Board and Executive

Board Members

A ten-member Board oversees the work of the HRB. Board members are appointed by the Minister for Health and serve a five-year term.

The Board meets approximately seven times per year. A record of attendance at meetings and committees is published in our Annual Reports. Meeting minutes are published on our website.

Board Meeting Minutes

HRB conducts a monthly meeting with its Board and Executive Members. The meeting notes are available for the public to review and download.

 

HRB Board Register of interests 2024

Audit and Risk Committee

The role of the Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) is to support the Board in relation to its responsibilities for issues of risk, control and governance and associated assurance. The ARC is independent from the financial management of the organisation. The Committee ensures that the internal control systems including audit activities are monitored actively and independently. The ARC reports to the Board after each meeting, and formally in writing annually.

Members of the Audit & Risk Committee are appointed by the Board of the HRB.

During 2023 the members of the Committee were:

  • Professor Charles Normand (Board Member & Chairperson for the February, June & October meetings) (retired Nov 2023),
  • Dr Terry McWade (Board Member & Chairperson for the December meeting),
  • Dr Julie Ling (Board Member, attended the February meeting),
  • Dr Tracy Cunningham (Board member, attended all meetings)
  • Dr Leonora Bishop (Board member, attended all meetings)
  • Dr Cliona Saidlear (Board member, attended October & December meetings), and
  • Mr Martin Higgins (External – attended the February, June and October meetings).

Audit and Risk Committee Vacancy

The Health Research Board (HRB) is seeking expressions of interest from persons with financial and governance experience to sit on its Audit and Risk Committee. Number of vacancies: one. Applications close 15 November 2024. View Vacancy information here, or download the information below.

Management Development Committee

The role of the Management Development Committee (MDC) is to oversee the recruitment, selection, and performance appraisal of the CEO. The Committee also acts as a consultative group to the Chief Executive in relation to the review of the performance and development of the Executive Team and planning for management succession in the organisation.

The members of the Committee during 2022 were

  • Professor Bernie Hannigan
  • Professor Tom Fahey
  • Professor Seamas Donnelly and
  • Dr Cliona Saidlear

The Committee met three times during 2022.

Executive Team

Meet HRB Chief Executive Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll and the other members of the HRB’s Executive Team