Dr Fergal Lynch is a former Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (2015-2022) and Deputy Secretary General of the Department of Health (2012-2015). From 2022 to 2024 he worked with the University of Galway to help foster closer links between policy practitioners and academics in the development, implementation and evaluation of public policy.  Fergal maintains a close interest in public policy analysis. He is currently Chair of the National Council for Special Education, the statutory body for meeting the educational needs of children and adults with a disability, and a Trustee of the Katharine Howard Foundation, a voluntary body that supports services for vulnerable young children and families.