The Institute of Directors (IoD) Ireland, the leading membership body for directors and business leaders, has announced the appointment of Dr Niamh O’Reilly as its new Executive Director of Learning & Education.
In the newly-established leadership role, O’Reilly will drive the continued evolution and growth of the IoD’s market-leading learning and development offering. Niamh O’Reilly will lead and manage the Learning & Education function end-to-end, building on its existing strengths while shaping its future strategic direction. She will oversee the IoD’s full suite of educational offerings, including the Chartered Director Programme, workshops, bespoke board training, and the ILCU Director Development Programme, while also driving operational excellence and digital transformation across the function.
The appointment reflects IoD Ireland’s commitment to supporting directors and boards at every stage of their professional development through innovative, high-quality learning experiences. As demand for director education continues to evolve, the IoD is expanding and strengthening its Learning & Education function to ensure that directors have access to the skills, knowledge and competencies required to navigate an increasingly complex governance and business environment.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Caroline Spillane CDir and Chief Executive Officer of IoD Ireland, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Niamh to the Institute of Directors Ireland at a particularly exciting time for our Learning & Education offering. Directors and boards are operating in an environment of unprecedented change and complexity, and the demand for high-quality professional development has never been greater. Niamh brings an exceptional combination of strategic leadership, governance expertise and a deep understanding of lifelong learning, and her appointment reflects our ambition to continue evolving our world-class learning programmes.”
Dr Niamh O’Reilly said:
“I am honoured to be joining the Institute of Directors Ireland and to have the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that plays such a critical role in supporting directors, boards and business leaders across the country. Strong governance is essential for trusted organisations, effective institutions and sustainable economic growth. The Institute's Learning & Education offering plays a unique role in developing director capability across Ireland, combining internationally recognised standards with the realities of leadership and governance in Irish organisations. I look forward to working with colleagues, members and stakeholders to strengthen that mission and support the next generation of board leaders”.
O’Reilly joins IoD Ireland from Maynooth University, where she served as Chief of Staff and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. She previously served as Chief Executive of AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation, and has held a range of significant governance positions, including board memberships of SOLAS and QQI. She currently serves on the Board of the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The appointment forms part of IoD Ireland’s ongoing investment in supporting director capability and board effectiveness through a comprehensive learning ecosystem that combines world-class education, practical governance insight and professional development pathways for directors at all stages of their careers. Through its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework and broad range of educational programmes, IoD continues to champion the highest standards of leadership and governance across Ireland.
Learning and Education
Explore the breadth of our learning and education opportunities, inclusive of the IoD Chartered Director Programme; workshops; bespoke training; and the IoD ILCU Director Development programme.
