Martin Shanahan

Since 2010 Martin D. Shanahan has been Chief Executive of Forfás – the Government’s policy advisory agency for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation.

Since joining Forfás in 2005 he has been to the forefront in the development of enterprise and innovation policy in Ireland. He is currently a member of the Board of Forfás, the National Competitiveness Council and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

Prior to joining Forfás, Shanahan held management responsibility in Fáilte Ireland for the professional development of the tourism sector. Earlier in his career, Shanahan held a number of general management posts in the private sector in tourism and hospitality. Shanahan holds an M.Res (Educational Research) from Lancaster University, a M.Sc. and H.Dip from DIT and a B.Sc (Mgmt) from Trinity College Dublin. He has undertaken executive education in economics at Oxford University and at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard.