The Uisce Éireann Board
Jerry Grant
Chairperson
Appointment:
16 July 2024
Tenure:
Five years
Career experience:
Jerry is an experienced Non-Executive Director & Strategic Business Advisor in the infrastructure and utilities sectors. In his career as a water services consultant, Jerry has worked on projects throughout Ireland including major strategic water and wastewater projects in the Dublin area. Between 2002 and 2012, he was Managing Director of RPS Consulting Engineers. In 2013, Jerry took up the role of Head of Asset Management at Uisce Éireann and was its Managing Director from 2016 to September 2018. Since retiring from Uisce Éireann, he has held non-executive positions including as a Member of the Governing Body of TU Dublin, Director of Sport Ireland, and roles in the private and charity sectors. Jerry is currently Chairman of Dublin Port Company and is a member of the of the Major Projects Advisory Group at the Department for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
Jerry holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Civil Engineering and a Diploma in Contract Law & Arbitration from UCD, is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland, Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering and Member of the Institute of Directors. He was the recipient of the President’s Award from the ACEI in 2017 for Services to Engineering in Ireland and, in 2018, received the Irish Environment Award from CIWEM (ROI Branch), Outstanding Achievement Award from ICE (ROI Branch) and the Civil Engineering Contractor’s Award for services to the industry.
External appointments:
Chairman of Dublin Port Company and member of the Major Projects Advisory Group at DEPNDPNR, Director of Jerry Grant & Associates Ltd.
Niall Gleeson
CEO
Appointment:
1 January 2023
Tenure:
Coincides with duration of role as CEO of Uisce Éireann
Career experience:
Niall has significant engineering, infrastructure, finance, and strategic leadership experience. He has led the commissioning and construction of large infrastructure projects, in the transport and utility sectors, across Ireland, the UK and Asia. He has held several senior leadership roles with world-leading infrastructure companies including General Electric and Shanahan Engineering. He is also the former Managing Director for Veolia Ireland and Alstom Ireland. Niall holds a degree in engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology and is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Ireland. He is also a member of the IBEC National Council, a member of the government led, Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce and the Housing Activation Delivery Group.
Patricia King
Board member
Appointment:
1 January 2023
Tenure:
Four years
Career experience:
Patricia is a former General Secretary of ICTU and former vice-President of SIPTU and also served as one of two vice-Presidents of Congress. A full time official with SIPTU for over 25 years, she was the first woman to serve as a national officer of the union when appointed as vice-President in 2010. She has represented workers in all areas of the economy, in both the public and private sectors. Patricia is a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority and is also the Chairperson of the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces.
External appointments:
Courts Service Board, Apprenticeship Council, Housing Commission, Climate Change Advisory Board, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces
Eileen Maher
Board member
Appointment:
1 January 2023
Tenure:
Four years
Career experience:
Eileen is an experienced strategic advisor with commercial, transformation, regulatory and legal expertise. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and MBS from University College Galway and is a member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland. She has a track record for developing and executing strategic infrastructure projects as well as negotiating commercial joint ventures, partnerships, and acquisitions. She worked in the telecoms industry for 30 years and is currently Chair of the Nuisance Communications Industry Forum and Chair of the Telecommunications Industry Engagement Forum. Eileen is a member of the Board of NAMA. She is also a former member of the Eirgrid Board and the Compliance Committee of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. She was the Director of Strategy and External Affairs in Vodafone and a member of the Vodafone Ireland Executive Board.
Cathy Mannion
Board member
Appointment:
1 January 2023
Tenure:
Five years
Career experience:
Cathy has a background in economic regulation as it applies to aviation, water, electricity and gas. At present she is a member of the Performance Review Board; assisting the European Commission in regulating and incentivising the performance of monopoly air navigation service providers designated by the Member States. Until late 2021, Cathy was the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation in Ireland, and the National Supervisory Authority for the economic regulation of air navigation services. Cathy previously worked in the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and was responsible for establishing the economic regulatory framework for water services and for developing and implementing policy for many aspects of the Irish energy markets including tariffs and the economic regulation of electricity and gas networks. She holds a BA Mod (Hons) in Economics and Business Administration from TCD, an MBA from Queen’s University Belfast and a Diploma in Corporate Governance from UCD.
