Our Assembly will be comprised of stakeholders and citizens from Limerick city and county, taking representation from all six Limerick municipal districts, based on county demographics and principles of inclusivity. Limerick’s Public Participation Network (PPN) and Comhairle na nÓg are collaborating to ensure the Assembly is as representative as it can be, supported by Limerick City and County Council and Limerick Community Educational Network (LCEN).

Project proposals may come from any part of the University and may be related to teaching, research, or any kind of collaborative project, but all project proposals must:

• Address an identified Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
• Explain how the project will develop civic engagement
• Demonstrate the potential positive impact for Limerick

The Citizens’ Assembly will vote for three winners who will each receive a project funding award of €10,000.

The job of Assembly members is to choose the projects that will receive a €10,000 award.

Assembly members are looking for a smart project – it doesn’t have to be really complicated – but it should:

• Be focused on one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Include a clear plan for how the project will make an impact in Limerick
• Provide details about how the engagement envisaged for the plan will continue through the life-time of the project

All Assembly members will receive a user-friendly resource pack in advance of the Assembly with information about the SDGs, the projects, and how the voting will work on the day.

Project posters will be publicly available to view in advance.

The Assembly will be arranged in a ‘world café’ style, leaving space in the schedule for participants to share their thoughts about the project presentations before casting their vote.

• Registration, coffee, chat
• Presentations and discussion
• Break/Lunch
• Presentations and discussion
• Vote
• Winners announced
• Reception

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 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 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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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

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).

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.

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.

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.