Laura Mahoney appointed Executive Director of Engagement at Dublin City University

Dublin City University has appointed Laura Mahoney as its new Executive Director of Engagement with responsibility for advancing DCU’s extensive external engagement activities as well as student recruitment and Alumni Relations. 

She joins DCU from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform where she was Head of Public Service Reform.

There, she led a team of civil servants and a seconded innovation team from across the public service to support the implementation of the Our Public Service 2020 reform agenda.

Prior to this she was CEO of the Royal Irish Academy, an all-island organisation that acts as a bridge between academia, government and business, supporting research and promoting awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society.

As Executive Director of Engagement at DCU, Laura will provide senior level leadership to advance DCU’s extensive external engagement activities.

She will guide the development of University strategy in relation to local, regional, national and international engagement and will play a leading role in the management of key stakeholder relationships.

Welcoming Laura to her new role Prof. Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University said

“Laura brings a wealth of experience to this position and is a great addition to the senior management team at DCU.

“Her track record of dynamic leadership and innovative change management will help DCU to further advance the University’s engagement with stakeholders at home and internationally.”

“My career to date has been devoted to the importance of collaboration and outreach and I am delighted to have the opportunity to join such an innovative, open and creative University.

“I am really thrilled to return to higher education and look forward to working with the DCU community to engage our stakeholders and strengthen our partnerships to support DCU’s transformative work.”

About Laura Mahoney

Laura holds an MBA (PG Dip) from the Open University, a Masters Degree in Political Philosophy from UCD and a BA in Contemporary History from the University of Sussex.

She worked as a tutor in History & Politics and held posts in the RCSI and the Fulbright Commission.

She is a member of the Institute of Directors and the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies (ACESA).

She joined the Royal Irish Academy in 1999 and was involved in all aspects of the Academy’s business, from grant management through to events programming and from international partnerships and EU funding through to developing major PRTLI research projects.

In October 2009 she became Head of the Academy’s administration – charged with the effective governance of the organisation and development of programming.

In November 2010 she became acting CEO and began the process of writing the Academy’s next strategic plan. She took over that role full time in 2013.

In 2018 Laura took a secondment into the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to lead on Public Sector Reform.

She was responsible for coordinating and supporting the delivery of public service reform and innovation, managing the Programme Management Office to lead the implementation of Our Public Service 2020, which established the strategy for development and innovation across the Public Service.