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ATU seminar on “Leadership in the Public Sphere” hears the job of a leader is to make more leaders
A seminar on “Leadership in the Public Sphere” in health, social care and public sector settings took place in ATU Mayo, Friday 15 May, addressed by Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West, Dr Mark Mellett, Vice Admiral (Rtd) and former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces and Professor Mary P Corcoran, public sociologist and Professor Emeritus, Maynooth University.
Topics included leadership and crisis management; women in leadership; geopolitics; governance; public services and an ageing population; and the values essential to public service.
Hosted by ATU’s Department of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, the event was attended by students and alumni of ATU’s Postgraduate Programme in Applied Leadership and Management and Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership, as well as representatives of the many regional groups the University collaborates with.
Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Dept of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, ATU, and Chair of the event said
This was a great opportunity to explore different perspectives on leadership and reflect on the current challenges of leadership in the public sphere. It was a really engaging discussion and panel members highlighted that values of trust, respect and honesty which have guided them in the leadership roles.
Vice Admiral (Rtd) Mark Mellett reflected on his first leadership role growing up in Castlebar, where he became Chair of the Ramblers Club at just 13 years of age. Although he did not see himself as a leader at the time, recently rediscovered club minutes revealed that he was already coordinating people and organising transport as a young teenager. It was through this experience that he first learned the importance of intergenerational courtesy and etiquette — values that continued to serve him throughout his career.
Reflecting on the role of leadership in times of crisis, Mark observed that confidence and trust are built in the quieter moments, long before a crisis emerges. When leaders establish credibility and demonstrate a willingness to take responsibility, they become visible and trusted in difficult times. Mark also drew on the work of Mary Parker Follett, often regarded as the mother of modern management, who argued that the role of a leader is to create more leaders.
Professor Mary Corcoran spoke about how women in leadership roles continue to face significant challenges. Research reveals that, across all industry sectors, institutional biases still hinder women’s advancement into leadership positions. Many women are less inclined toward organisational “game-playing” and instead place a strong emphasis on authenticity and integrity in their work.
She reminded those present of the late T. K. Whitaker, whose vision and leadership helped shape modern Ireland. Whitaker’s long and influential career was distinguished by energy, intellectual rigour, a strong instinct for effective administration, and a commitment to continuous learning. He championed an evidence-based approach to policy development — values that remain highly relevant to public service delivery today.
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West, reflected on the vital role of women in delivering, managing, and shaping health services. He highlighted the key decisions made by Anne O’Connor, now CEO of the HSE, during the pandemic, particularly her approach of empowering local regions to respond effectively to the specific needs of their communities. Tony also paid tribute to those who demonstrated practical and compassionate leadership throughout the crisis. He cited the example of a nurse manager at Roscommon Hospital who stepped away from her hospital role to manage a nursing home after staff in the nursing home became ill with the virus. He also emphasised the importance of trusting and empowering people to do their best work and develop their own leadership capacity. He stressed that public servants must not only act with honesty but must also be seen to do so in order to maintain public confidence and trust.
The speakers agreed that strong personal values are essential and must consistently guide both leadership and decision-making. They emphasised that trust, respect, and honesty should underpin the delivery of public services.
For information on undergraduate programmes in this department, see: Environmental Humanities & Social Sciences – Atlantic Technological University
For information on the two postgraduate programmes, see: Applied Leadership and Management in the Public Sector – Atlantic Technological University and Sustainability Leadership – Atlantic Technological University
Photo 1
Pictured at the public seminar in ATU Mayo in Castlebar, L to R: Tony Canavan Regional Executive Officer, HSE, Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Dept, ATU, Clodagh Geraghty, ATU, Professor Mary Corcoran, Maynooth University, Caroline Clarke, ATU, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Mark Mellett, and Dr Carmel Heaney, ATU.
Photo 2
Pictured at the public seminar in ATU Mayo (Castlebar), L to R: Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Dept, ATU, Mark Mellet, Professor Mary Corcoran, Maynooth University, Tony Canavan, HSE west and northwest.
Photo 3
Clodagh Geraghty, Programme Chair for Applied Leadership & Management, ATU.
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