Our Team

 

Paul Mac Flynn


Paul Mac Flynn is co-director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute and is based in the Belfast office. In addition to managing the Belfast office he has co-responsibility for the NERI's research programme and for its strategic direction.  

He leads on the NERI’s analysis of the Northern Ireland economy along with all research into the impact of the United Kingdom‘s departure from the European Union. Other research areas include regional productivity, the all-island economy and the future of work.

He is a graduate of University College Dublin with a BA in Economics and Politics and the University of Bristol with an MSc in Economics and Public Policy, specialising in the economic impacts of political devolution in the UK.

Contact: [email protected] or 00 44 28 9024 6214.

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Dr Tom McDonnell


Tom McDonnell is co-director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute and is based in the Dublin office. In addition to managing staff in the Dublin office he has co-responsibility for the NERI's research programme and for its strategic direction.  

He is also responsible for, among other things, the NERI's analysis of the Republic of Ireland economy including risks, trends and forecasts. He specialises in economic growth, economics of innovation, Irish and European economies, and fiscal policy. 

He previously worked as an economist at TASC and before that was a lecturer in economics at NUI Galway and at DCU. He has also taught at Maynooth University (MU) and is currently an occasional staff member at MU. 

Tom obtained his PhD in economics from NUI Galway. He is a native of Limerick city and lives in Maynooth.

Contact: [email protected] or 00353 1 889 77 42.

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Dr Lisa Wilson


Lisa Wilson is a Senior Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI), where she carried out a broad range of work in areas related to labour market, income distribution, poverty, public expenditure, living standards, and well-being. In addition to her role at the NERI, Lisa is a former member of the Independent Fiscal Commission in Northern Ireland.

Lisa's dedication to advancing the well-being of individuals and communities extends beyond her research role. She serves as an independent expert to the Minister for Economy in Northern Ireland, offering strategic guidance on initiatives related to 'good jobs'.

Lisa graduated with a Bsc Hons from Ulster University in 2007 and later pursued her postgraduate studies at Queen's University, Belfast. She holds a Ph.D. from Queen's University, focusing her research on income inequality and well-being.

Lisa is a proud Donegal native, and is deeply committed to the economic development and social progress of Northern Ireland and the North West.

Contact: [email protected].

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Paul Goldrick-Kelly


Paul Goldrick-Kelly is an Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute based in our Dublin office.

A graduate of University College Dublin with a HDIP and MA in Economic Science, Paul's work has examined issues related to healthcare, housing, tax and revenue sufficiency as well as productivity performance in the Republic of Ireland.

Paul's current research interests relate to ecological sustainability and political economy, incorporating issues related to Just Transition.

Paul is currently engaged in a collaborative doctoral research project with NUI Maynooth concerning carbon lock-in and its manifestation and propagation through institutions.

This work is funded in partnership with the Irish Research Council.

Contact: [email protected] or 00353 1 889 77 22.

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Ciarán Nugent


Ciarán Nugent is an Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute and is based in the Dublin office. He is currently pursuing a doctorate with the Department of Sociology in Maynooth with assistance from the Irish Research Council through the Employment-based programme. He lectures part-time in the Department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth in Political Economy and the Welfare State and he sits on the Living Wage Technical Group. He also sits on the Board of Directors of GEMS NI.

His research interests include returns to education, overqualification, social mobility, income distribution, wages, precarious work, the cost of living and intergenerational inequality. He graduated with an MA in Economics and BA in International Politics from NUI Maynooth.

Contact: [email protected] or 00353 1 889 77 22.

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Louisa O’Brien


Louisa O'Brien is the Administrator for the Nevin Economic Research Institute and has over twenty-five years’ experience in the trade union movement, and brings extensive project, event and budget management to NERI. Louisa has particular experience in senior administration and has training in communications, social media, adult education and caring.

Contact: [email protected] or 00353 1 889 77 22.

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Chris Smart


Chris Smart is an Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute based in our Dublin office.

A graduate of NUI Galway and University College Dublin, Chris’s research interests include social insurance, labour markets, and productivity.

Chris is currently working on a labour market mapping project in partnership with NERI colleagues.

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Other Contributors

 

Aoife Ní Lochlainn


Dr Aoife Ní Lochlainn, former NERI Policy Officer and is now Policy Officer at the Irish Environmental Network (IEN).

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Daragh McCarthy


Daragh McCarthy, former NERI administrator and is now Policy Analyst/Economist at the Courts Service.

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Micheál Collins


Dr Micheál Collins, former NERI Economist and is now working as a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Social Policy at UCD.

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Niamh Holton


Niamh Holton, former NERI Research Assistant and is now a statistician at the Department of Finance.

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Rory O'Farrell


Dr Rory O’Farrell, former NERI Economist and is now lecturing in economics at Technology University Dublin.

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Tom Healy


Dr Tom Healy, former NERI Director and is now working as a Senior Statistician in the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

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