About Us
The Corporate Governance Association of Ireland was founded in April 2006 by graduates of the first class of the UCD Diploma in Corporate Governance. Since then others have joined with other accredited academic qualifications such as the IoD (Institute of Directors) Chartered Director program. Membership is open to experienced business professionals who hold post-graduate qualifications in corporate governance discipline from academic programmes recognised by our council. We are an independent Association which seeks to promote high standards of corporate governance by adhering to the Association’s Code of Professional Conduct and facilitating the ongoing professional development of our members. We seek to promote high standards in our capacities as executive or non-executive directors.
Our Mission
The Corporate Governance Association of Ireland was founded in April 2006 by graduates of the first class of the UCD Diploma in Corporate Governance. Since then others have joined with other accredited academic qualifications such as the IoD (Institute of Directors) Chartered Director program.
Membership is open to experienced business professionals who hold post-graduate qualifications in corporate governance discipline from academic programmes recognised by our council.
We are an independent Association which seeks to promote high standards of corporate governance by adhering to the Association’s Code of Professional Conduct and facilitating the ongoing professional development of our members.
We seek to promote high standards in our capacities as executive or non-executive directors.
Alacoque McMenamin - Chair
Alacoque McMenamin is a Master Programme, Portfolio and Project manager who specialises in Change Management Programmes. She has delivered on projects and provided Programme Management services in Financial Services, IT Software, Telecommunication, the Pharmaceutical Industry and Membership Networks for the government and private sector. She is a trusted business advisor to organisations in both Business and IT and has delivered projects that increase performance, reduce costs, and deliver the desired results. She is driven by best practice.
Alacoque holds an MBA from Fordham University New York and Masters in Corporate Governance from the University of Ulster.
Declan Carew - Executive Director
Declan Carew has over twenty-five years’ experience in delivering transformational and innovative business opportunities working with leading technology-driven companies in product and service development, commercial strategy and investment management contexts. He has experience in business, innovation, research, academia and he supports technology-led start-ups in an advisory capacity.
He has an Engineering (B.Eng.) background with Masters Degrees in Business management (MBA) and Governance (M.Sc) and has lectured extensively on management topics including; Operations Excellence, Supply Chain Strategy, Lean Principles, Project Management, and Contract Management. Declan is a Professional Product Development and Management Professional as approved by the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA.org).
Tom Delaney
Tom was previously CFO and Company Secretary of an AIM quoted Irish entity and is a Chartered Certified Accountant with a Master’s Degree in Financial regulation from Queen Mary, University of London.
James Kavanagh (2015-2021)
A former CGAI Chair, James showed exceptional leadership in filling the role over a number of years. James was well known and respected for his business achievements and for championing and demanding exceptionally high standards in Irish business. He made a significant contribution to the Irish business landscape with his determination that everyone should ‘put good governance front and centre of everything they do’. James sadly passed away on March 26, 2021.
James was Managing Director of Trustee Decisions Ltd. and had many years’ experience in advising trustee boards across a broad range of pension schemes. James was a Professional Trustee and a Pensioner Trustee as approved by the Revenue Commissioners, a former Director and Council member of the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) and a former Chairman and Director of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPC). He was also a member of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI), the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC), the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA).
