Prestigious role for Gorey man
GOREY’S Dr Mark White has been appointed as Waterford Institute of Technology’s Vice President of Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies.
Dr White is a former assistant director of nursing in Wexford General Hospital. A Dublin native, Dr White has lived in Gorey for the past 20 years and is married to Nessa White, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland.
‘I am very much looking forward to the challenge of building the research capacity of the institute and building on previous success and reputation,’ said Dr White.
A key focus for Dr White over the coming months is the development of a new research strategy for WIT which will align and deliver the aspirations of the recently published WIT Strategy (2018-2021) and naturally prepare them for their Technological University journey in the coming months and years.
The 2018-2021 strategic plan puts WIT at the very centre of regional social, cultural and economic development.
The Waterford institute plans to continue to expand its innovation and research activity which to date has created hundreds of high quality jobs in the region in industries like pharmaceuticals and information technology.
Dr White also added he is also looking forward to the completion of the extension of ArcLabs, WIT’s research and innovation hub on the West Campus.
A €2.5 million investment was awarded to WIT by Enterprise Ireland to double the capacity to support technology start-ups at ArcLabs.
Dr White explained the extension of ArcLabs is expected to be completed in the latter quarter of 2019 and will attract new businesses and startups into the south east region.
Professor Willie Donnelly, President of Waterford Institute of Technology, said Dr White will be a valuable addition to the WIT executive team.
Prof Donnelly said: ‘Dr White has a proven track record in successfully managing complex large scale research and change management projects, as well as leadership in academic research in his own right.
‘He has the experience, vision and commitment to build on the Institute’s extraordinary achievements to date in research and innovation, and to bring it to the next level in line with our commitment to become one of the top 100 young universities by 2030.’