Inland Fisheries Ireland is governed by a Board of 10 directors.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, announced on 16 January 2024 the appointment of a chairperson and eight board members to the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). These board appointments were made pursuant to Section 12 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
On 18 March 2026, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State Timmy Dooley welcomed the appointment of Dr Eamonn Kelly as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). The New CEO has taken up the position on 13 April 2026.
The appointment was made in accordance with section 23 of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010, following an open recruitment process conducted by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Board of IFI.
The Board has established the following Sub-Committees which include members of the Board, co-opted members, and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT):
- The Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) support and advise the Board about financial statements, audits and risk management;
- The People and Culture Sub-Committee (P&CSC) support and advise the Board on workforce strategies, organisational culture, leadership capability, employee wellbeing, employee relations and engagement and people-related risks,
- The Property & ICT Sub-Committee (P&ISC) support and advise the Board on the delivery of the IFI’s annual Property Optimisation Plan and ICT in alignment with the Corporate Plan.
The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) brings together the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Heads of Functions and others as may be appointed from time to time by the CEO to form a collective strategic and operational leadership group within IFI.
The ELT includes:
- Chief Executive Officer – Eamonn Kelly
- Head of Operations – Barry Fox
- Head of Finance & Corporate Services – Suzanne Campion
- Head of Research, Policy and Risk – Fiona Kelly
- Head of the Barriers Mitigation Division – Hazel King
The ELT’s role is to provide the staff, property, resources, systems, procedures, and practices employed by IFI for the purpose of delivering on the IFI mandate in an efficient and effective manner, and to implement the IFI Corporate Plan.
Organisational structure of Inland Fisheries Ireland
Members of the Board
Prof Tom Collins, Chair
Prof Collins has extensive experience of working in areas cognate to that of Inland Fisheries Ireland. These include work on the conservation of Atlantic salmon which culminated in the banning of drift net fishing in Irish coastal waters. He has served as Chair of the Rural Water Monitoring Group and Chair of An Foram Uisce. His professional activities required Leadership, Faciliation and Change Management skills. He has also been active in university governance contexts at chair level since 2013. Professor Collins brings a vast and invaluable wealth of experience to the role.
Maria Graham
Ms Graham is a retired civil servant with a strong background in corporate governance, strategic planning, financial management, collaborative working, including through stakeholder engagement and specific experience in infrastructure provision, water environmental and planning issues, including the interaction between development and environmental issues including the relevant EU Directives.
Ms Jackie Maguire
Ms Maguire has experience across both service delivery and strategic policy development at regional, county, town and urban level. She has held the position of Chief Executive of two Local Authorities (Meath and Leitrim) spanning 17 years and has a long career immersed in local government. She has provided leadership to deliver for citizens from an economic, political, social and environmental perspective. To do so she has influenced key stakeholders to deliver what is required for the county(ies) and doing so from a base of knowledge of the county, local, regional and national policy and the framework and workings of local authorities.
Raymond O’Dwyer
Mr O’Dwyer has 40 years’ experience in Local Government Management and in Engineering and Civil Engineering projects. His skills include corporate Governance and leadership, problem solving with a solutions driven approach, project management, team building, multitasking and he has a wide experience in dealing with Public meeting, high level engagement with senior politicians, Board and national committees.
Dr Jonathan Derham
Dr Derham has over 36 years national and international working experience in both the public and private sectors. He has worked in a management role in the Environment Protection Agency from 1995 to 2022. He has key skills in and experience in public sector governance; EU and National environmental policy; stakeholder engagement; regulatory and legal affairs; climate disruption; natural capita; water protection; land use management; and sustainability. The corporate services experience includes development and implementation of strategy; work programming; organisational design; HR policy & recruitment; change management; performance management; budgeting, finance, procurement and grant management; efficiency & effectiveness reviews; and risk management.
Lorraine O’Donnell
Ms O’Donnell is a dedicated manager working with teams across various functions in IFI for over 25 years. She has key skills in leadership, Communication, Adaptability and Strategic thinking.
IFI staff voted on 10 October 2023 to elect Lorraine as a staff representative in line with section 13 of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010 and appointed by the Minister as set out under Section 12 (1) (f) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. Ms O’Donnell's appointment to the Board will be from 16 January 2024 for a period of 5 years or until the date of termination of her appointment, whichever is the earliest
Dr Eamonn Kelly
Dr Kelly combines in-depth environmental knowledge with a background in corporate governance. He holds a BSc and PhD in Zoology from the University of Galway, as well as a Diploma in Corporate Governance.
Dr Kelly spent 12 years with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, where he managed the delivery of research and advice relating to the conservation and restoration of protected species and aquatic habitats. He also served as a Principal Officer in the Civil Service and spent four years in Brussels as an Irish diplomat to the EU. Prior to joining IFI, Dr Kelly worked as a Planning Commissioner and a Board Member at An Coimisiún Pleanála.
As Inland Fisheries Ireland's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kelly also serves on its Board.