HEAnet and the Board of Directors
HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, was incorporated in November 1997. It has a subsidiary company EduCampus Services, which was incorporated in April 2015 to deliver quality IT, shared services to the Higher Education sector.
Following the commencement of The Companies Act 2014, HEAnet and EduCampus Services converted to new company types during 2016. HEAnet converted to a Company Limited by Guarantee and Not Having a Share Capital, and the new company name (including the abbreviated company type) is HEAnet CLG.
Given the group structure, EduCampus Services converted to a Designated Activity Company (DAC) as it is a company with a majority share capital held by HEAnet. As part of the same conversion process, each company adopted a new Constitution to replace their previous Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Both companies have charitable tax status and are registered with the Charities Regulatory Authority.
The ordinary members and directors of HEAnet and EduCampus Services are appointed in accordance with their Constitution and company law.
The directors of HEAnet and EduCampus Services are collectively responsible for promoting the success of their companies by leading and directing its activities. Both Boards provide strategic guidance to their respective organisations and monitor and review their own activities and the effectiveness of management.
The following information relates to HEAnet’s structure – for further information on EduCampus Services please visit www.educampus.ie
Directors are appointed for an initial term of four years, with the opportunity to be re-elected to serve for a further four-year term.
The Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 and the Annual Report – Protected Disclosures 2023 (covering 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022) are now available here.
The Current Board Directors are listed below:
| Technological University Dublin | Board Chair: Professor Mike Murphy |
| Dublin City University | Professor Noel O’Connor |
| University of Galway | Ms Aoife Tuohy |
| Technological Higher Education Association | Dr Orla Flynn (ATU) |
| Technological Higher Education Association | Dr Billy Bennett (ATU) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Mr Patrick Magee |
| University College Cork | Dr Gerard Culley |
| University College Dublin | Mr Phillip Fischer |
| University of Limerick | Mr Gary Butler |
| CONUL | Dr Sandra Collins (UCD) |
| Maynooth University | Rachel O’Connell |
| JISC | *Dr Paul Feldman |
*As per Constitution Section 42(c).
The current Ordinary Members of HEAnet are listed below:
| Dublin City University | Dr Declan Raftery |
| Technological University Dublin | Ms Bridget Gleeson |
| Higher Education Authority | Dr Vivienne Patterson |
| Maynooth University | Dr Mike O’Malley |
| University of Galway | Ms Sharon Bailey |
| Technological Higher Education Association | Vacant |
| Technological Higher Education Association | Mr Cormac O’Toole (SETU) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Mr John Coman |
| University College Cork | Ms Nora Geary |
| University College Dublin | Mr David Kelly |
| University of Limerick | Professor Kerstin Mey |
Company Secretary: Ms Jolene Byrne
Dr William Bennett
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar, Atlantic Technological University
HEAnet Group Committees:
Four group committees report to the Board of HEAnet:
Group Audit & Risk Committee:
The Group Audit Committee’s primary function is to assist the Boards of HEAnet and EduCampus Services in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, including reviewing the financial information provided in the audited accounts; ensuring that adequate and effective systems of internal financial controls are in place, assessing the risk management function and overseeing the internal audit function.
HEAnet appoints an independent firm of auditors to conduct its internal audit function and the Audit Committee agrees an internal audit plan for a rolling three-year period. The auditors undertake an annual System of Internal Financial Control Audit, as well as other audits that focus on key business areas identified in the HEAnet and EduCampus Risk Registers.
The current Group Audit & Risk Committee members are:
| HEAnet Board | Dr Billy Bennett (HEAnet Director, Chair) |
| Dr Paul Feldman | |
| Ms Aoife Tuohy (HEAnet Director) | |
| EduCampus Services Board | Ms Mary Kerr (EduCampus Director) |
| Independent External Member |
Mr Cormac McSweeney |
Group Finance Sub-Committee:
The main function of the Group Finance Sub-committee is to consider all financial matters relating to the group and to report its findings and recommendations to the respective Boards.
The current Finance Sub-Committee members are:
| HEAnet Board | Mr Phillip Fischer (HEAnet Director – Chair) |
| Professor Mike Murphy (HEAnet Director) | |
| Ms Rachel O’Connell (HEAnet Director) | |
| EduCampus Services Board | Mr David Smith (EduCampus Director) |
Group Remuneration Committee:
The HEAnet Group Remuneration Committee meetings bi-annually to review and consider the performance and remuneration of the HEAnet Chief Executive Officer and the EduCampus Chief Executive Officer.
The current HEAnet Group Remuneration Committee members are:
| HEAnet Board | Mr Gary Butler – Chair |
| Professor Mike Murphy | |
| EduCampus Services Board | Dr Joseph Ryan |
| Dr Aidan McGrath |
Group Nomination Committee:
The Group Nomination Committee’s role is to:
- regularly review the structure, size and composition (including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) of the boards;
- consider succession planning for directors;
- keep up to date and fully informed about strategic issues and commercial changes affecting the company and the market in which it operates; and
- be responsible for identifying and nominating for the approval of the board, candidates to fill board vacancies when a representative body nominate more than one nominee for consideration as a director.
The current HEAnet Group Nomination Committee members are:
| HEAnet Board | Mr Patrick Magee – Chair |
| Dr Orla Flynn | |
| Professor Noel O’Connor | |
| EduCampus Board | Mr David Denieffe |
Board and Sub-Committee attendance and expenses:
The directors do not receive remuneration for their services as per the company’s Constitution. However, travel costs and expenses incurred by directors in connection with the business of the company are reimbursed in accordance with the rates approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
HEAnet Company Constitution
Click here to view HEAnet Company Constitution.