About the IAC

MEMBERSHIP

​

Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin (Chairperson)

Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin is an award-winning science communicator who chaired the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, presenting its report and recommendations to the Government and the UN General Assembly in 2023. She is Associate Professor in the DCU Institute of Education and a former European Young Leader, a group nominated to create a more equal, innovative, and inclusive Europe.

​

Eamon Carroll

Eamon Carroll is currently the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) Deputy President and Chairperson of their Farm and Rural Affairs Committee. ICMSA is a national, independent body, representing all farmers across Ireland, particularly dairy and livestock, at local, national and EU levels, and defends the incomes of farm families.  Eamon also represents ICMSA on the Water Forum, Agricultural Water Quality Group and the Designated Areas Monitoring Committee. Eamon hails from Loughmore in County Tipperary where he farms with his wife Annmarie and three children. Eamon is milking cows for the last 30 years and has a keen interest in protecting the future of farming for all farms and farm families. Eamon is also Chairperson of the National Dairy Council since 2019.​​​

​​

Marina Conway

Marina Conway is the Head of Woodlands at the nature restoration charity Hometree. She is a well-known voice and advocate for forests in Ireland. She has worked in Government, private sector and as a company director, and is the former CEO of Western Forestry Co-op. Marina has spent the majority of her career in farm forestry, her passion is for farmers, farm families and communities benefiting from our forests being in local and rural ownership. Marina has a Degree and Masters in Agricultural Science (Forestry), qualifications in Environmental Auditing, Training and Water Pollution Control and is a 2025 Nuffield Scholar.

​

Tasman Crowe

Professor Tasman Crowe is Vice President for Sustainability at University College Dublin. Prior to this, he was director of the UCD Earth Institute and co-founder of a new interdisciplinary BSc in Sustainability. He is Chair of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Forum and chaired an advisory group to the Government on the expansion of Ireland’s network of Marine Protected Areas. His research characterises impacts of multiple stressors on marine ecosystems and the services they provide to society, including their cultural value.

​

David Flynn

David Flynn was appointed by Government as a Director of the Environmental Protection Agency in October 2023. David has over twenty years of experience in environmental science and protection. He has held various public and private-sector roles, including as Principal Adviser in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as Licensing Programme Manager and as Enforcement Programme Manager with the EPA. David holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental science, a Master of Science, and an MBA.

​

Fintan Kelly

Fintan Kelly is the Agriculture & Land Use Policy and Advocacy Officer at the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he works with the IEN and the Environmental Pillar—coalitions of Irish environmental NGOs—to promote sustainable land use and nature restoration for the benefit of people and the planet. Fintan holds an MSc in Environmental Biology from Utrecht University and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Galway. With over 12 years of experience in the Irish environmental NGO sector, he has developed expertise in policy, advocacy, and planning. His previous roles include senior positions at BirdWatch Ireland, An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland), the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), and the Irish Wildlife Trust. He played a key role in coordinating the Environmental Pillar’s engagement with the EU Nature Restoration Law, both nationally and at the European level. This campaign was instrumental in securing the adoption of the law by the European Parliament and the European Council. 

​

David Kerr

David Kerr is a Farming for Nature Ambassador, farming a 70-hectare commercial dairy farm with 150 cows and a small flock of sheep in Ballyfin, Co. Laois. The farm is comprised of mixed land types including improved grassland, wet heavy land, three acres of woodland, a pond and cutaway bog. Twenty per cent of the land has been sown with Multi Species Sward and clover. 

​

Linda Lennon

Linda Lennon became CEO of Birdwatch Ireland in 2022. She previously worked as a senior civil servant for over 10 years, including CEO roles with the Olympic Stadium (London Stadium 185), The Royal Parks, and the independent Parole Board, in addition to various executive and non-executive director positions. This work saw her engage extensively with Ministers, Government Departments, MPs, Councillors, community groups and volunteers. She has a lifetime interest in wildlife and conservation.​

​

Micheál Ó Briain

Micheál Ó Briain has been actively involved in Irish and EU nature conservation over the past 50 years. Following his studies of Brent Geese in Ireland and Canada for his PhD at UCD he worked for BirdWatch Ireland, initially as its first Conservation Officer, then as National Director. He then spent 30 years working for the European Commission on EU and international nature and biodiversity policies. Since retiring he is mainly based on Achill Island and continues to support conservation initiatives, including as member of the Board of BirdWatch Ireland and of advisory committee to EUROPARC on protected area management effectiveness.

​

Paul O’Brien

Paul O’Brien has been involved in the Irish Farmers’ Association over the past 20 years holding various positions. He is from Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny where he runs a sheep and tillage enterprise. He is married to Carol and has three children Conor, Daire, and Aine. He was elected the South Leinster Chair in 2023 and is also Chair of the IFA Infrastructure Project Team. He previously held the position of IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chair (2020 to 2023). During his time as IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chair, he was elected joint Vice-Chair of the COPA (European Farmers Organisation) Environment Working Party and Chaired the Biodiversity and Soil Taskforce which was responsible for the coordination the Europeans farmers position on the Nature Restoration Law.

​

Colm O'Donnell

Colm O’Donnell is a hill farmer from the Ox Mountains in Co. Sligo, farming SAC designated lands where he keeps a traditional flock of native blackface sheep and a herd of black Galloway cattle. Colm is a founder member of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) and its President from 2017 to 2021. During this period, he represented the association on the development of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan and Foodvision 2030 forums. Colm has a great love for Irish traditional music and song and is also a well-known breeder of border collie working sheepdogs, competing at sheepdog trials. ​​​

​

Coilín O Reilly

(To follow)​

​

Norah Parke

Norah Parke retired from the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation in 2023, where she served since 2005 as a policy officer with the shellfish sector. With her husband Malcolm, she ran a successful family seafood business in Donegal that specialised in the live transport of brown crab and lobster. She was also the vice-chair of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) Consultative Committee until her retirement.