Board of Governors and Guardians

The Board comprises up to seventeen members, of which ten are appointed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, five are ex-officio holders of the offices listed below, and two are nominated and appointed by the Royal Hibernian Academy pursuant to a power bestowed on them in the 1854 Act. Members appointed by the Minister serve terms of five years. Ex-officio members serve terms of varying duration depending on the constitution of their organisation. Read more information on terms and appointment dates.

Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) | President
Royal Dublin Society (RDS) | President and Vice President
Royal Irish Academy (RIA) | President 
Office of Public Works (OPW) | Chairman

Current members 

Dr Martina Byrne | Founder and Principal Consultant, Byrne Consultants. Provides strategic communications and management advice to private and public sector bodies. Former Chief Executive of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), the representative bodies of those working in communication. Holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Dublin City University (DCU), a MPhil and PhD in Sociology from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and Certificates in Company Secretarial Law and in Artificial Intelligence from The Law Society. Lectured in social science in TCD and UCD and worked as a researcher in the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). A Fellow of the PRII since 2004.

Dr Sandra Collins | University Librarian at University College Dublin. Originally a mathematician, she has worked in digital innovation and cultural heritage over 30 years in the public and private sectors. She was previously the Director of the National Library of Ireland, and the founding Director of the Digital Repository of Ireland. She received her PhD in nonlinear fluid dynamics from UCD in 1996 and has been recognised as a female role model, one of the Top 100 Women in STEM in Ireland, and received awards for Research, Innovation and Impact, and four Irish eGovernment Awards. She is the Chairperson of the Irish Government’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Stories, and a Board member of the Consortium of National and University Libraries (CONUL). She has also served on the Irish Government’s Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations, the International Research Data Alliance Council and multiple European Commission Expert Advisory Groups.

John Conlon l Chairman of the Office of Public Works, (OPW). As Chairman of the Office of Public Works (OPW), he brings extensive leadership experience in public service, governance and the stewardship of Ireland’s national heritage. As Chair, he provides strategic oversight of the OPWs responsibilities, which includes the care, conversation, and presentation of the State’s built heritage, national monuments, historic properties, and the management of the State Art Collection. With a strong background in organisational leadership and public administration, he has a particular interest in cultural policy, institutional governance, and the role of public bodies in safeguarding and promoting Ireland’s artistic and cultural legacy. His work at the OPW involves engagement with a wide range of national and international stakeholders across the cultural, heritage and public sectors. As a Board member of the National Gallery, he contributes to the strategic direction and governance of the Gallery, supporting its mission to care for the national collection and engage audiences at home and from abroad.

Diana Copperwhite | Member of the RHA contemporary artist. Recent solo exhibitions include Driven by Distraction, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin (2016), Depend on the Morning Sun, Thomas Jaeckal Gallery, New York (2016) and A Million and One Things Under the Sun, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin (2015). Works held in numerous public and private collections including: the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Arts Council of Ireland, Limerick City Gallery of Art, Office of Public Works, Contemporary Irish Art Society, Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, Mariehamn Stadbiblioteque, Aland (Finland), Dublin Institute of Technology and The President of Ireland.

Dr Michelle D. Cullen | Managing Director, Board member and Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Accenture International. Strong advocate for diversity in leadership and co-founded Accenture’s Women on Walls initiative with the Royal Irish Academy, RCSI and DCU, which seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits to inspire future generations. Proven record of accomplishment in managing innovation, with a focus on the humanities and sustainable, inclusive decision-making. Woman of the Year (2018 Women in IT Awards) and DCU Alumni Achievement honouree. PhD from Dublin City University.

John Dardis | President Royal Dublin Society, ex-officio. Retired agricultural journalist (Irish Farmers’ Journal & RTE). Agricultural Journalist of the Year. Member of Seanad Eireann 1989-2007: 10 years as Deputy Senate Leader. Former Chair of Safefood, a North-South body established under the Good Friday Agreement. Served on the National Forum for Peace and Reconciliation (Drafting Committee) and the National Forum for Europe (Steering Committee).

Dan Flinter | Chairman of the National Stud and Gardens. Previously Chairman of the boards of PM Group Holdings, The Irish Times and VCIM Venture Capital. A Former non-executive director of Aryzta AG and Dairygold Co-Operative and CEO of Enterprise Ireland and executive director of IDA Ireland. MA in Economics from UCD and is an Eisenhower Fellow.

Caroline Grant | HR leader with a career experience spanning a range of sectors. Experience in scaling growth businesses and leading organisational transformation. Previously part of the executive team at Fenergo Limited and was HR Director with Dell Limited in a period where the multinational company underwent major restructuring in Ireland and the UK. Holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Dublin, a Diploma in Mediation from Maynooth University, and a Diploma in Leadership, Strategy and Governance from the Institute of Directors. 

Professor Pat Guiry | President of the Royal Irish Academy. Full Professor of Synthetic Organic Chemistry at UCD. Elected as member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2013 and of the UCD Governing Authority and the Senate of the National University of Ireland. President of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland and the Division of Organic Chemistry on EUChemS (2022- present). Recipient of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland’s Boyle- Higgins Medal in 2014 and the Science Foundation Ireland Mentorship Award in 2020. 

