Eileen O’Malley (She/Her)

My work spans government institutions, philanthropy, and mission-driven organisations, with a consistent focus on translating evidence into action and designing systems that deliver lasting change.

I began my career at Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA), the national advisory body for third-level education, where I contributed to policy and funding reform across the sector. I then moved to New York to lead the Fulbright US Student Programmes for Europe and Eurasia at the Institute of International Education (IIE), deepening my engagement in international academic cooperation and diplomacy.

I later joined Porticus, a global philanthropic organisation, where I managed education programmes aimed at improving access and inclusion for children facing extreme adversity. I then served as Director of Development at Education.org, where I drove an ambitious agenda to close the ‘last mile’ between knowing and doing – so that every child, everywhere, can learn. More recently, I joined The Wheel as the All-Island Alliance Manager. Working in close partnership with NICVA, the Alliance will establish a first-of-its-kind mechanism for cross-border cooperation, uniting the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors to tackle practical administrative and policy barriers.

I have contributed to sector-shaping publications, including the NORRAG Special Issue on Foundational Learning (2024), and led the development of Challenging the False Dichotomy: An Evidence Synthesis (2023), a landmark report for the global education sector that reframes how social and emotional learning is understood and integrated within education systems.

I hold an MA in Management and a BA International in Politics and History from University College Dublin (UCD). You can contact me directly via [email protected].