Leading Better Governance: Board Evaluations

Dr Margaret Cullen is IoD Ireland’s Governance Advisor and a recognised national authority on corporate and fund governance. She brings a rare combination of academic depth and practical boardroom experience, making her one of Ireland’s most respected voices on governance excellence. Margaret supports IoD Ireland’s team of Board assessors, ensuring that each evaluation is informed by the highest standards of rigour, insight, and relevance. She has an extensive and distinguished track record of conducting Board evaluations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, providing Boards with tailored, actionable recommendations to enhance their performance and governance practices. In addition to her evaluation work, Margaret is a leading academic in the field, having lectured widely on corporate governance, board dynamics, and risk management. Her ability to translate complex governance theory into practical application equips Boards to meet today’s challenges with clarity, confidence, and accountability.

Carol Bolger is a Chartered Director, Certified Bank Director, and a highly experienced Independent Non-Executive Director with a strong track record in governance, board effectiveness, and leadership development. She has significant Board Chair experience across a number of organisations and is an Accredited Executive Coach, bringing both strategic insight and interpersonal acumen to her work. Carol is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s leading Board assessors. She has been conducting Board evaluations on behalf of IoD Ireland for over a decade, working with a wide range of organisations across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Her approach combines deep governance knowledge with a practical understanding of Boardroom dynamics. Carol engages closely with Boards to assess performance against best practice, facilitate open reflection, and identify meaningful improvements that support high-performing, future-focused governance. In addition to her board assessor work, Carol is an IoD Ireland Faculty member. She is the course leader on the Governance and Diploma modules of the IoD Ireland Chartered Director Programme and delivers a Getting Board Ready workshop.