National Council
The elected governing body of IIESMS. Ten members providing strategic leadership.
Role and Governance of the National Council
The National Council is the principal governing authority of IIESMS, responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Institute and ensuring its continued relevance to professionals across all five disciplines. Under the 2026 Articles of Association and Byelaws, Council membership is capped at 16 elected members, drawn from across the five sector groups and from the Institute's portfolio areas.
The Council meets on a quarterly basis to review institutional performance, approve policy changes and oversee the financial management of the Institute. Between formal meetings, Council officers and portfolio holders progress their assigned responsibilities, from education and membership standards through to business development, international partnerships, health resilience and public relations.
Key responsibilities of the National Council include approving new membership grades and amendments to grading criteria, setting and reviewing the CPD framework that underpins professional standing, overseeing the work of the five sector group committees (each of which can also have up to 16 voting members), and managing the Institute's relationships with external bodies including government agencies, European partners and peer professional organisations.
The governance structure ensures accountability to the membership. Council decisions are communicated through regular updates, and members have the right to raise matters for Council consideration through their sector group representatives or directly via [email protected]. This balances efficient decision-making with transparent, member-focused governance.
The IIESMS National Council
The National Council is the governing body of IIESMS, comprising up to 16 elected members (currently 9) drawn from across the five sector groups and the Institute's portfolio areas. The Council sets strategic direction, oversees professional standards, manages institutional resources and ensures the Institute fulfils its mission of advancing professional excellence. In addition, the Institute holds the constitutional privilege of nominating a representative to the Industrial and Commercial panel of Seanad Eireann.
The Honorary President sits outside the elected Council, appointed separately for strategic counsel and public representation. Life Members are a separate category of the Institute, proposed and confirmed by the Council in recognition of long service, and do not sit on the Council.
Honorary President
The non-executive leader of the Institute, providing strategic counsel and public representation.
Victoria Wilmott, F.IIESMS
Honorary President of the Institute, elected in 2022 as the first woman to hold the role. Victoria coordinates enterprise development at Waterford Area Partnership through the SICAP programme and runs Victoria's Incredible Edibles, a handmade food business based in Waterford City. She holds a Master's in Business Studies from SETU Waterford and a Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation and Enterprise Development from Trinity College Dublin. A committee member of the Waterford Micro Business Network since 2008, her background in enterprise support, innovation and community development brings a distinctive voice to the Institute's national representation.
Key Officers
The four elected officers who lead the day-to-day governance and management of the Institute.
Joe Kelly, F.IIESMS
Chairperson of the IIESMS National Council. A Waterford City councillor since 2004, Joe has served as both Metropolitan Mayor and plenary Mayor of Waterford City and County. A former Waterford Crystal worker and Vice President of the Waterford Council of Trade Unions, he brings two decades of public service, industry experience and community advocacy to the Institute. In January 2025 Joe was nominated by IIESMS for the Industrial and Commercial panel of Seanad Eireann, exercising the Institute's constitutional nomination privilege. He led the relaunch of the Institute at the 2022 AGM following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donal Nolan, F.IIESMS
Vice-Chairperson of the National Council and Business Development lead. Donal is Strategic Project Executive at Waterford Chamber of Commerce, where he builds international networks of universities, business associations and government agencies to support SMEs across the south-east. A BSc Industrial Engineering graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology and a Sharp Corporation Manufacturing Technology Fellow (Osaka, Japan, 1995-1997), he brings over 30 years of experience in engineering and business change across Ireland, Europe, the USA and Asia. He currently manages the Portalis (Interreg Ireland-Wales), Work Life Flow and ExCurS (Erasmus+) transnational research projects.
Clodagh Dunphy, CMaintEng.IIESMS
Secretary of the National Council and Chair of the Facilities Management sector group. Clodagh is a Project Manager at Sanofi in Waterford, where she delivers capital projects across sterile fill-finish, inspection and quality control laboratories, covering user requirement specifications, basis-of-design documents and full commissioning and qualification protocols. She holds a BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Energy Engineering from SETU Waterford and an IPMA Diploma in Project Management, with IOSH qualifications in project supervision and managing safely in construction. Elected Secretary in 2022 alongside Victoria Wilmott's presidency, a historic first for the Institute.
Kevin Barrett, F.IIESMS
Treasurer of the National Council and a Fellow of the Institute. Kevin holds Chartered status with Engineers Ireland and a degree from Edinburgh Napier University, bringing a combination of engineering discipline and financial stewardship to his role. He oversees the Institute's financial management, budgeting and reporting, and also serves on the Industrial Engineering sector group committee.
