Speech topic:

From Margin to Centre: A Social Justice Approach to Women's Rights, Integrating Theory and Practice'

Dr Helen Maher is Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Galway. In that capacity she currently leads an EDI strategy and programme of work focused on four pillars: gender, race, sexual violence and harassment and universal design and accessibility. Helen’s experience has primarily been in the field of equality and social justice, working in a wide variety of contexts in higher education, civil society organisations and consultancy work. Helen holds an MA in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford, and a PhD on the Gendered nature of the Transition to Democracy in South Africa, from Dublin City University. She is co-editor of a forthcoming book Transforming Gender Equality and Inclusion within Higher Education in Ireland – Contemporary Perspectives to be published by Palgrave Macmillan in Spring 2025. Helen has substantial experience in curriculum design, lecturing and programme leadership pertaining to social and political theory, policy and practice to progress equality. She has developed, implemented and evaluated equality projects under the Equal Programme, the Equality for Women Measure, Erasmus+ strategic partnerships and Irish Aid. These projects have focused on engaging with diverse constituencies to address issues of gender, citizenship, identity, equality, inclusion and social change. Helen also designed programmes under the EU Grundtvig programme examining equality, inclusion and social justice concepts and pedagogical practices for participants working in the field of education across Europe.