Membership Profiles

Prof John Doran (Interim President of Technological University Dublin)

Faculty of Sciences and Health | TU Dublin

The Governing Body of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has appointed Professor John Doran, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Health, as interim President.

In the coming weeks, Professor Doran will lead the University Executive Team in the coordination of the University’s Recovery Plan in partnership with members of the Governing Body.

A member of the University Executive Team since 2022, Professor Doran holds a PhD in Physics and a BA (Mod) in Experimental Physics from Trinity College Dublin. He joined the University’s legacy institution, Dublin Institute of Technology, as a physics lecturer in 1996, taking on an Assistant Head of School role in 2003 and becoming Head of the School of Physics, Clinical & Optometric Sciences in 2009. During his time in school leadership, the school has grown significantly, with more than a doubling of both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He was awarded a professorship from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2017.

Professor Doran’s research has focused on fundamental physics and the applications of quantum semiconductor structures and other nanomaterials, concentrating on solar energy technology in the last 20 years. He has been a member of several large European research consortia, funded through various EU Framework programmes, and was also awarded research funding through the Irish Research Council, the European Space Agency and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. He has extensive experience working with various health services in Ireland and the regulatory environment through many years of involvement with CORU, the Health & Social Care Professions Council, in various roles, including the Optical Registration Board membership.

Mary Cooke (Chairperson)

	Mary is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and of the Honourable Society of Kings Inns, Dublin. She practiced at the Irish Bar from 1988 to 1996 and from 1996 to 2020 worked in the Office of the Attorney General as Advisory Counsel and in that role had extensive experience in advising on the range of constitutional and other public law matters, directing on litigation involving the State and advising on draft legislation. Mary was a member of the Office’s management committee from 2009 to 2020 and had a particular role in learning and development. She has been a member of various Government interdepartmental and wider committees concerning areas of public policy. Since 2021 Mary has been engaged as an international legal expert in legal and judicial reform projects with the Council of Europe. Mary Cook is the Chair of the Governing Body Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Mary is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and of the Honourable Society of Kings Inns, Dublin. She practiced at the Irish Bar from 1988 to 1996 and from 1996 to 2020 worked in the Office of the Attorney General as Advisory Counsel and in that role had extensive experience in advising on the range of constitutional and other public law matters, directing on litigation involving the State and advising on draft legislation. Mary was a member of the Office’s management committee from 2009 to 2020 and had a particular role in learning and development. She has been a member of various Government interdepartmental and wider committees concerning areas of public policy. Since 2021 Mary has been engaged as an international legal expert in legal and judicial reform projects with the Council of Europe.

Mary Cook is the Chair of the Governing Body Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Norah Burns

	Dr Norah Burns is a human rights academic. She holds a Bachelor of Law in Law and European Studies, a Masters of Law in Human Rights in Criminal Justice and a PhD in law. She completed a Masters in Third Level Teaching, Learning and Scholarship in 2020 and has also completed postgraduate studies in human rights in Kings College London. In 2018 Norah was selected from 13,000 young people in Europe and Asia as a future young ethical leader in Europe by the Asia Europe Foundation. Dr Burns is a multiple award winning lecturer, amongst her awards in 2021 she was named as a National Teaching Hero by the Union of Students in Ireland and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. Norah is a board member of the National Women’s Council. In April 2021 she was selected by the Minister for Children and Equality to sit on the Council of Gaisce: The Presidents Award. Norah Burns is currently a member of the Governing Body Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Dr Norah Burns is a human rights academic. She holds a Bachelor of Law in Law and European Studies, a Masters of Law in Human Rights in Criminal Justice and a PhD in law. She completed a Masters in Third Level Teaching, Learning and Scholarship in 2020 and has also completed postgraduate studies in human rights in Kings College London. In 2018 Norah was selected from 13,000 young people in Europe and Asia as a future young ethical leader in Europe by the Asia Europe Foundation. Dr Burns is a multiple award winning lecturer, amongst her awards in 2021 she was named as a National Teaching Hero by the Union of Students in Ireland and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. Norah is a board member of the National Women’s Council. In April 2021 she was selected by the Minister for Children and Equality to sit on the Council of Gaisce: The Presidents Award.

Norah Burns is currently a member of the Governing Body Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Michael Gately

	Michael Gately is an International Non-Executive director, company founder and a serial investor. He has worked in well over 100 countries, visiting at least 25 countries every year for over 20 years. These countries included Afghanistan, Haiti, Indonesia, Pakistan & Iran. Apart from Ireland, he has been a director of companies in Algeria, Turkey, France, South Africa, Vietnam, China & Australia. Areas of investment interest include organic farming, water treatment, adhesives/paints, early-stage digital technology, chemicals and general manufacturing. He has worked on research projects with The University of North Carolina, the University of Ulster, Montana University, Stanford University and Leeds University. While Michael was MD of Medentech- Aquatabs, it was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 100 companies changing the world. Today over 18 million African children receive safe water every day from Aquatabs products, while top USA hospitals such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic & Johns Hopkins use products he and his team developed for infection control programs. Michael is the inventor of “ WASH year in a box” which brings all infection control products needed for rural hospitals in developing countries in one box for one year for €1 per day.

