Our People

CEO

Deirdre McDonnell

Deirdre McDonnell was appointed CEO of SOLAS in April 2026. Before joining SOLAS Deirdre was Assistant Secretary in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration where she was responsible for governance and oversight of criminal justice agencies, including An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service.

She has extensive experience in the education sector where she has spent the majority of her public service career, working in policy, implementation and operational roles. 

Executive Directors

Executive Director - Strategy and Performance division
Mary Liz Trant

Executive Director - System Transformation division
Colm McEvoy

Executive Director - Support
Nessa White

Executive Director - Support (Acting)
Maria Walshe

Directors

System Performance
Alan McGrath

Enterprise, Employees and Skills
Mary Lyons

FET College of the Future
Avril Behan

Adult Literacy for Life
Yvonne McKenna

Apprenticeships Capacity and Integration
Con Ferry

Branding, Communications and FET Strategy (Acting)
Noreen Fitzpatrick

People
Moira Walsh

Finance
Robert Collison

IT and Digital
Paddy Seery

Construction, Quality and Climate Strategy
David Smith

Research, Future Skills Needs, Statistics and Risk
Shauna Dunlop

Learner Support
Roisin Doherty

Governance

The SOLAS Board is accountable to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and is responsible for ensuring good governance in SOLAS. It consists of our Chairperson Sean Aylward and 11 ordinary members, all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Our current Board comprises 54 per cent women and 46 per cent men.

The CEO and the senior management team follow the broad strategic direction set by the Board, and ensure that all Board members have a clear understanding of the key activities and decisions related to SOLAS.

The Board has three sub-committees: Audit and Risk Management Review Committee; Strategic Planning Committee; and Workforce and Organisational Development Committee.

The SOLAS CEO acts as a direct liaison between the Board and management of SOLAS.