UL Citizens’ Assembly

2nd May 2024

Shaping our Shared Future

On 2nd May 2024, the university and people of Limerick will join together in a citizens’ assembly to identify 3 x projects to help us work towards a more sustainable future.

Want to get involved? Have a look at what will happen on the day and complete this expression of interest form.

What is a Citizens’ Assembly?

A ‘safe and respectful space’ for citizens to come together and discuss SDG focused actions for Limerick.

A means to strengthen democracy and involve citizens in meaningful decision-making.

An opportunity for collective learning and experimentation.

What is a Citizens’ Assembly?

A ‘safe and respectful space’ for citizens to come together and discuss SDG focused actions for Limerick.

A means to strengthen democracy and involve citizens in meaningful decision-making.

An opportunity for collective learning and experimentation.

Why are we holding a UL Citizens' Assembly?

To provide a public focus on sustainability and SDG focused actions from UL that can have a positive impact for Limerick.

To provide a public and inclusive forum to share our collective knowledge and experience about the kind of projects that UL should support.

To provide an opportunity for UL academics to develop their public engagement skills and experience.

To provide the public with a chance to connect with UL academics, ideas and activities.

What will the UL Citizens’ Assembly look like?

An engaging and interactive day out for UL and the community.

An academic cross between ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dragons’ Den’.

Short-listed project teams will each be given 10 minutes max to tell the Assembly about their proposed project – with a strong emphasis on making the presentations as interesting, educational and entertaining as possible.

What will the UL Citizens’ Assembly look like?

An engaging and interactive day out for UL and the community.

An academic cross between ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dragons’ Den’.

Short-listed project teams will each be given 10 minutes max to tell the Assembly about their proposed project – with a strong emphasis on making the presentations as interesting, educational and entertaining as possible.

Citizens' Assembly Agenda
  • Registration, coffee, chat
  • Presentations and discussion
  • Break/Lunch
  • Presentations and discussion
  • Vote
  • Winners announced
  • Reception

Planning Group

Maura Adshead, UL Engage; Lorraine Broderick, Limerick Public Participation Network (PPN) – Limerick City and County Council; Eoin Brady, UL; Patrick Fitzgerald, Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN); Tracey Gleeson, UL Engage; Eileen Hoffler, UL Engage; Christine Houghton, UL student; John Real, Limerick Comhairle na nÓg, Denis Tierney, UL;

2024 Expert Panel

Comprising of 5 representatives from UL (one from each of the four faculties plus the Research office) and 5 external panel members reflecting public, private and community sectors and relevant experience in public engagement and educational outreach, the Expert Panel will short-list the projects for participation in the Assembly and give their feedback on all project proposals

Christine Brennan

UL Research Strategy and Policy Manager

Kevin Burke

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Patrick Fitzgerald

Limerick Community Education Network

Liz Gabbett

Maigue Rivers Trust Project
Officer

Read Bio

A senior executive, strategic planner, policy advisor and science communication professional specialising in research, development and innovation. Skilled at: working collaboratively with senior leadership and stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies; driving implementation through engagement, organisational policy and communications planning while objectively evaluating and monitoring success. An adept communicator with a track-record of delivering while building strong collaborative partnerships into the future.

Read Bio

Kevin is an Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick (UL). His research focuses on the development of statistical and machine learning methods for a wide range of application areas such as health, medicine, and psychology. He also has 10 years of experience in collaborating with external industrial partners and organisations, including directing UL’s Industrial Mathematics Unit (2016-2020) and working as a Science Foundation Ireland Public Service Fellow within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2020-2021).

Read Bio

Patrick has worked in the community sector of Limerick for many years covering mental health and adult community education.  He is passionate about raising the awareness of services available and has sat as Director of Limerick Mental Health Week for a number of years and Chairs the current Limerick LifeLong Learning Festival Organising Committee.  Patrick also works with the Limerick Community Education Network and represents the LCEN on the Limerick PPN as Facilitator of the Secretariat. He holds an MA in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has co-founded Evolve Mental Health, Limerick’s CBT clinic based in Castletroy.

Read Bio

Liz is an ecologist; instructional designer; citizen scientist; administrator; people coordinator; project officer; and farmer! In the past, Liz was a student advocate; she managed multiple campaigns to improve students’ academic experience and welfare services. Liz holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Technical Communication and eLearning from UL. A talented all-rounder, Liz is passionate about the environment and Limerick’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Prof. Nigel Healey (Chair)

VP Global and Community Engagement, UL

Prof. Anne MacFarlane

School of Medicine

Niall O’Callaghan

Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)

Seamus O’Connor

Limerick City and County
Council

Read Bio

Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice-President Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick.  Prior to joining the UL in 2020, he was Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (2016-20), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at Nottingham Trent University (2011-16), Pro-Vice Chancellor International and Dean of UC Business School at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2004-11) and Dean of the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (2000-04).

Read Bio

Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, implementation science and migrant health.
Anne is founder and overall academic lead for the School of Medicine’s Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, which is designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research, which is hosted in the Unit. She established, and was theme lead for Public and Patient Involvement in the HRI, from 2016-2019.

