Nora Owen

Nora Owen was a politician for over 20 years. She was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1979 and then to Dáil Éireann in 1981. She was appointed Deputy Leader of the Fine Gael Party in 1993-2001 and was Minister of Justice from 1994 to 1997.  While a TD, she was Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Cooperation with Developing Countries for 7 years and Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. She was also a Member of the National Forum on Europe established by the Irish Government after the Nice Treaty. 

Ms. Owen has extensive experience in parliamentary training and election monitoring in many countries and was for several years a Vice-President of AWEPA, the association of European parliamentarians with Africa. She remains a member to this day.  

Nora is a member of the Concern Board in Ireland and served for 6 years on its UK Board.  Ms. Owen has also served as a member of the Democracy Commission, an organization established to study the reasons for electorate apathy towards politics.  

She was a member of the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime 2005-2010 and currently Chairs (since 2011) the Expert Advisory Group on Development Aid (Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 

Ms. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry & Biochemistry (UCD), a Diploma in Microbiology (UCD) and a Certificate in Business Corporate Law from the National College of Ireland. Before entering politics, she worked with Linson Ltd now Bristol Myers in Swords. 

Nora was appointed to the Board in March 2021 is currently the Chairperson of the IIEA’s Justice Group.