Mike Norris has retired from HEAnet.   

Mike’s retirement follows a career marked with noble intention, foresight and achievement. 

His involvement in higher education networking can be traced back to his years at UCD where he helped HEAnet emerge from its embryonic form as a collaborative HEI endeavour operated out of UCD.

Mike was one of just four HEAnet staff members when the organisation incorporated in 1997. During his time with HEAnet, he has held the positions of Network Co-Ordinator, Chief Technical Officer and, most recently, Head of Research and Innovation.  

These few words do not aim to summarise or measure Mike’s contribution during his time at HEAnet for such a task would require a greater platform. Rather, this note merely serves to impart our sincere thanks to Mike for all his energy, support, encouragement and friendship over the years. His contribution has been immense and he will remain valued and highly regarded by his colleagues and peers long after his departure from HEAnet. His influence extends across the HEAnet organisation, across education and research in Ireland, and across the international NREN stage. 

While at UCD, Mike worked as the host-master for the IE top-level domain, and was Local IP Registrar for Irish education and research. Mike has served on the Board of RIPE NCC, is a founder-member of INEX and, until recently, was a Director of that organisation.  

I would like to express my respect and gratitude towards a long-time colleague and friend of Irish networking.  And so, on behalf of the Management and Staff of HEAnet, both past and present, its Board Members throughout the years, all our clients, and the entire R&E community, I take this opportunity to wish Mike the best of retirements. 

With very best wishes for the future,

John Boland, Chief Executive, HEAnet