (Head of Research, Sligo)
• Dr Brian De Souza, Academic Staff Representative (School of Engineering, Galway-Mayo)
• Dr Martin Robinson, Academic Staff Representative (School of Engineering, Donegal)
• John Daffy, PMSS Staff Representative (Technical Officer)
• Regina Daly, Staff Representative (Communications Officer)

One external member position is vacant. 

University Planning Team

The University is currently in a period of transition, as it moves from the governance and management structures in place in the three legacy institutions to a new structure for the University. During the transition phase, the President has established an interim University Planning Team (UPT) made up of senior members of the management team that is representative of the diversity of function, location, and gender at ATU. Members of UPT have University-wide briefs and work with the President in leading the new University and in developing unified structures to underpin it.  

• Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
• Paul Hannigan, Head of College, ATU Donegal
• Professor Graham Heaslip, Head of College ATU Galway-Mayo
• Professor Jacqueline McCormack, Chair of Sligo College Operational Team (rotating role until June 2025) and VP for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Online Development
• Dr Seán Duffy, VP ATU Integration
• Dr Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
• Elizabeth McCabe, VP Finance & HR Operations
• Dr Des Foley, VP Research and Innovation
• Henry McGarvey, VP Campus Infrastructure & IT
• Dr Trevor McSharry, Head of Faculty of Engineering & Design
• Michael Margey, Head of Faculty of Business
• Dr Justin Kerr, Head of School Health Science, Wellbeing & Society
• Dr Paddy Tobin, Head of School of Design & Creative Arts

President

Chair of Governing Body

Strategic Plan

Quality Assurance