The organisation’s Board appointed Valerie on July 1st, 2020. She takes over the role from Gráinne McGettrick who has acted as chairperson since 2018.
As with all 80:20’s Board roles, the chairperson undertakes the position in a voluntary capacity.
Valerie has been a member of 80:20’s Board since 2019 and has been involved with 80:20 since 2012. Speaking following her appointment, Valerie said she sees the role as an “honour”.
“I am delighted to be appointed as the chair of 80:20, an organisation who sees education as fundamental to human development. I look forward to continuing to build on the principles and values that underpin their excellent work. That is to say particularly as we navigate the current global challenges.
80:20’s commitment to highlighting human values, human rights, as well as human dignity through active and innovative educational methods remains a core standard. This commitment, along with building communities through education, will continue to influence the improvements we make.
I am very grateful to our outgoing chairperson Gráinne McGettrick. Her leadership has strengthened the organisation. She has also provided a strong foundation as we move into the next stages of growth and progress in the development education sector.”
Valerie has over twenty years of experience in the Irish education arena at post-primary and tertiary level.
She has worked across a range of sectors. This includes roles in the Global Citizenship Education section and the Public Information and Communication section of Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Tony Daly, co-ordinator of 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World, added:
“As someone who has been involved with 80:20 for twenty years, Gráinne’s energy, knowledge and critical engagement on issues at the interface of education, human rights and social policy has been constant both on and off the Management Committee. I am personally grateful to Gráinne for many contributions and interventions she made as chairperson in leading major programme innovations and governance reforms in 80:20.
Valerie’s commitment to the power of education to challenge and change the way things are to what they could, has been a hallmark of her work for many years. She has shown this both as a trustee of 80:20 and through her wider work in post primary education contexts in teaching, researching and policy development capacities. In this challenging period ahead, I am delighted indeed to welcome Valerie into her new role on the Management Committee on behalf of everyone in the 80:20 community.”
Valerie is currently the Post Primary Educational Policy and Development Officer for Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). She joined the 80:20 Management Committee in 2019. She also works with a variety of organisations, both in Ireland and at European level, developing education and training materials.
See more about 80:20’s current Management Committee here.
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About
80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World is an Irish-based registered charity that promotes popular education on human development and human rights