Josephine Feehily, who has been appointed to chair the governing body of the new technological university that will replace Athlone IT and Limerick IT later this week.

Limerick woman appointed as chair of new technological university

Adrian Cusack

Published: Tue 28 Sep 2021, 1:04 PM

Last updated: Tue 28 Sep 2021, 1:05 PM

Limerick native Josephine Feehily has been appointed as chairperson of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which formally opens this Friday (October 1).

Ms Feehily was last year appointed as chair of the Pensions Commission. She previously chaired the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Policing Authority of Ireland.

Her appointment to head the governing body of the new institution was announced by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science earlier today.

Professor Vincent Cunnane, who has served for the last five years as president of Limerick IT, was previously announced as president of the new technological university (TU), which will replace Athlone and Limerick ITs.

Ms Feehily will be joined on the governing body by John Griffin, CEO of Ericsson in Ireland, and Colette Ryan who has over 30 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as external members of the governing body.

George O'Callaghan, Chief Executive of the Limerick & Clare Education and Training Board, was also appointed to the governing body as the nominee of all three Education and Training Boards in whose areas the TU campuses are located.

The TU can have between 14 to 22 members in total on its governing body, including the TU president, Professor Cunnane.

The governing body must now establish and implement election and appointment procedures to fill the remaining posts from cohorts including undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic and non-academic staff, as well as a number of additional external members.

The new governing body roles take effect from October 1, and the appointees have six months in which to fulfil the requirements necessary to form the entirety of the governing body membership.

Minister of State for Further Education and Skills, Niall Collins, commented: "This is another key step in the establishment of the new TU.

"People of this high calibre and experience sitting on the governing body, including chair Josephine Feehily and president-designate Vincent Cunnane, puts the university on a hugely firm footing and in a great position to deliver its functions in areas such as higher education access, teaching and learning excellence, research capacity building and regional development."