Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Forthright, honest and student-focused.
What do you like most about your job?
In my capacity as director of international engagement at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in the West of Ireland I have an opportunity to help transform lives and to contribute to the development of our region. Our graduates matter, and our international graduates leave an indelible mark on our university and the locations we serve in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway City – offering some of the most scenic landscapes in Europe.
Although I operate in a fast-paced environment, I am fortunate to be in a position to affect change. Multiculturalism and interculturality are what make our region and country unique, and our university plays a pivotal role in making this possible. Ireland is one of the most welcoming countries in the world and this combined with our highly skilled graduates allows us to continue attracting some of the most innovative companies to Ireland and our region.
I also enjoy witnessing our international community driving innovation through start-up companies, which is central to the future development of our economy. There is no other country in the world that supports start-up companies like we do in Ireland, with government leadership and funding through Enterprise Ireland and a range of Incubation Centres spread across the country, with many co-located on university campuses, as is the case with our Incubation Centres at ATU.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
A bad trip can only be described as those with logistical challenges. I’ve been fortunate in my career to have experienced very few ‘bad’ trips. I guess this is subjective, but over the years I’ve learned to accept things can go wrong and schedules can change and it’s best not to get excited about navigation issues that are outside your control.
I do remember an uncomfortably cold event on the Great Wall of China in 2017 celebrating St Patrick’s Day. As an Irishman, it was difficult to refuse a beverage, but given my hands were turning blue from the low temperatures I didn’t have much choice! I hope to make it back to the Great Wall someday, hopefully with more pleasant temperatures.
When you travel frequently, memory fades with time (unfortunately) – therefore recent travel is easiest for me to recall… Recently a senior delegation from ATU visited Chicago to sign a new agreement with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). The Innovation Centre and the Medical College of UIC were remarkable hosts. They provided our entire team with an extensive tour of their campus facilities and gave us real insight into how their research benefits from running an active hospital.
To conclude our visit, the VC for health affairs and the dean of the Medical College invited us to their club to experience a fireworks display, which literally illuminated the Chicago skyline against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. I cannot get the image out of my mind, which can only be described as spectacular. I see that firework show as a metaphor for the excitement that exists between both institutions for this partnership. Just as fireworks captivate and inspire, this collaboration is set to ignite innovation, illuminate new paths in research and education and leave a lasting impression on the communities we serve.
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
Spanish! I’ve been trying to improve my Spanish for some time, but without full immersion it’s difficult. I have family in Spain and as a musician I’ve had a keen interest in the music of the Andalusia region for many years.
What makes you get up in the morning?
My motto is every day is a school day and I certainly espouse this as an eternal student who’s dedicated most of my career to higher education. Learning is a two-way process and I’m lucky to work in an environment where constant learning is both necessary and celebrated. My appetite for personal growth continues every day.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
It’s difficult to look beyond the commitment of sports stars like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. I’m not easily starstruck, but I respect and admire their commitment to their profession and vocation. They are not performing at a high level purely because of natural talent (yes it plays a part) but mainly down to their work ethic, commitment, resolve and belief in themselves. We can all learn from this.
In recent times, I tend to admire those who promote a heathy work life balance, proving that smart work and output is more important than busy schedules and inputs. At my university it’s difficult to look beyond the impressive approach of our president Orla Flynn, who treats all staff equally, regardless of their gender, age, grade, etc. Her work ethic, inclusive approach and passion for ATU and its stakeholders is palpable and I can only strive to emulate her approach, something I will continue to work towards every day.
Best international ed conference and why
Often, I find the smaller conferences more beneficial – the larger ones have become too commercial in focus, which distracts from the core purpose of the conference. The newly launched Irish Association for International Education (IAIE) that held its inaugural conference at SETU in June 2025 was a major success.
Next year’s conference at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick in June 2026 is an event that any anyone working in international higher education should not miss. For further information please contact me directly.
Other than this I’m really excited for the upcoming PIE Live event in Ireland this October 2025, which will hopefully be the start of more major international education events in Ireland.
Worst conference food/beverage experience
All the big conferences (you can guess which ones) can become overwhelming with so many meetings, receptions, and special events, which can ultimately become counterproductive. At many of these events there is scarcely time to eat and often the food options are limited. I prefer to find my own food or not eat until later in the day.
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
The David McWilliams Podcast is one of my favourites. David is a well-known Irish economist and although the theme is loosely economics, a wide variety of topics are covered in a meaningful and humorous way.
For any golf enthusiasts, I would recommend Holding On and Letting Go – (In) Golf and Life – a book by Michael J. Young and John L. Perri. Dr Young is a physician at the University of Illinois Chicago and makes many compelling arguments that show how much of what applies on the golf course can equally apply in aspects of our personal and professional lives.
For those interested in novels, an exciting page turner is I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. Don’t blame me if this interrupts your normal sleep cycle…
For the international higher education community, I believe we all must consider inclusive approaches to internationalisation going forward. Democratising international education is an imperative now more than ever (in a post-pandemic world). Therefore, I have two relevant book recommendations:
- The Guide to COIL Virtual Exchange – Implementing, Growing, and Sustaining Collaborative Online International Learning, edited by Jon Rubin and Sarah Guth
- Digital Internationalisation in Higher Education – Beyond Virtual Exchange, edited by Taylor C. Woodman, Melissa Whatley and Chris R. Glass
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
We are currently working towards our inaugural global engagement strategy for ATU, following the merger of three former Institutes of Technology with the founding of ATU in 2022. We have enlisted the help of Vicky Lewis, an experienced consultant and educationalist, to facilitate our consultation process and help shape our future systematic approach to global engagement.
I have the pleasure of leading out on this exciting project and coordinating the various forms of communication, consultation and eventual dissemination – the main conduit between Dr Lewis and the ATU community. I am enjoying this process and look forward to seeing it take shape over the next few months. My main priority for this project is to ensure we embed an inclusive and egalitarian approach to internationalisation for the entire ATU community, one that considers our international students, staff and researchers as valuable assets whom without, we cannot thrive intellectually, socially, economically and globally.
As you might expect, this is an exciting time for our university in terms of our development and the evolution of our approach to internationalisation.
