New chief executive officer appointed at FLAC

Legal rights group FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) has announced the appointment of Eilis Barry as its new chief executive officer.

Ms Barry, a barrister specialising in all aspects of employment law, anti-discrimination and equality, will take up the position from 7 September.

She was legal adviser at the then Equality Authority and head of its legal section from 2000 until 2009, when she resumed practice at the Bar.

A former FLAC board member and chairperson, Ms Barry is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on employment and equality law. She is co-editor of Equality in Diversity, the New Equality Directives, ICEL No. 29, and former editor of the Employment Law Reports.

Announcing the appointment, FLAC chairperson Peter Ward SC said: “I am delighted to welcome Eilis Barry as Chief Executive Officer of FLAC. Eilis takes on the role with a deep commitment to FLAC’s work and to access to justice. She brings to the role a wealth of knowledge and experience and we look forward to working with her.”

Ms Barry added: “I am honoured to be appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer with FLAC.

“I look forward to leading the organisation and to working with its dedicated staff team towards the important aim of equal access to justice for all.”