Our People

Interim CEO

Nessa White

Nessa has worked in a number of Executive Director roles in SOLAS since 2020 and has over 20 years of senior leadership experience in the education and health sectors. During her time in SOLAS Nessa has driven strategic reform, innovation, and collaboration across the FET sector. 

Prior to taking up roles in SOLAS, Nessa worked in the Department of Education as a Project Manager for the Education and Training Board (ETB) - SOLAS Project Management Office leading out on initiatives focused on reform. She also played a key part in driving ongoing change and shared vision of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) and was appointed General Secretary of ETBI in May 2018. 

Throughout her career Nessa has gained extensive experience and expertise, especially in the areas of change management, strategic thinking and leading people. 

Executive Directors

Executive Director - Strategy and Performance division
Mary Liz Trant

Executive Director - System Transformation division
Colm McEvoy

Directors

Funding, Strategy and Performance Alignment
Alan McGrath

Branding, Communications and FET Strategy Implementation
Maria Walshe

Enterprise, Employees and Skills
Mary Lyons

FET College of the Future
Avril Behan

Adult Literacy for Life
Yvonne McKenna

People
Moira Walsh

Finance
Robert Collison

IT and Digital
Paddy Seery

Construction, Quality and Climate Strategy
David Smith

Research, Future Skills Needs, Statistics and Risk
Shauna Dunlop

Learner Support
Roisin Doherty

Apprenticeships Capacity and Integration
Con Ferry

Governance

The SOLAS Board is accountable to the Minister for Education and Skills and is responsible for ensuring good governance in SOLAS. It consists of our Chairperson Sean Aylward and 11 ordinary members, all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills. Our current Board comprises 54 per cent women and 46 per cent men.

The CEO and the senior management team follow the broad strategic direction set by the Board, and ensure that all Board members have a clear understanding of the key activities and decisions related to SOLAS.

The Board has three sub-committees: Audit and Risk Management Review Committee; Strategic Planning Committee; and Workforce and Organisational Development Committee.

SOLAS CEO, Andrew Brownlee, acts as a direct liaison between the Board and management of SOLAS.