External appointments:
Performance Review Board
Douglas Millican
Board member
Appointment:
12 October 2024
Tenure:
Three years
Career experience:
Douglas is a non-executive director with organisations that focus on delivering public or community benefit where he brings his experience in leadership, governance, strategic financial management, environmental sustainability, and transformation in customer centric and highly regulated environments. Douglas worked in the water sector in Scotland for 27 years, playing a key role in its transformation. He was Scottish Water’s Chief Executive for over 10 years until 2023 having previously been Finance and Regulation Director since the creation of Scottish Water in 2002.
Douglas is Chair of World Vision UK, a Court Member of the University of Edinburgh where he chairs the Audit and Risk committee, a Lay Member of the UK General Medical Council and a Board Member of the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board.
Douglas is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
External appointments:
University of Edinburgh, General Medical Council, World Vision UK, Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board
Orlagh Nevin
Board Member
Appointment:
3 February 2026
Tenure:
Five years
Career experience:
A senior commercial and transformation leader with over 30 years’ experience across corporate, SME and start-up environments, Orlagh is a Board Member of the Citizen Information Board and Chair of the ICT Digital Strategy and Brand Evolution subcommittee. Her background includes executive and non-executive leadership roles spanning telecommunications, Insurance and digital businesses with deep experience in sales and marketing, large scale transformations, customer experience and regulated environments. Orlagh brings a strong customer led perspective, sound governance capability and a collaborative approach to strategic oversight and delivery.
Michael Nolan
Board member
Appointment:
20 January 2024
Tenure:
Five years
Career experience:
Michael was appointed to the Uisce Éireann Board in January 2024. He previously served as Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland from 2015 to 2020, having earlier held senior roles in the National Roads Authority, including Head of Major Projects and Capital Programmes His earlier career included senior local authority positions, with responsibility for the delivery of major interurban motorway projects. Michael’s external appointments include Non-Executive Director of ESB Networks DAC, Chair of the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) and External Member of the BusConnects Programme Board. He is also an ex-officio member of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce.
Michael is a graduate civil engineer of the University of Galway and holds an MSc in Major Programme Management from the University of Oxford. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Ireland.
External appointments:
ESB Networks DAC
Rena O’Sullivan
Board Member
Appointment:
3 February 2026
Tenure:
Five years
Career experience:
Rena is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in driving sustainable growth and strengthening governance across multiple sectors, including retail, property, sales, and manufacturing. Rena has deep expertise in leading complex transformation projects with a customer-centric approach. In addition, her expertise includes commercial asset investment, strategic portfolio management, and optimising capital allocation for long-term value creation. Rena has served as a board advisor to a multinational retail group and contributed as a member of the audit committee. Rena is Chairperson of a property management company and holds non-executive director roles in the education and not-for-profit sector, as well as previous experience in leisure and membership services. Rena is a Fellow of ACCA and holds postgraduate qualifications from UCD.
Michael Walsh
Board member
Appointment:
1 January 2023
Tenure:
Five years
Career experience:
Michael has over 35 years’ experience as a non-executive director, senior executive and commercial lawyer in the aircraft leasing and financing industry. In addition, from 2003 to 2005, he served as Chief Legal Officer of Bord Gais Éireann. From 1986 to 1989, Michael was a diplomat in the Irish Diplomatic Service. Michael is Chairperson of Shannon Foynes Port Company and a non-executive director of AerCap Holdings N.V., the industry leader in aviation leasing, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Michael is also a member of the Executive Committee of Limerick Civic Trust and previously served as a non-executive director, including chairperson, of a number of companies which finance and lease aircraft and trains throughout the world. Michael is a Barrister and a law graduate from University College Cork.
External appointments:
AerCap Holdings N.V.and Shannon Foynes Port Company