Women Leaders in Higher Education

The WLHE Network was established in 2016 to empower and enable women in all roles (management, academic, technical and administrative) in TU Dublin and to encourage time for reflection on their personal and professional development and career advancement and enhancement.

This network is inclusive of women, trans and gender non-conforming people in all roles - academic, administration, research and technical roles - and at all levels and stages across TU Dublin.

The WLHE Network in TU Dublin provides a space for reflection and learning so that participants are better equipped to identify and achieve their development goals.

The WLHE Network evolved in response to the first HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions chaired by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in 2016 which highlighted a dearth of senior female staff throughout higher education.  The second HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions was conducted culminating in the Report of the Expert Group in 2022.  The recommendations from these reports set the path to progress towards gender equality in higher education.  The philosophy of the WLHE Network aligns with this nationally recognised need to implement a gender equality framework in Irish higher education by creating a supportive environment within TU Dublin for women, trans and gender non-conforming people across the university.

This supportive environment is encouraged through a series of events, each of which has a themed focus, which facilitates members to hear from inspiring role models and to reflect on and challenge their views on professional development. These pan-university events are interspersed with more informal local gatherings in our Come-for-Coffee series to connect and network and discuss shared experiences.

The thematic areas explored by the WLHE Network have included:

• Professional Enrichment, Career Advancement and Promotion
• Developing your Professional Supportive Network
• Being ready for Opportunities
• Leadership in Higher Education: Where are the Women?
• Conscious Leadership – Focusing on the Me not the We
• Making the Leap! Choosing to challenge the Status Quo

The role models have shared their experiences and personal journeys talking about lessons learned and challenges along the way including their career launching platform and supportive networks/mentors.

Our upcoming events are advertised on our WLHE Women Leaders in Higher Education Network LinkedIn group page

Since our establishment in 2016 the WLHE Network has held a series of thought-provoking, engaging and inspirational themed events along with more informal ‘Come for Coffee’ events to connect and network. These events have been attended by women in all roles across TU Dublin.

February 2023: Come for Coffee to meet Miriam O’Donoghue, Head of Strategic Relationships development

February 2023: Come for Coffee to meet Dr Mary Meaney, Deputy President and Academic Registrar

December 2021 Event In Conversation with Jennifer Boyer and Niamh Shannon

June 2021 – Theme: Making the leap! Choosing to challenge the status quo
Keynote Speakers:
Mairead McGuinness – EU Commissioner
Maggie Cusack – President of MTU

March 2021:  Connect for Coffee on International Women’s Day - Choosing to Celebrate the Small Wins

Dec 2020 – Theme: Conscious Leadership – Focus on the ‘We’ not the ‘Me’ (online)
Keynote Speakers:
Hazel Chu – Lord Mayor of Dublin
Elizabeth Canavan – Dept of An Taoiseach

November 2020: Connect for Coffee - Not everything is a fire! (online)
Guest Speaker Tracey Gunn, founder of Being at Your Best

December 2019: Come for Coffee to meet the new President, Prof David FitzPatrick

June 2019 Event – Transformation - The Power of You
Keynote Speakers:
Norah Casey – Presenter, Author, Publisher
Dr Jacinta Kelly – CEO, National Children’s Research Centre

March 2019: Come for Coffee on International Women’s Day
Dr. Claire Gubbins from DCU discussed the power of networks and strategic relationships to realise this power

November 2018: Come for Coffee to meet the TU Dublin New Director of Equality & Diversity.
The atmosphere of this informal networking event was captured by the Public Affairs Team.

June 2018 Panel Event – Leadership in Higher Education: Where are the Women?
Guest Speaker: Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD
Panelists: Celine Marmion (RCSI), Prof Jane Grimson (TCD), Dr Ashley O’Donoghue (DIT)
Moderated by Aoibhinn Ni Shúilleabháin (UCD)

December 2017 Event – Being Ready for Opportunities
Keynote Speaker:
Dr Anita Sands – Global Business Leader, Speaker, Author

June 2017 Event  - Theme:  Developing your Professional Supportive Network
Keynote Speakers:
Teresa Mannion – RTE
Prof Celine Marmion – RCSI

December 2016 Event – Theme: Professional Enrichment, Career Advancement and Promotion
Keynote Speakers:
Mary Kennedy – Broadcaster & Writer, RTE
Professor Sarah Moore – University of Limerick

If you would like to be part of the WLHE Network in TU Dublin please connect with us on LinkedIn