Fíona Ní Chinnéide

Ms Ní Chinnéide, currently the executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), will succeed Ita Burke, who retired in July.

She has more than 25 years’ experience working in the area of advocacy in Ireland and Europe, with a particular focus on human rights and anti-discrimination, as well as extensive experience of the criminal justice sector in Ireland.

Prior to becoming executive director of IPRT in February 2019, she served as the NGO’s deputy director from 2014 to 2019 and led on its strategic communications programme from 2009.

From 2018 until 2021, she was on the board of directors of Community Creations Ltd, which runs SpunOut.ie and Crisis Text Line Ireland, a text-based mental health support service.

Ms Ní Chinnéide holds undergraduate and post-graduate degrees from Trinity College Dublin. In 2015, she completed an MA in Political Communications at Dublin City University, where her research interests centred on media, public opinion and policy change.

In 2018, she completed the Leadership Development for Transition and Change programme with Social Intelligence Associates. She is currently undertaking the Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality at the Institute of Public Administration.

Mark Wilson, director of the Probation Service, said: “I am delighted to confirm Fíona’s appointment as deputy director at the Probation Service. She has a wealth of experience across the criminal justice sphere in Ireland and across Europe.

“Fíona has a clear passion for social inclusion and human rights which are central themes within our strategy statement 2021-2023 and I am confident that she will bring valuable innovation, expertise and knowledge to the Service that will allow us to further advance our strategic commitments. I would like to sincerely congratulate Fíona on this well-deserved appointment.”