National Council Members
Portfolio directors who sit on the Council, each holding a specialist brief supporting the Institute's work.
Paddy McDonnell, F.IIESMS
Education and Membership portfolio director, overseeing the Institute's grading framework, CPD and professional development pathways. Paddy is Managing Director of Phoenix STS Ltd in Longford, a fire safety and occupational health consultancy, training and equipment distribution business working across healthcare, nursing homes and high-risk built environments. A BEng Fire Engineering graduate of SETU Waterford with over 28 years of fire safety practice, he is a Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH) and holds memberships with the IFSM, IIRSM, IHEEM, IFireE and NFPA. He is currently Chairperson of the Fire Industry Association of Ireland and a former lecturer at the Defence Forces School of Military Engineering.
C.-Andreas Dalluege, F.IIESMS
Global Collaboration portfolio director, managing the Institute's international partnerships, EU research collaborations and IISE affiliation. Andreas is Managing Partner of IBK Management Solutions GmbH in Germany and Founder and President of EuroBEN (the European Business Excellence Network, established 1993). An EFQM European Excellence Award Assessor since 2003, EFQM Validator since 2005 and EFQM Licensed Trainer since 2014, he has designed and led over 30 European research projects and published 100 papers and 7 books on management methodologies, including four on the EFQM Excellence Model. Visiting Lecturer at the University for Business and Technology in Riga since 2014.
Dr. Hans-Dieter Schinner, F.IIESMS
Global Operations portfolio director and Chair of the Industrial Engineering sector group. Hans-Dieter is General Manager of International Industrial Consult GmbH in Frankfurt, specialising in industrial engineering, organisational capacity development and university curriculum design. He holds a Dr rer pol (PhD) in Political Science and Economics from the Free University of Berlin (1984) and served as Chair of Industrial Engineering at the Namibia University of Science and Technology from 2010 to 2015. A Fellow of IISE (USA) since 2004 and Fellow of the World Academy of Productivity since 1994, he was previously General Manager of the REFA Association, leading international activities across 50 countries.
Prof. John Wells, F.IIESMS
Health Resilience portfolio director. John is Dean of the School of Health Sciences at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford and a Fellow Ad Eundem of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. A Registered Psychiatric Nurse and Nurse Tutor, he holds a PhD in Nursing Studies from King's College London (2004) and has served as a Senior Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow. Visiting Professor at King's College London, the University of Lincoln and the University of Maribor, Slovenia, he has secured over EUR 9 million in research funding and published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on mental health, workforce resilience and health services policy.
Bianca Rosca-Dumitrescu, M.IIESMS
Public Relations Officer. Bianca is a Senior Practitioner Coach, trainer and facilitator with over 15 years of international experience supporting leaders and teams across Europe, Asia and North America. A Harvard Business School graduate (Leadership and Management, 2024), she holds an MA in Adult Learning and Globalisation from Linkoping University and is certified as an EMCC Senior Practitioner Coach and CTI Co-Active Coach. As Senior Coach and Trainer at Mindpedia and Partner on the EU Innovation projects 1stAidforSMEs and ExCurS, she develops digital, AI and sustainability-focused learning frameworks for European SMEs. A mentor in the EMCC Mozaic Programme and AFIST, supporting women in STEM.
Prof. Scott Glickman, F.IIESMS
Medical Rehabilitation and Healthcare Innovation portfolio director, leading the Institute's engagement with clinical rehabilitation, assistive technology and healthcare innovation. Professor Glickman holds FRCS (England), MB BS (London University) and the CCST in Rehabilitation Medicine, with certification from the European Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He served as Honorary Professor at Buckinghamshire New University and as Senior Lecturer and Head of the Academic Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Imperial College School of Medicine. With more than forty years as a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine across the NHS, he has published extensively in The Lancet, JNNP and Brain, holds multiple UK, European and US patents in healthcare technology and is founder trustee of MOTIVATION Charitable Trust. Former education advisor to the MS Society and assessor for the NIHR Invention for Innovation programme.
Brian McGann
Member of National Council. Brian joined the National Council in April 2026. A full biography and portfolio remit will be published once confirmed.
How the Council Serves Members
The National Council meets regularly to discuss Institute business, review strategic priorities, and make decisions that affect every member's experience. Council decisions shape CPD events, the professional review process, training partner relationships, and the Institute's submissions on legislation. Members engage with the Council through their sector group representatives. Each sector group chair reports to the National Council, providing a direct channel for member concerns and suggestions. Contact your sector group chair or email [email protected] to raise a matter with the Council.
