Position: Director, Professional Development
Email: tward@ipa.ie
Telephone: 00 353 1 240 3600
Tom is Director, Professional Development at the IPA. Prior to this role Tom was a Senior Governance Specialist with the IPA with responsibility for developing and delivering governance services to public bodies and non-profit entities, and promoting good governance. He re-joined the Institute in May 2017, having previously been a member of staff delivering governance, training and education services between 2006-2011. Prior to May 2017, Tom was a Senior Manager and Consultant at Crowe Horwath, managing and delivering a range of assignments in the areas of governance, strategy and organisational design. Prior to that, he held senior governance and strategy positions at the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). Tom began his career as a Parliamentary Assistant in Seanad Éireann, where he was involved in legislative work, policy formulation, and speech writing.
Across his roles, Tom has garnered extensive experience of engagement with, and supporting, public bodies and non-profit entities, including government departments, state agencies, local authorities, sport and charitable organisations. He has delivered a range of important assignments in the areas of governance, strategy and organisational review. He is also an experienced trainer and lecturer, and manages the Governance Forum at the IPA.
Specific areas of experience and expertise
- Corporate Governance Reviews (Structures, Processes and Policies)
- Board and Committee Evaluations
- Risk Management
- Strategy Development and Performance Reviews
- Organisational Reviews
- Stakeholder Engagement
Education
- Doctorate in Governance (QUB)
- Masters in Politics (UCD)
- Bachelor of Arts (Politics and History)(UCD)
- Certificate in Freedom of Information (ICM)
Publications
- Ward, T. (2017) 'Critical Junctures and the Department of Finance: From DPS to DPER?', Irish Political Studies, DOI:10.1080/07907184.2017.1281251
- Ward, T. (2015) 'The Irish Parliament and the Scrutiny of Departmental Performance Reports', Public Money & Management, Vol.32, No.2, pp.153-160
- Ward, T. (2010) 'Public Service Reforms in Ireland: the influence of international hard and soft law instruments and transnational norms', Administration, Vol.58, No.1, pp.1-27
- Ward, T. (2010) 'The European Union: a crisis of legitimacy?', European View, Vol.9, No.1, pp.115-127