As Director of Corporate Services at the Marine Institute, Patricia Orme has responsibility for Corporate Governance, Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, Communications, and Library Services. Patricia also serves as Board Secretary and Energy Performance Officer and has previously held the roles of Data Protection Officer and Joint Risk Officer within the Institute.Prior to joining the Institute, Patricia was a Director with KPMG, one of Ireland’s leading professional services firms. In this capacity, she advised a diverse portfolio of public and private sector, SME, and international clients on financial management, audit, risk, governance, and advisory matters. In addition to her executive career, Patricia has contributed to academic and professional development through her role as a lecturer on the Master of Accounting programme at NUI Galway, and through the delivery of governance training and presentations to boards.Patricia is recognised for her expertise in governance, risk-management, and organisational leadership within complex, multidisciplinary environments. She has held senior leadership responsibilities spanning strategic planning, client relationships, financial performance, and human resources. She has demonstrated a sustained commitment to public service, including serving as a Director and Company Secretary of the Croí Heart and Stroke Foundation from 2011 to 2018, acting as a mentor for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, an organisation which assists high potential social entrepreneurs develop and scale their enterprise and currently as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Institute of Public AdministrationPatricia is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Law and Accounting) from the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Within his Directorate, Michael Gillooly holds responsibility for the strategic leadership, management, and development of services, as well as the delivery of programmes across Research Vessel Operations, Advanced Mapping Services, Oceanography and Climate Services, Information and Systems Development, Marine Infrastructure, and Renewable Ocean Energy. Michael also served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Institute in 2021 and 2023.Michael has over 30 years’ senior management experience in marine technical research, operational programmes, and infrastructure development. His expertise spans weather and ocean observation systems, including buoy networks and the Galway Bay cabled observatory, as well as significant operational programmes such as INFOMAR mapping, research vessel and ROV operations, operational oceanography, and climate change. He has also led strategic planning initiatives, including the national marine plan Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (2012), the Integrated Digital Ocean programme, and multiple business planning projects. Michael served as Project Manager for the construction of the RV Celtic Voyager and RV Celtic Explorer, and as Director had overall responsibility for the build of the RV Tom Crean.Michael has demonstrated strong leadership in national and international marine initiatives, including as co-author of the 2005/2006 INFOMAR proposal, which was subsequently adopted by Government as a 20-year national programme. He has represented Ireland as a national delegate to the Steering Council of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (2016–2018) and currently serves as a national delegate to the Assemblies of Members of the EMSO and EURO-ARGO ERICs, as well as an Executive Board Member of EurOcean.Michael holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science in Environmental Science, and a National Diploma in Aquatic Biology.

As Director of PIRS, Dr Niall McDonough oversees a team and programme of work that plays a key role in supporting and promoting marine research and innovation at national and international level. He coordinates the implementation of Ocean Knowledge 2030, Ireland’s Strategy for Marine Research, Knowledge and Innovation; and chairs the national Marine Research Funders’ Forum. He oversees the Marine Institute’s circa €12 million per annum external research funding programme and is a member of the Irish Government’s Impact 2030 Implementation Forum and Horizon Europe High-Level Group.Following two years with the University of Galway’s Environmental Change Institute, Niall held the position of General Manager at the Centre for Marine Resources and Mariculture (CMar) at Queen’s University Belfast, where he led scientific, technical, and advisory activities supporting the development of the emerging marine aquaculture sector.From 2007 to 2009, he played a key leadership role within the Marine Institute’s international cooperation programme, strengthening Ireland’s participation in global marine research initiatives. In 2009, he was appointed Executive Director of the European Marine Board (EMB), a prominent European marine science policy organisation based at the InnovOcean campus in Ostend, Belgium. From 2020 to 2025, Niall held the elected position of Chair of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans), providing strategic direction to this pan-European partnership.Niall originally trained as a marine biologist with research interests in marine aquaculture, shellfish stock restoration and marine resource management.Niall holds a first-class BA (Mod.) in Zoology from Trinity College Dublin (1993) and a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast (1998).

Dr Glenn Nolan was appointed Director of Marine Environment and Food Safety Services at the Marine Institute in 2025. In this role, he provides strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of specialist teams, including Fish Health, Marine Environmental Chemistry, Shellfish Safety, Quality Control, Benthos Science, Licensing Advisory Services, and Marine Spatial Planning.Over the course of his career, Glenn has played a central role in securing major marine research and development initiatives supported through national and European funding programmes. His leadership and technical expertise have been integral to strengthening Ireland’s ocean observation and forecasting infrastructure, contributing significantly to the nation’s marine science capability and its broader innovation agenda. Glenn has also shared his expertise through academic appointments at Atlantic Technological University and the University of Malta, where he lectured in marine science at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.His leadership is centred on strengthening collaboration across these specialist areas and fostering the continued development of scientific and advisory expertise—work that collectively supports the safeguarding of Ireland’s marine environment and the maintenance of the highest standards in seafood safety.In addition to his scientific and managerial achievements, Glenn has contributed meaningfully to community development. As Chairperson of SCCUL Enterprises CLG, he has supported local enterprise growth and helped deliver essential social and wellbeing services to communities on the east side of Galway City.Glenn holds a BA (Geography) from UCD and a M.Sc. and PhD in Oceanography from the University of Galway and joined the Marine Institute in 2003.

Dr Ciaran Kelly is Director of the Institute’s Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services (FEAS), which is responsible for conducting resource assessments of commercial fish stocks, providing scientific advice and policy support to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), and undertaking research on marine ecosystems, fish stocks, and aquaculture. In this role, he leads multidisciplinary teams whose work underpins evidence-based fisheries management and supports Ireland’s national and international obligations in marine resource stewardship.Ciaran previously worked as Manager of Integrated Advice and later as Manager of the Office of Research and Development at the Marine Institute. In these senior roles, he provided strategic leadership for the Institute’s National Marine Research Investment Programme, guiding its planning, coordination, and delivery to strengthen Ireland’s marine research capacity and support national scientific priorities.Ciaran has contributed to the provision of scientific advice for government managers and policy makers for more than two decades, working both nationally and through international organisations such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). Throughout this time, he has worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration and collective expertise to support evidence-based fisheries management and marine policy.Ciaran holds a degree from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD from University College Dublin. He subsequently trained as a marine biologist and later specialised as a fisheries scientist, establishing a strong academic and scientific foundation for his career.

Liam Lacey is Director of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) at the Marine Institute. IMDO is mandated to provide authoritative policy advice to the Minister and the Department of Transport, and to oversee the implementation of policy measures as directed by the Minister or Department.Liam’s career includes senior leadership experience with the Irish Continental Group, where he served as Managing Director of its Container and Terminal Division. He has extensive experience in shipping, chartering and port development.He also contributed to national industry representation as a member of IBEC’s Transport Council, supporting the strategic interests of the transport and logistics sector.Prior to joining the IMDO, Liam lectured in strategic management and innovation at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, further broadening his professional and academic portfolio.Liam served as the co-ordinator of the Ports Pillar in the Atlantic Strategy and has regulatory responsibilities in Ireland for the European Port Services Directive.In addition, he contributes to national maritime development through his service on a number of committees and taskforces dedicated to advancing Ireland’s maritime industry.Liam is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland and holds a master’s degree in management from Trinity College Dublin, and was the recipient of the Sir Charles Harvey Award, for excellence in postgraduate studies.