The Council of the Economic and Social Research Institute has appointed Professor Martina Lawless as its next director.
Professor Lawless will succeed Professor Alan Barrett in June when his ten-year term ends.
The ESRI said today’s appointment follows an extensive search and a rigorous selection process, supported by PwC Executive Search.
Martina Lawless joined the ESRI in 2015 and is currently a Research Professor there.
Before joining the ESRI, Martina worked as a research economist in the Central Bank for ten years.
She holds a doctorate in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and is currently a member of the National Statistics Board and was also a member of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.
Her research has focused mainly on firm-level dynamics, covering a range of topics such as job turnover, exporting, wage setting and foreign direct investment.
Professor Lawless said the ESRI plays a central role in the country in providing independent and rigorous evidence to inform policy decisions.
“I look forward to leading and further developing this role in the coming years. I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful work of my predecessor in the role, Professor Alan Barrett, in his leadership of the Institute over the past ten years and am delighted that he will continue to play a central role in the work of the ESRI,” she added.
The Chair of the Council of the ESRI, Seán O’Driscoll, said that through its work over 60 years, ESRI policymakers have been provided with high-quality, independent and objective analysis which has facilitated evidence-informed policy and better outcomes for Ireland’s citizens.
“The Council is delighted to be appointing Martina Lawless to lead the ESRI in the coming years. Professor Lawless’s skills, experience and values align perfectly with the role, and we wish her every success,” he added.
