Our Board
Sheila Nunan - Chairperson
Sheila Nunan has extensive experience in civil society organisations. She served as General Secretary of the primary teachers’ union, INTO, and as President of ICTU. Sheila is a former primary teacher and principal and a graduate of UCD and St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra. Sheila joined Early Childhood Ireland’s Audit and Risk Committee in September 2021 as an external member and subsequently became a member of the Board of ECI in February 2022. She was appointed Chairperson of the Board of Early Childhood Ireland in November 2022. Sheila is also a Board member of the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) and Chair of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre.
Dr Harold Hislop
Dr Harold Hislop joined the Board of Early Childhood Ireland on 19 May 2023. He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Policy and Practice at Dublin City University’s Institute of Education. Harold is Chair of the Governing Board of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) at the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In Ireland, he is Chair of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme Delivery Board, established by Minister for Education. Harold held the post of Chief Inspector and was a member of the Management Board of the Department of Education from 2010 to 2022, leading the Inspectorate’s quality assurance work and supporting educational policy development within the Department in areas such as curriculum and assessment policy, special education and teacher education. Prior to joining the Inspectorate, Harold was a teacher, school principal and university lecturer in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin.
Liz Jackson
Liz has many years’ experience of working in the Early Years Care and Education. She has worked with Tallaght Childcare Company Ltd. since 2003 and is the General Manager. Liz is ultimately responsible for the overall management of the service and all aspects of the organisation’s operations, along with its continuous development as a quality sustainable community childcare business. As General Manager, she leads the development of strategies for the organisation and implements them for the development of Tallaght Childcare Centre and achievement of its aims and objectives.
Dr Sharon Skehill
Dr Sharon Skehill is an Early Years Educator, researcher and managing director in Newtown Kids Club Ltd (Willows and Nursery) outdoor settings. Currently, she is employed on a part time basis as a Research Specialist with TU Dublin, revising the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines for the early years sector. Prior to this, she was an Education Officer with NCCA on the Early Childhood team updating Aistear, the early childhood curriculum framework. Sharon has lectured in early childhood studies for many years and has carried out and published research in areas such as the rights of babies, toddlers and young children; Planning and assessing learning and development; nature pedagogy, sustainability, curriculum and inclusion.Â
Declan Dunne
Declan Dunne is an experienced CEO, who built a business and sold it to a US publicly quoted multinational. He recently completed nine years as CEO of Respond Housing Association. With over 8,000 homes and 3,476 in construction, Respond runs sixteen early learning and school ages services, and a range of other family support, family homeless and eldercare services. He has experience as a board member on a range of national and local, statutory and charity boards in the fields of childrens services, homelessness, housing, and the arts. He has spoken at conferences including those led by The Housing Agency, Construction Industry Federation, IUSA, OECD and USAID. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by US Ambassador Clare Cronin for his service as President of the Ireland United States Alumni Association and leadership roles in homeless, housing and charity services.
Evelyn Reilly
Evelyn Reilly has worked in the Early Childhood Care and Education sector for 40 years. She joined the Board of Early Childhood Ireland in October 2025. Evelyn is owner and general manager of a family-run ECEC service in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. She was twice chair of IPPA, served on the board merger committee to form Early Childhood Ireland, and been Company Secretary of Early Childhood Ireland, along with serving as Providers representative, Kildare County Childcare Committee. She been a Department of Education Early Years Inspector. Evelyn is a Lecturer in Maynooth University on the BA Early Childhood Teaching and Learning. Her qualifications include an MA Humanities ECEC (IT Carlow 2015) and BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care, (IT Carlow, 2011).
Niall Quigley
Niall Quigley was co-opted to the Board of Early Childhood Ireland on 5 May 2026 and approved by members at the Annual General Meeting on 15 June 2026. An experienced financial executive, he held senior financial positions over forty years across various sectors and jurisdictions for a number of high-profile PLCs. He currently provides financial consulting and non-executive director services to a range of organisations which include Compliance and Human Resources along with Finance. Niall is director and chair of Tallaght Childcare Company, a voluntary role, and is a member and former President of Sugarloaf Lions Club. A chartered accountant (FCA) he also holds a diploma in strategic finance and analytics. In addition to board duties, Niall has been appointed chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Early Childhood Ireland.
Ciara O’Brien
Ciara O’Brien was co-opted to the board of Early Childhood Ireland on 15 June 2026. She is an experienced commercial strategy and business transformation leader with a background in management consultancy working across the private and public sector. Areas of expertise include revenue growth, business strategy and planning, AI enabled business transformation, enterprise wise program and change management. Ciara holds a first class honour’s degree and master’s in Business both from University College Dublin. She is a strong advocate of ensuring best practice governance within the boardroom and completed the Corporate Governance Institute Certificate with Insead business school.Â
If you wish to contact the Board, please send your query to:chairperson@earlychildhoodireland.ie
