LIZ O’DONNELL
Chairperson, Road Safety Authority
Liz O’Donnell was born in Dublin, educated in Limerick and at Trinity College Law School. She started her political career in 1991 when she was elected to Dublin City Council for the Progressive Democrats, representing the Rathmines Ward.
She was elected to Dail Eireann in 1992 for Dublin South and served as a TD for fifteen years. She held front bench positions on Health and Justice and was Whip and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In 1997 she was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for overseas development and human rights where she presided over a significant increase in the Irish Aid budget to poor countries.
Liz also had a key role in Anglo Irish relations. She represented the Irish Government at the multi-party talks at Stormont, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. She was promoted to Minister of State to the Government in April 2002. She was Deputy Leader of the Party when she retired from political life following the 2007 Election.
For the past number of years Liz has worked as a public affairs specialist providing strategic advice on government relations to organisations and corporates. Liz also lectures on conflict resolution at third level colleges in Ireland and abroad given her role in the Irish peace process.
Liz writes a weekly column on politics and public affairs for the ‘Irish Independent’. In 2008, Liz wrote and presented a four-part documentary on Irish Aid in the developing world for RTE, called ‘Far Away up Close’.
Liz has long been a strong advocate of women in politics and business. She has participated in many diversity-related initiatives and was the only female member of the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas, which runs the Dail and Seanad.
Liz is a member of the Institute of Directors, a founding member of the WXN Advisory Board, and a Director of Chernobyl Children International, an Irish-based humanitarian charity which brings relief to the families of those affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident 30 years ago.
Liz was appointed as Chairperson of the Road Safety Authority in 2014. The Road Safety Authority is the statutory body charged with the remit of reducing fatalities on Irish roads. Liz has been appointed by the Government to this leadership role for a five-year term. The Road Safety Authority has been instrumental in reducing fatalities and injuries from car crashes since its establishment. It works closely with the Gardai, local and national government, and the media, on legislation, education and public awareness of road safety. Ireland now ranks in the top league of European countries for road safety.
Liz lives in Dublin and has two adult children, Robert and Laura.