Read Bio

Niall O’Callaghan leads Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) as CEO, an independently funded charity which invests all its revenue from its commercial property into community projects of impact across Limerick’s most disadvantaged communities. He is currently a member of a number of regional social and economic inclusion committees and boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, the I.NY Project, UL Student Life, and Limerick Regeneration, amongst others.

Read Bio

Seamus O’Connor is Chief Officer to Limerick City and Council Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), responsible for liaising with a range of local economic and community development stakeholders to  implement the Limerick Local Economic and Community Development Plan

Prof. Helen Phelan

Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD)

John Real

Limerick Youth
Services

Andrea Deverell

Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation, UL

Read Bio

Helen Phelan is Director and Professor of Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is an Irish Research Council recipient for her work in music, migration and the use of arts-based research methods.  A singer, she is co-founder of the female vocal ensemble Cantoral, specializing in Irish medieval chant. She is founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a national network for artistic research in Ireland. Recent books include her monograph Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish with Oxford University Press and The Artist and Academia, co-edited with Graham Welch. She is HRI cluster lead for PART-IM: Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for involving Migrants in Health Research.

Read Bio

By day, John Real is the coordinator for Limerick Comhairle na nÓg and Youth Mental Health Worker with the Be Well Team in LYS’ Northside Youth space. By night he’s a well-known events creator and curator, planning, managing, promoting and organising fantastical metal gigs and events in Limerick. He’s partnered the University on a number of collaborative projects, including successful IRC and Erasmus grant applications.

2024 Expert Panel

Comprising of 5 representatives from UL (one from each of the four faculties plus the Research office) and 5 external panel members reflecting public, private and community sectors and relevant experience in public engagement and educational outreach, the Expert Panel will short-list the projects for participation in the Assembly and give their feedback on all project proposals

Christine Brennan

UL Research Strategy and Policy Manager

Kevin Burke

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Read Bio

A senior executive, strategic planner, policy advisor and science communication professional specialising in research, development and innovation. Skilled at: working collaboratively with senior leadership and stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies; driving implementation through engagement, organisational policy and communications planning while objectively evaluating and monitoring success. An adept communicator with a track-record of delivering while building strong collaborative partnerships into the future.

Read Bio

Kevin is an Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick (UL). His research focuses on the development of statistical and machine learning methods for a wide range of application areas such as health, medicine, and psychology. He also has 10 years of experience in collaborating with external industrial partners and organisations, including directing UL’s Industrial Mathematics Unit (2016-2020) and working as a Science Foundation Ireland Public Service Fellow within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2020-2021).

 

Patrick Fitzgerald

Limerick Community Education Network

Liz Gabbett

Maigue Rivers Trust Project
Officer

Read Bio

Patrick has worked in the community sector of Limerick for many years covering mental health and adult community education.  He is passionate about raising the awareness of services available and has sat as Director of Limerick Mental Health Week for a number of years and Chairs the current Limerick LifeLong Learning Festival Organising Committee.  Patrick also works with the Limerick Community Education Network and represents the LCEN on the Limerick PPN as Facilitator of the Secretariat. He holds an MA in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has co-founded Evolve Mental Health, Limerick’s CBT clinic based in Castletroy.

Read Bio

Liz is an ecologist; instructional designer; citizen scientist; administrator; people coordinator; project officer; and farmer! In the past, Liz was a student advocate; she managed multiple campaigns to improve students’ academic experience and welfare services. Liz holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Technical Communication and eLearning from UL. A talented all-rounder, Liz is passionate about the environment and Limerick’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Niall O’Callaghan

Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)

Seamus O’Connor

Limerick City and County
Council

Read Bio

Niall O’Callaghan leads Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) as CEO, an independently funded charity which invests all its revenue from its commercial property into community projects of impact across Limerick’s most disadvantaged communities. He is currently a member of a number of regional social and economic inclusion committees and boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, the I.NY Project, UL Student Life, and Limerick Regeneration, amongst others.

Read Bio

Seamus O’Connor is Chief Officer to Limerick City and Council Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), responsible for liaising with a range of local economic and community development stakeholders to  implement the Limerick Local Economic and Community Development Plan

Prof. Nigel Healey (Chair)

VP Global and Community Engagement, UL

Prof. Anne MacFarlane

School of Medicine

Read Bio

Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice-President Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick.  Prior to joining the UL in 2020, he was Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (2016-20), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at Nottingham Trent University (2011-16), Pro-Vice Chancellor International and Dean of UC Business School at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2004-11) and Dean of the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (2000-04).

Read Bio

Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, implementation science and migrant health.

Anne is founder and overall academic lead for the School of Medicine’s Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, which is designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research, which is hosted in the Unit. She established, and was theme lead for Public and Patient Involvement in the HRI, from 2016-2019.

