I joined the Discovery Programme: Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland in November 2020 as its new Chief Executive Officer. Before this I was Principal Inspector of Historic Monuments and an Assistant Director of Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. I have worked across a very wide range of historic environment activities, including public engagement, regulation, conservation, strategic spatial planning, and land management. In addition to my qualifications as an archaeologist, I am also a Chartered Construction Manager (through the Chartered Institute of Building) and a keen advocate of interdisciplinary working that recognises the contributions archaeology can make to, and derive from, other professional and subject-based activities.
In my new role I am looking forward to advancing archaeological research across Ireland, making available the data and outcomes of the Discovery Programme’s work of the past 30 years. I am particularly looking forward to facilitating the development of a strategic Archaeological Research Framework for Ireland, which will also involve engagement with professional bodies including CIfA over the coming years.
