Brendan Cahill - Executive Director, Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs, Fordham University
For nearly twenty years Mr. Cahill has created, directed and taught humanitarian programs throughout the world. At Fordham University he established a thriving undergraduate program and two Masters programs in Humanitarian Studies. He founded The Refuge Press, of which he serves as Publisher.
Johanna Lawton – Program Officer, Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs, Fordham University
Ms. Lawton is the Program Officer for the Ireland at Fordham Humanitarian Lecture Series and an editor for the IIHA’s Refuge Press. Holding a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Colby College, she has focused her research at home and abroad on natural resource-driven conflicts, human rights violations, and the forced displacement of communities due to climate change.
Ambassador Nason is a career diplomat who has represented Ireland across Europe and in various international cooperation settings.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney currently serves as Deputy Leader of Fine Gael and has over 20 years of experience working in politics and international affairs.
Dr. Dowd’s research concerns the dynamics of political violence in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to the targeting of civilians in humanitarian crises and the use of new and emerging methodologies for violence monitoring.
Ms. Duval has over eleven years of experience in humanitarian, development, human rights, protection, and crisis contexts, spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia Pacific.
President Michael D. Higgins is currently serving his second term as the ninth president of Ireland. Previously, he held positions as Ireland’s first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Mr. Hollingworth is a career-long humanitarian. He has worked for the WFP for 19 years, with regional focuses on the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Prior to joining IFRC, Dr. Mahmood served as the Chief of the World Humanitarian Summit secretariat at the UN. She is also well known as the founder of MERCY Malaysia.
Mr. McGoldrick has extensive experience in humanitarian affairs, international cooperation, economic development, and political affairs, and has held positions in Yemen, Nepal, and Georgia, among others.
Admiral Mellett has served in the Irish Defence Forces for over 40 years. He was the second Naval Officer in the history of the Irish State to be awarded “The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM).
