Board of Directors - Explained
The purpose of the Board of Directors is to take responsibility for the governance of the union in the following areas:
- Overall direction of the work of the union staff
- Financial management
- Legal and regulatory compliance
- Accountability
Under company law, the Board of Directors are obliged to:
- Act in good faith and in the company’s interest.
- Act honestly and responsibly in relation to the company.
- Act in line with the company’s constitution and the law.
- Not use their powers for personal gain or for the benefit of others at the company’s expense.
- Act with due care, skill and diligence.
The Board of Directors of the company must act in accordance with the bye laws and the University of Limerick Code of Conduct, as well as the Constitution.
The membership of the Board of Directors is made up of:
- Four Student Officers as elected in accordance with Bye Law 5: Elections
- The Chair of Student Council as elected in accordance with Bye Law 5: Elections
- The Faculties Officer as elected in accordance with Byelaw 5: Elections
- Up to a maximum of four External Directors to be appointed in accordance with this Bye Law
Download Our Constitution and Bye Laws
For more information on Board of Directors, please refer to the relevant bye law. You can download the constitution and bye laws on our constitution on our constitution page. This includes 'University of Limerick Students Union Bye Law 4: Board of Directors'.
Our Constitution page to download our constitution and bye laws.
STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS
Eva McCormack
Eva McCormack is a Criminal Justice graduate serving as the UL Student Life Student President for the academic year. As the chief elected representative of the student body, Eva sits on the UL Student Life Board of Directors to ensure student interests, welfare, and strategic priorities remain at the center of the organization's governance.
Driven by a clear mandate to tackle the real challenges facing students today, Eva’s presidential priorities are heavily focused on addressing the accommodation crisis, combating the rising cost of living, and proactively championing student safety across campus.
With her background in criminal justice and a strong commitment to advocacy, Eva works collaboratively with board members and organizational leadership to ensure that student feedback directly shapes the strategic direction and operations of UL Student Life. She is dedicated to being an accessible, transparent leader focused on delivering tangible improvements, strong oversight, and lasting value for the entire UL student community
Jared Nadin
Jared Nadin is the Deputy President Welfare Officer with UL Student Life and was Vice President Academic Officer 25/26. A student of world music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, with academic interests in ethnomusicology and arts practice research.
Jared has been involved in the arts industry for over a decade. He has worked locally and nationally as an actor, musician, composer, and stage technician with companies such as Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Attic Projects and many others. Jared is also a poet and co-founder of literary group ‘Stanzas’, with work published in Silver Apples Magazine, Ó Bhéal and more.
As Welfare Officer, he hopes to address period poverty and food-inequality on campus, conduct extensive lobbying on issues like accommodation and transport, and support students’ health and wellbeing through a series of events and campaigns.
Abbie Lappin
Abigail Lappin is a Bachelor of Arts graduate in Geography and Sociology from the University of Limerick and is serving as the Vice-President Academic at UL Student Life for the academic year 26/27. Elected by the student body, the Vice-President Academic is an advocate ensuring the student voice is heard and taken into consideration when the university are making decisions that directly impact their academic experience.
Abigail’s priorities for her term as Academic Officer is passionate about breaking down barriers that prevent students from fully engaging with university life. Drawing on her own experiences as a student, she is committed to making higher education more accessible, affordable, and supportive. She aims to strengthen academic supports, reduce financial pressures, and ensure every student has the tools and opportunities to succeed.
Cuán Hayes
Cuán Hayes is a BA Journalism and Digital Communications student and serves as Vice President Diversity & Inclusion in UL Student Life for the academic year. As Diversity & Inclusion Officer they are responsible for the representation and support of minority groups on campus and representing students on issues relating to discrimination.
Cuán's main goals for this year include strengthening cultural understanding on campus, safety for minority students, effective representation for Mincéir/ Traveller students on campus and implementing a preferred name system for students who do not use their legal names. They are excited to work collaboratively with students this year to create a campus where all students, no matter their identity or background, feel safe and that they belong.
John Boix
John Boix is a 2nd year Bachelor of Business Studies student who hails from Dungarvan. He was elected student council chair for 26/27 on a platform of improved events, transparency and accountability with 85.43% of the vote. He previously served as Activities Councillor and Council Deputy Chair. John is strongly involved with student life at the university, having co-relaunched the Politics Society at the University and being elected to the inaugural committee of the Media Society in first year. He is a committee member of both the History and Philosophy & Debating societies.