Prof. Helen Phelan

Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD)

John Real

Limerick Youth
Services

Read Bio

Helen Phelan is Director and Professor of Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is an Irish Research Council recipient for her work in music, migration and the use of arts-based research methods.  A singer, she is co-founder of the female vocal ensemble Cantoral, specializing in Irish medieval chant. She is founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a national network for artistic research in Ireland. Recent books include her monograph Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish with Oxford University Press and The Artist and Academia, co-edited with Graham Welch. She is HRI cluster lead for PART-IM: Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for involving Migrants in Health Research.

Read Bio

By day, John Real is the coordinator for Limerick Comhairle na nÓg and Youth Mental Health Worker with the Be Well Team in LYS’ Northside Youth space. By night he’s a well-known events creator and curator, planning, managing, promoting and organising fantastical metal gigs and events in Limerick. He’s partnered the University on a number of collaborative projects, including successful IRC and Erasmus grant applications.

Expert Group

Comprising of 5 representatives from UL (one from each of the four faculties plus the Research office) and 5 external panel members reflecting public, private and community sectors and relevant experience in public engagement and educational outreach, the Expert Panel will short-list the projects for participation in the Assembly and give their feedback on all project proposals

Christine Brennan

UL Research Strategy and Policy Manager

Read Bio

A senior executive, strategic planner, policy advisor and science communication professional specialising in research, development and innovation. Skilled at: working collaboratively with senior leadership and stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies; driving implementation through engagement, organisational policy and communications planning while objectively evaluating and monitoring success. An adept communicator with a track-record of delivering while building strong collaborative partnerships into the future.

Kevin Burke

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Read Bio

Kevin is an Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick (UL). His research focuses on the development of statistical and machine learning methods for a wide range of application areas such as health, medicine, and psychology. He also has 10 years of experience in collaborating with external industrial partners and organisations, including directing UL’s Industrial Mathematics Unit (2016-2020) and working as a Science Foundation Ireland Public Service Fellow within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2020-2021).

 

Niall O’Callaghan

Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)

Read Bio

Niall O’Callaghan leads Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) as CEO, an independently funded charity which invests all its revenue from its commercial property into community projects of impact across Limerick’s most disadvantaged communities. He is currently a member of a number of regional social and economic inclusion committees and boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, the I.NY Project, UL Student Life, and Limerick Regeneration, amongst others.

Seamus O’Connor

Limerick City and County
Council

Read Bio

Seamus O’Connor is Chief Officer to Limerick City and Council Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), responsible for liaising with a range of local economic and community development stakeholders to  implement the Limerick Local Economic and Community Development Plan

Patrick Fitzgerald

Limerick Community Education Network

Read Bio

Patrick has worked in the community sector of Limerick for many years covering mental health and adult community education.  He is passionate about raising the awareness of services available and has sat as Director of Limerick Mental Health Week for a number of years and Chairs the current Limerick LifeLong Learning Festival Organising Committee.  Patrick also works with the Limerick Community Education Network and represents the LCEN on the Limerick PPN as Facilitator of the Secretariat. He holds an MA in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has co-founded Evolve Mental Health, Limerick’s CBT clinic based in Castletroy.

Liz Gabbett

Maigue Rivers Trust Project
Officer

Read Bio

Liz is an ecologist; instructional designer; citizen scientist; administrator; people coordinator; project officer; and farmer! In the past, Liz was a student advocate; she managed multiple campaigns to improve students’ academic experience and welfare services. Liz holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Technical Communication and eLearning from UL. A talented all-rounder, Liz is passionate about the environment and Limerick’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Prof. Nigel Healey (Chair)

VP Global and Community Engagement, UL

Read Bio

Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice-President Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick.  Prior to joining the UL in 2020, he was Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (2016-20), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at Nottingham Trent University (2011-16), Pro-Vice Chancellor International and Dean of UC Business School at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2004-11) and Dean of the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (2000-04).

Prof. Anne MacFarlane

School of Medicine

Read Bio

Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, implementation science and migrant health.

Anne is founder and overall academic lead for the School of Medicine’s Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, which is designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research, which is hosted in the Unit. She established, and was theme lead for Public and Patient Involvement in the HRI, from 2016-2019.

Prof. Helen Phelan

Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD)

Read Bio

Helen Phelan is Director and Professor of Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is an Irish Research Council recipient for her work in music, migration and the use of arts-based research methods.  A singer, she is co-founder of the female vocal ensemble Cantoral, specializing in Irish medieval chant. She is founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a national network for artistic research in Ireland. Recent books include her monograph Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish with Oxford University Press and The Artist and Academia, co-edited with Graham Welch. She is HRI cluster lead for PART-IM: Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for involving Migrants in Health Research.

John Real

Limerick Youth
Services

Read Bio

By day, John Real is the coordinator for Limerick Comhairle na nÓg and Youth Mental Health Worker with the Be Well Team in LYS’ Northside Youth space. By night he’s a well-known events creator and curator, planning, managing, promoting and organising fantastical metal gigs and events in Limerick. He’s partnered the University on a number of collaborative projects, including successful IRC and Erasmus grant applications.

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