EGFSN Member
EGFSN Member
Martin D. Shanahan
Chief Executive, Forfás
Martin D. Shanahan was appointed Chief Executive of Forfás in June 2010. Martin joined Forfás in 2005 as manager of the human capital and labour market policy department before becoming a member of the Forfás Executive team in 2008 and leading the science, technology, innovation and human capital policy division. Martin moved to Forfás from his role as head of the professional development section of Fáilte Ireland where he was responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of education, training and business development programmes for the tourism sector and was a key contributor and influencer of the formulation and implementation of strategy there. In addition to positions with Fáilte Ireland and the tourism training agency CERT, Martin worked in senior management roles in the hotel industry.
Martin has worked as a consultant for a number of EU and international bodies including the OECD and the International Labour Office (ILO). He holds a B.Sc. (Management) from Trinity College Dublin; a Higher Diploma and M.Sc. in Hospitality Management from the Dublin Institute of Technology and an M.Res. (Educational Research) from the University of Lancaster.
Martin is a member of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, and is Ireland’s representative at the Strategic Forum on International Cooperation on Science. Martin is a Fellow of the Irish Hospitality Institute and former member of the Governing Body of Tallaght Institute of Technology.
As Chief Executive of Forfás, Martin D. Shanahan is a member the high level implementation committee for the Innovation Taskforce, a member of the National Competitiveness Council, and the Management Advisory Committee of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.
