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About Us

Leadership development is a critical component in the successful implementation of major change. Through strong and visionary school leadership, the National Centre for Leadership and Innovation (NCLI) is dedicated to the radical transformation of primary school education through professional leadership.

NCLI will provide an infrastructure for the research and development of programmes, projects and other advancement initiatives. It will provide a new infrastructure to deliver unrivalled leadership programmes. Our plans to facilitate school leaders in achieving accredited qualifications in leadership and innovation will mean they will be exceptionally equipped to fulfil their demanding roles and bring their individual schools to international standards in learning. Aside from the Dedicated Educational Leadership and Management Training Programme, we have designed courses offering the broader school community unique opportunities to learn and grow as leaders.

In the longer term, NCLI will become a key point of reference for all those engaged in leadership activity across private, public and not-for-profit sectors and will invite collaboration from each of these parties. We clearly see the tangible contribution that NCLI will make to the long term economic stability of Ireland, through its role in the formation of a well-educated workforce and an increasingly attractive location for multinationals. NCLI is dedicated to creating the leadership structures necessary to deliver the best possible primary school education to Ireland’s children, allowing them to thrive in their future academic, professional and personal lives.

Our Video Introduction

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Who we are

The National Centre for Leadership and Innovation (NCLI) has been developed by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN). IPPN has provided key support services to principals and deputy principals since 2000 and through the launch of the NCLI, IPPN has positively re-imagined the Irish educational landscape by putting leadership as the centre force for real change.

From the beginning, IPPN has had a clear vision to facilitate the highest quality of learning for children through excellent teaching, led and managed by exemplary school leaders. IPPN believes that the link between leadership and learning is so strong, that if we support, resource and develop principals the quality of children’s learning will dramatically improve.

IPPN’s status as a professional body provides authenticity to our advocacy role. Through our work with the Department of Education and Skills and other Education Partners, IPPN has developed a strong and credible voice in the education sector as an advocate for children and their learning. As IPPN does not perform a trade union / industrial relations function for our members, we are suitably positioned to be influential in bringing about positive change in education policy.
Further information on IPPN can be found at www.ippn.ie

Our People

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Sean Cottrell

Chief Executive Officer

A native of Innishannon, West Cork, Seán began teaching at St. Joseph’s National School, Cobh, County Cork. He has served as a teaching principal at two schools in East Cork, Churchtown South and Little Island, and as administrative principal in Glounthaune N.S. until 2003. Seán is a founding member of the Cork Primary Principals’ Network (1995) and Irish Primary Principals’ Network (1999). He has been involved in facilitating professional development for teachers, principals and parents on the ‘Stay Safe’ Programme, Emotional Intelligence and Classroom Management.

Seán has worked in development education projects with VSO and UNHCR in Tajikistan, Bhutan and Djibouti. He was an Irish Election observer to South Africa’s first all-race elections in 1994. Seán currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of IPPN and is accountable to its Board of Directors for the overall leadership and management of both IPPN and NCLI.

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Claire O’Donovan

Senior Business Executive

Claire has been working with the Irish Primary Principals’ Network since April, 2013. She began working on the concept of developing a national leadership centre and was subsequently appointed as a Senior Business Executive of the National Centre for Leadership and Innovation.

Claire has completed a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Information Systems Management, a Diploma in Applied Project Management from University College Cork, a Higher Diploma in Public Relations and a First Class Masters in Business Studies and Marketing from Cork Institute of Technology. She has also attained Institute of Project Management Association (IPMA) Level D Project Management Associate Status.

Claire has previously worked with the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, Musgrave Group and Apple.

Our mission

In the longer term, NCLI will become a key point of reference for all those engaged in leadership activity across private, public and not-for-profit sectors and will invite collaboration from each of these parties. We clearly see the tangible contribution that NCLI will make to the long term economic stability of Ireland, through its role in the formation of a well-educated workforce and an increasingly attractive location for multinationals. NCLI is dedicated to creating the leadership structures necessary to deliver the best possible primary school education to Ireland’s children, allowing them to thrive in their future academic, professional and personal lives.