Bio Paul Connolly

Paul has a PhD from University College Dublin (1986), a Masters in Business Administration from National University Ireland Galway (2006) and completed the Timoney Advanced Leadership Programme in 2016. Paul was appointed CEO of the Marine Institute in October 2019 and previously was Director of Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services (FEAS) at the Institute.

He has considerable expertise in the provision of scientific advice to Government on a range of marine issues, including fisheries, aquaculture and climate mitigation. He has extensive experience in working with stakeholders and chaired the Minister’s Irish Fisheries Science Research Partnership (IFSRP) from 2008 to 2019. Paul is also skilled in the crafting of strategies for international organisations, for Government and for the Marine Institute.

Paul has played a leadership role internationally. He was elected President of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) for a three year term (2013 to 2015). ICES is an intergovernmental organisation of 20 countries that border the North Atlantic. Its objectives are to advance scientific understanding of marine ecosystems and provide impartial scientific advice for meeting ocean conservation, management, and sustainability goals. These issues are very important to the work of the Marine Institute.

In October 2020, Paul was elected by the Member States of ICES to the ICES Board (Bureau) for a three year term (2020 to 2022).

Under Paul’s leadership, the Marine Institute is well placed to support the marine elements of the Programme for Government including the blue economy, offshore renewable energy, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and scientific advice on the sustainable use of our ocean resources, particularly in relation to fisheries and aquaculture.