Eileen has worked to achieve equality of access and advantage in education over her 37-year career as a Teacher and Principal in the state and private sector. Her management roles have involved leadership of strategic planning, policy development, and liaison with Government departments and public agencies. She has initiated a number of local, national and international educational and cultural initiatives, and has been a member of various advisory groups within the Department of Education and Skills (DES). She has also held a number of non-executive governance roles. Having received primary and master’s degrees from Trinity College Dublin, Eileen completed a diploma in corporate governance at UCD’s Smurfit Graduate Business School in 2019. She works as a consultant in education-related governance and data protection, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in governance with the IPA.