Council Responsibilities
The National Council fulfils six critical governance functions.
Strategic Direction
Setting long-term vision, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring the Institute remains relevant to evolving professional needs across all five disciplines.
Professional Standards
Overseeing membership grades, CPD requirements, and professional review processes to maintain the credibility and value of IIESMS designations.
Sector Group Oversight
Guiding the five sector groups, facilitating inter-group collaboration, and ensuring effective operations within the Institute's framework.
Financial Stewardship
Managing the Institute's finances responsibly, allocating resources for sector activities, training partnerships, and professional development initiatives.
External Engagement
Representing IIESMS in government consultations, European projects, international partnerships, and engagement with regulatory bodies.
Senate Nomination
Exercising the privilege of nominating a representative to the Irish Senate, ensuring engineering and safety professionals have a legislative voice.
Sector Group Chairs
Each of the five IIESMS sector groups is led by a chair who reports to the National Council.
Gerard Trehy, CFEng.IIESMS
Fire Safety Group Chair. Gerard founded and leads EFAST Ireland, providing fire safety training, emergency response team training and event medical services. He holds a BEng in Fire Engineering and a degree in Fire Safety Engineering, and has presented at national conferences on fire legislation, Building Control Regulations (Part B), fire resistance standards and external wall systems. He brings directly applicable fire engineering experience to the sector group and ensures its work reflects current Irish regulatory practice.
Clodagh Dunphy, CMaintEng.IIESMS
Facilities Management Group Chair. Clodagh leads the Facilities Management sector group and also serves as Secretary to the National Council. Full profile in the Council members section above.
Dr. Hans-Dieter Schinner, F.IIESMS
Industrial Engineering Group Chair. Hans-Dieter chairs the Industrial Engineering sector group and manages the Institute's international operational activities. Full profile in the Council members section above.
Healthcare Group
Chair position currently open and recruiting. The Healthcare Group provides representation for healthcare safety practitioners, focusing on fire safety, patient evacuation, facilities management, HIQA compliance and medical equipment management in clinical settings. The Institute welcomes expressions of interest from Member or Certified grade members with senior healthcare experience across estates, fire, clinical or facilities management.
Ray McKenna, F.IIESMS
Safety and Health Group Chair. Ray is Battalion Health and Safety Officer and Fire Officer with the Irish Defence Forces, where he has served for over 30 years, and National Health and Safety Officer for PDFORRA (Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association) since 2010. He holds an MSc in Management of Safety and Health at Work from Dublin City University (NFQ Level 9), a Postgraduate Diploma in Fire Safety Engineering from Trinity College Dublin (NFQ Level 9) and a Higher Diploma in Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare from UCD. An ISO 45001 Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA), Graduate member of IOSH and the Institute of Fire Engineers, and Chairman of the Fire Risk Management Section of IOSH Ireland.
Institute Registered Details
The Institute is registered in Ireland as Irish Work Study Institute Limited, a company limited by guarantee (CLG) without share capital, operating as the Irish Institute of Engineering, Safety and Maintenance Skills (IIESMS).
- Registered name: Irish Work Study Institute Limited
- Trading as: Irish Institute of Engineering, Safety and Maintenance Skills (IIESMS)
- Company Registration Number: 20594 (originally incorporated 8 May 1963)
- Legal form: Company limited by guarantee, registered under Part 18 of the Companies Act 2014
- Liability: Members' liability is capped at a maximum guarantee of EUR 1
- Registered office: 2 Georges Street, Waterford, Co Waterford, X91 AH9K, Ireland
The Institute operates under Articles of Association v1.3, the Byelaws Operational Rulebook v1.3 (3 February 2026), the Compliance Manual v1.1 and the Code of Professional Conduct. Full governance documents are listed on the Policies and Conditions page.
Get involved
Join the Institute or learn about regional and sector committee activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the IIESMS National Council
The governing body of IIESMS, comprising up to 16 elected members who set strategic direction, oversee professional standards and manage the Institute's operations.
Members are elected by their respective sector groups. The President, Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer are elected to specific officer roles; other Council members hold portfolio briefs such as Education, Global Collaboration, Global Operations and Health Resilience.
The National Council meets at least quarterly to discuss Institute business, review policy and make strategic decisions.
Council meetings are for elected representatives. Any member can raise matters through their sector group chair or directly with the Institute via [email protected].
Contact your sector group chair or email [email protected]. Your representative will ensure your concern is raised at Council level.
The Irish Government granted IIESMS the right to nominate a representative to the Industrial and Commercial panel of Seanad Eireann, recognising the Institute's contribution to Irish professional life.