Hilary Hough | Vice-President Royal Dublin Society, ex-officio. Previously held various senior management roles in Bank of Ireland. Adjunct Professor at Trinity College lecturing on accounting and finance on the MBA and Executive Management programmes. Also provides finance training to Directors in a wide range of businesses, particularly in the food sector. Director of IT Alliance Group and the National Concert Hall. Chairman of the Audit and Risk committees in both. Certified Accountant, a Chartered Director and a graduate of the Smaller Company Management Programme at the Harvard Business School.

Margie McCarthy | Director of Research and Policy Insights, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Executive Director with SEAI, responsible for leading activities to provide and translate evidence to support policy decision making and delivery in Ireland’s clean energy climate action. Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland, with over 25 years’ experience across education and public engagement, engineering and science, public funding programmes, strategic communications and social marketing. Previous roles include leading Education and Public Engagement activity with Science Foundation Ireland, Membership and Industry Director with Engineers Ireland and a range of consulting engineer roles with a structural and environmental design focus. Chair of the Gender Balance in STEM Education Advisory Group to the Department of Education. Graduate of Engineering (UCC), Executive Programme in Strategy and Organisation (Stanford University), Innovation in the Age of Disruption (INSEAD), and Licentiate degree in Stage Performance.

Terence McCrann | Mediator, Solicitor and Senior Counsel specialising in employment, equality and industrial/employee relations law having been a partner with the Law Firm, McCann FitzGerald LLP, for over 30 years. Previous experience includes strategically advising organisations and their boards, throughout the private and public sectors, on their decision-making / governance matters as well as conducting independent reviews and investigations when significant issues of concern arise.  Previously served as Council member of the Law Society, Chair of the Employment and Equality Committee and Irish board member of the European Employment Lawyers Association.

Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh | Contemporary artist, member of the RHA and Aosdána. Based in County Wicklow, she graduated with an MA in Fine Art from Limerick School of Art and Design in 2023, and a BA in Fine Art from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2001. Ní Mhaonaigh has exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, and has received various awards. Her paintings have been presented at major international art fairs and are held in many important public and private collections. Ní Mhaonaigh regularly contributes to Irish language broadcasting across radio and television, and is represented by the Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin, and 532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel, New York. She was elected an Academician of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 2023 and a member of Aosdána in 2024.

Adrian O'Carroll (Chairperson) | Independent Non-Executive Director and Artist. Over 25 years of experience carrying out financial and operational analysis of a wide array of organisations including being a co-founder and Director of Merrion Capital Group as it became one of Ireland’s leading stock broking, fund management and corporate finance organisations. In the last 15 years he has applied that experience to the arts sector providing advice on a voluntary basis. He was a Board Member of Project Arts Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for Contemporary Arts for 9 years, and Chair of its finance committee. He is a Board Member of AKO Capital, one of Europe’s leading investment partnerships. A large share of AKO’s profit each year goes to the AKO Foundation to support charitable causes that seek to improve education, promote the arts or mitigate climate problems.  In recent years O’Carroll has developed a lifelong interest in photography, he has published two books, has shown in a number of exhibitions and his work is held in corporate, public and private collections in Ireland and overseas. 

Dr Ciarán O’Carroll | Lecturer specialising in Enterprise & Sustainability at Technological University Dublin. Also serves as a Board Member at Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann and has held previous board positions at Amnesty International Ireland and Maynooth University. Holds a PhD in Chemistry from Maynooth University.

John O'Doherty (Vice Chair) | Managing partner KOD Lyons Solicitors, Ireland’s largest criminal law firm and award-winning human rights practice. Former Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of the Law Society and is the Sole Irish member on Criminal Law Committee of the European Council of Bars and Law Societies. Studied Business and Economics at Trinity College Dublin and qualified as solicitor from Law Society of Ireland and holds a diploma in Financial Services Law from UCD.

Michael Quane | Contemporary visual artist, member of the RHA and Aosdána. Has been fully engaged as a practising artist since 1987 upon completion of a postgraduate course at the Crawford College of Art & Design. Works through the process of direct carving in limestone and marble, and in parallel, produces works with graphite on paper. Has exhibited widely throughout Ireland and the UK and through numerous international art fairs in Europe and the US. Has works held in many public collections including: Crawford Art Gallery; University College Cork; The OPW; Kilkenny County Council; The Department of Justice; The Department of Education; The HSE; University of Limerick; Coillte, as well as in many corporate and private collections throughout Ireland, UK, USA, and Western Europe. Works of sculpture commissioned for the public domain include Riders and Horses (Mallow, Co. Cork) and Lapidophytum Stagnalis (Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin).

Rebecca Clarke (Board Secretary) | Chartered Company Secretary with the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland and non-practicing Solicitor with previous experience in company law compliance and corporate governance. Bachelor of Laws, University of Dundee (2009) and Masters in Management and Corporate Governance (Msc), University of Ulster (2021).