Former secretary general joins Interpath as senior advisor

Interpath has announced the appointment of Dr Orlaigh Quinn, former secretary general of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as a senior advisor to support the firm’s continued growth in Ireland.

The firm said Quinn is a highly respected public service leader and non executive director with extensive experience at national and international level. She served as the first woman secretary general of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2016 to 2023, where she advised Government on enterprise policy, strategy and legislation.

During her tenure she led the Department through major events including Brexit, Covid 19 and the war in Ukraine, while overseeing the development and implementation of key national frameworks such as the White Paper on Enterprise, the National Digital Strategy and the Trade and Investment Strategy.

Across her career, Quinn has held senior leadership roles in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Social Protection. She also served in the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Central Statistics Office. She was the first Irish national expert on employment and social policy appointed to the European Commission.

The firm added Quinn has a strong record in public sector reform, complex policy development, cross organisational transformation and empowering women in leadership, and currently serves on several boards including The Convention Centre Dublin, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA), the Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA), Business in the Community Ireland, and the Foundation for Fiscal Studies.

She is also chair of the Governance board of CONNECT, the Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks.

Kieran Wallace, managing director and head of Interpath in Ireland, said: “Orlaigh brings a wealth of insight that will be incredibly important for our clients operating in an increasingly complex economic and political landscape globally. Her experience in shaping national strategy, navigating pivotal moments for Ireland’s economy aligns strongly with our ambition to support clients with clarity, confidence and foresight. As we continue to further strengthen our presence in Ireland, Orlaigh’s expertise will complement the support we provide to organisations as they navigate what’s next.”

Quinn added: “Interpath is making a significant impact in Ireland and internationally, and I’m delighted to support the further development of its work across Advisory and Restructuring services. Organisations across the economy are dealing with unprecedented levels of change and uncertainty, and I look forward to bringing my experience in policy, governance and strategic transformation to help clients work through those challenges and seize new opportunities.”