Minister Lawless invites expressions of interest for Chairperson of the Skillnet Ireland Board of Directors

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced persons for nomination as Chairperson of the Skillnet Ireland Board of Directors.

This is the first occasion in which the Chairperson of the Board of Directors will be appointed by the Minister. The appointment will be for a period of three years.

Skillnet Ireland, established in 1999, is an aegis body of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and is funded from the National Training Fund through DFHERIS and the European Union. Its mission is to support enterprise-led learning and workforce upskilling across Ireland.

Minister Lawless said: “I invite expressions of interest from individuals with the vision and experience to lead Skillnet Ireland into its next chapter. As Chairperson, you will guide the Board in responding to Ireland’s evolving skills needs and in driving innovation across workforce development. This is a pivotal leadership role at a time of transformation and opportunity.”

The appointment process is being managed by State Boards on behalf of the Department. A detailed Information Booklet and application guidance, including the role description, eligibility criteria, and application form, have been published by State Boards and can be found at the following link:

Appointment as Chairperson to the Skillnet Ireland Board of Directors | Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science – publicjobs.ie

Expressions of Interest should be submitted to State Boards (in line with their standard template process). Applicants should include a curriculum vitae and a short cover letter (maximum one page) indicating their suitability for the role.

The closing date for receipt of EOIs is 3 pm on Thursday, 6 November 2025. Submissions received after that time will not be considered.

Appointments will be made with regard to merit, transparency and equality of opportunity. In line with governance best practice, gender balance and diversity are important considerations.