Michael Gately is an International Non-Executive director, company founder and a serial investor. He has worked in well over 100 countries, visiting at least 25 countries every year for over 20 years. These countries included Afghanistan, Haiti, Indonesia, Pakistan & Iran.

Apart from Ireland, he has been a director of companies in Algeria, Turkey, France, South Africa, Vietnam, China & Australia. Areas of investment interest include organic farming, water treatment, adhesives/paints, early-stage digital technology, chemicals and general manufacturing.

He has worked on research projects with The University of North Carolina, the University of Ulster, Montana University, Stanford University and Leeds University.

While Michael was MD of Medentech- Aquatabs, it was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 100 companies changing the world.

Today over 18 million African children receive safe water every day from Aquatabs products, while top USA hospitals such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic & Johns Hopkins use products he and his team developed for infection control programs. Michael is the inventor of “ WASH year in a box” which brings all infection control products needed for rural hospitals in developing countries in one box for one year for €1 per day.

Yvonne Galligan (Director)

	Yvonne Galligan is Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Professor of Comparative Politics in Technological University Dublin. She was founding director of the Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics in Queen’s University Belfast and is now founding director of RINCE. She is a past Vice President of the International Political Science Association, past President of the Political Studies Association of Ireland. She is serving a second term as Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association. Yvonne has served, and chaired, a range of public boards, including the Parliamentary Commission to Consider the Consequences of Devolution on the House of Commons (The McKay Commission, member), the Women in Science Task and Finish Group, Wales (member), the Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel for the UK Research Assessment Framework (member) and The Markievicz Commission (chair). Yvonne has led three successful institutional Athena SWAN Silver applications, and has advised many institutions in Ireland, the UK and North America on their Athena SWAN (or equivalent) applications. She has extensive experience of reviewing institutional equality plans as part of research council funding applications, and of reviewing full applications, for the European Commission, NORFACE, the Swiss and Belgian research councils, the Academy of Finland, the Canadian Research Council, among others. Yvonne has produced over 100 publications on gender equality, including reports for governments, international organisations, and scholarly outputs. In recognition of her commitment to advancing gender equality in public life and in the academy, Yvonne received an OBE, Honorary Fellowship of Trinity College Dublin, an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, and elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. She is also Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast.

Yvonne Galligan is Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Professor of Comparative Politics in Technological University Dublin. She was founding director of the Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics in Queen’s University Belfast and is now founding director of RINCE. She is a past Vice President of the International Political Science Association, past President of the Political Studies Association of Ireland. She is serving a second term as Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association.

Yvonne has served, and chaired, a range of public boards, including the Parliamentary Commission to Consider the Consequences of Devolution on the House of Commons (The McKay Commission, member), the Women in Science Task and Finish Group, Wales (member), the Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel for the UK Research Assessment Framework (member) and The Markievicz Commission (chair). Yvonne has led three successful institutional Athena SWAN Silver applications, and has advised many institutions in Ireland, the UK and North America on their Athena SWAN (or equivalent) applications.

She has extensive experience of reviewing institutional equality plans as part of research council funding applications, and of reviewing full applications, for the European Commission, NORFACE, the Swiss and Belgian research councils, the Academy of Finland, the Canadian Research Council, among others. Yvonne has produced over 100 publications on gender equality, including reports for governments, international organisations, and scholarly outputs. In recognition of her commitment to advancing gender equality in public life and in the academy, Yvonne received an OBE, Honorary Fellowship of Trinity College Dublin, an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, and elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. She is also Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast.

Dr Gerald Craddock

	Dr Gerald Craddock heads up the statutory Centre on Universal Design in Ireland. The only such centre in the world. The centre's focus is on designing a more inclusive society though creating more inclusive digital and built environments, services and systems that are accessible and usable by all. Previous to the the above role Dr Craddock headed up a national Assistive technology service delivery centre in Ireland. He has a PhD in Disability Studies, a Higher Diploma in Social, Vocational Management and a degree in electronic engineering.

Dr Gerald Craddock heads up the statutory Centre on Universal Design in Ireland. The only such centre in the world. The centre's focus is on designing a more inclusive society though creating more inclusive digital and built environments, services and systems that are accessible and usable by all.

Previous to the the above role Dr Craddock headed up a national Assistive technology service delivery centre in Ireland. He has a PhD in Disability Studies, a Higher Diploma in Social, Vocational Management and a degree in electronic engineering.