News

The ACESA annual conference brought together over 100 of Ireland’s Chief Executives of State Agencies, senior public and civil service leaders as well as thought leaders from a broad range of sectors to explore the theme 'Delivering for Ireland's Future'.

The conference took place on the 10th and 11th of October in Athlone. It was an opportunity for a broad spectrum of public service leaders to hear from Irish and international experts, to learn from each other, and begin to collaborate on solutions to strengthen service delivery to the public.

Over two days, speakers, panel members and delegates exchanged information on and discussed:

• the Workplace of the Future;
• Public Sector Value;
• Changing Demographics;
• Climate Change; and
• Risk & Innovation.

Day 1

Delegates and participants were welcomed by Rosalind Carroll, ACESA Chair and Conference Co-Chair. Day 1 opened with an address by Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, followed by Frances Ruane, Chair, National Competitiveness & Productivity Council whose presentation focused on Ireland’s Competitive and its Impact on Delivering Public Services.

The morning panel discussion, moderated by former RTÉ Newscaster, Eileen Dunne, examined the topic of Changing Demographics and its impact on Public Service Delivery. The panel members were Teresa Buczkowska, Migrant Political Participation Coordinator Immigrant Council of Ireland,  Émer Deane, Assistant Secretary, British and Northern Ireland Affairs Division, Department of An Taoiseach and Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, Professor, UCD, School of Politics and International Relations.

The first panel discussion of the afternoon, moderated by Declan Hughes, Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, examined the topic of Innovation & Risk in delivering Public Services. The panel members were Marianne Cassidy, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Denis Dullea, Head of R&D, Ericsson, Barry Kennedy, CEO, Irish Manufacturing Research, Ruth Kennedy, Commissioner, Office of the Revenue Commissioners and Brendan Tuohy, Chair, Eirgrid PLC.

This panel discussion was followed by an address by Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The third and final panel discussion of Day 1, moderated by former RTÉ Newscaster, Eileen Dunne, examined the topic of Climate Change and Public Services. The panel members were Oonagh Buckley, Secretary General,  Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Diarmuid Torney, School of Law & Government, DCU, Mark Mellett, Vice Admiral (Rtd), Sabrina Dekker, Climate Action Coordinator, Dublin City Council and William Walsh, CEO, SEAI.

The After Dinner speech was delivered by David Gillick. Olympian, European Champion, Author and Health Advocate.

Day 2

The day began with Brian Doherty, ACESA Vice Chair and Conference Co-Chair, introducing Sarah Glavey, Head of Public Service Transformation Policy, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform who provided an overview of Public Service Transformation.

This presentation was followed by keynote speaker, Professor Mark Moore, Research Professor of Public Management, Harvard Kennedy School address on the topic of Public Service Value. Professor Moore also presented a case study and conducted a workshop.

In the news

Click here to read coverage of the conference published in The Irish Times

Click here to read coverage of the conference published in echolive.ie

Conference programme and presentations

Click here to access the programme and Conference presentations.

Conference speakers and panel participants

Click on the names below to access more information about individual participants.

Peter Burke, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Roderic O’Gorman, TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Frances Ruane, Chair, National Competitiveness & Productivity Council 

Teresa Buczkowska, Migrant Political Participation Coordinator Immigrant Council of Ireland,

Émer Deane, Assistant Secretary, British and Northern Ireland Affairs Division, Department of An Taoiseach

Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, UCD, School of Politics and International Relations

Declan Hughes, Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Marianne Cassidy, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

Denis Dullea, Head of R&D, Ericsson

Barry Kennedy, CEO, Irish Manufacturing Research

Ruth Kennedy, Commissioner, Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Brendan Tuohy, Chair, Eirgrid PLC.

Oonagh Buckley, Secretary General, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Diarmuid Torney, School of Law & Government, DCU

Mark Mellett, Vice Admiral (Rtd), Former Chief of Staff Irish Defence Forces

Sabrina Dekker, Climate Action Coordinator, Dublin City Council

William Walsh, CEO, SEAI.

David Gillick, Olympian, European Champion, Author and Health Advocate

Sarah Glavey, Head of Public Service Transformation Policy, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform

Professor Mark Moore, Research Professor of Public Management, Harvard Kennedy School

Image shows Eileen Dunne MC; Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Rosalind Carroll, chief executive officer of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and chair of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies in Ireland; Professor Mark Moore, research professor of public management at Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University; and Brian Doherty, chief executive officer of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. Picture: Eoin Healy