John is committed to being an impartial and effective chair of Council. John aims to strengthen Council communications with students. He was selected to sit on UL50, which is the Student Engagement Forum advising the highest levels of the university on the student perspective in order to help develop the university's new statutory Strategic Plan.
Alan Sieprawski
Alan Sieprawski is a 2nd year Maths and Economics student at the University of Limerick, originally from Killorglin, County Kerry. He was elected Faculties Officer for UL Student Life for 2026/27, with a focus on practical, people-first representation. Alan sees himself as a doer, valuing listening, showing up, and following through for students across UL’s faculties. His involvement in student representation began in secondary school, where he served as both Secretary and Chairperson of the student council. Since coming to UL.
Alan has continued to engage with student life, recently completing Student Guide Orientation and gaining a stronger understanding of how students are supported as they begin university. Outside of his studies and representative work, Alan works in hospitality as a bartender, bringing a sociable, grounded, and approachable style to his role. As Faculties Officer, he is committed to helping students feel heard and turning their concerns into practical action.
EXTERNAL BOARD MEMBERS
Niall O'Callaghan
Niall O’Callaghan is CEO of Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) CLG, an independent charity that reinvests income from its commercial property portfolio into projects delivering social and economic impact across Limerick.
A University of Limerick graduate with a Master’s in Marketing from UCC, Niall began his career with Unilever, where he was identified as Global High Performing Talent. He later led IDA Ireland’s Mid-West region during a record period for foreign direct investment before taking responsibility for the transformation of Shannon Heritage tourist attractions in 2017, returning the business to profitability while leading a significant organisational change programme.
Named All-Ireland Business Foundation Public/Private Sector Executive of the Year in 2022, Niall has extensive leadership and governance experience across enterprise, tourism and community development. He is a former Chairperson of AVEA and previously served on the Irish Government’s Tourism Leadership Group, alongside a range of regional economic and social inclusion boards.
Sinead Poole
Sinead is a solicitor with more than 20 years' experience in housing, property, and landlord and tenant law. A graduate of the University of Limerick, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law and European Studies, awarded in 1998, and was admitted to the Law Society of Ireland in 2003.
Sinead began her legal career in private practice in Limerick, where she specialised in residential conveyancing and landlord and tenant law.
In 2023, Sinead joined Community Law & Mediation (CLM) Limerick, an independent, community-focused law centre and charity. She brings particular expertise in housing law, providing legal advice and representation across a broad range of matters.
Alongside her legal career, Sinead has maintained a strong commitment to the voluntary and community sector. She has served for a number of years as a Director of Bóthar CLG, a leading international development charity based in Ireland.
As a Board Member of UL Student Life, Sinead brings significant legal, governance, and housing expertise, together with a strong understanding of community-focused services and the issues affecting those seeking access to housing and support. She has also been a member of the Parents' Council of Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treo since 2020.
Sinead is a proud University of Limerick graduate and lives locally with her husband and their three children. She is delighted to bring her professional experience, local knowledge, and commitment to community service to her role as a member of the UL Student Life Board.
Brendan O'Sullivan
Originally from Mallow and the eldest of six children—two of whom also became UL business graduates. Brendan graduated from NIHE in 1982 in Business (Marketing) and served as Student Union President for the 1982/1983 academic year. Brendan said he came to Limerick ‘to be educated’ according to his Limerick classmates
Throughout his career, Brendan has worked in Ireland with multinational companies in sales management roles. For the last 25 years, he has held various global roles focused on the medical, industrial, consumer, and communications markets with the Canadian services company, Celestica, and will be retiring from the company in March 2027.
Brendan currently lives in Tramore with my wife Susan. he has five adult children (including their son, Fintan Greenwood, who graduated with a UL Science degree in 2025) and one grandson.. Outside of work, Brendan is a passionate Munster and Ireland rugby supporter, a long-time Manchester United fan and a member of the Tramore Men’s Shed group. He enjoys hillwalking, swimming, and cycling.
Noreen Finn
Noreen Finn is a University of Limerick Business Graduate from 1990. Post graduation, Noreen qualified as a Management Accountant and went on to work in senior financial and operational roles within the banking and corporate services industries. A number of these positions also incorporated the role of company secretary. Noreen has taken a career break from the corporate world since just prior to Covid. In the middle of the last decade, Noreen trained as a photographer and worked part-time on wedding and occasion shoots with another professional photographer. Noreen lives in Tipperary with her husband and two adult children. She is an an avid reader and also enjoy cooking, hiking and following current affairs.