Four New Directors Join Board of Irish Heritage Trust

The Irish Heritage Trust has appointed Dan Barrett, Brendan Byrne, Susan Frankish and Cliona Murphy to its Board of Directors.

The appointments bring significant expertise in heritage management, governance, finance, digital transformation, sustainability and strategic leadership to the organisation, supporting the continued growth and stewardship of Ireland’s cultural heritage.

Welcoming the appointments, Ger Aherne, Chairman of the Irish Heritage Trust, commented:

“As we mark the Irish Heritage Trust’s twentieth anniversary, we are delighted to welcome Dan Barrett, Brendan Byrne, Susan Frankish and Cliona Murphy to the Board of the Irish Heritage Trust. Each brings exceptional professional experience, strategic insight and a strong commitment to good governance and stewardship. Their collective expertise will greatly support the Trust as we continue to grow, strengthen our partnerships and care for some of Ireland’s most important heritage properties for future generations.”

Dan Barrett is a senior executive and board-level leader with over 20 years’ international experience in technology, governance and organisational transformation across regulated financial services and global industries. He has held senior leadership roles with Tyson Foods International, Dell Financial Services and Hewlett-Packard International Bank. Dan brings deep expertise in corporate governance, operational resilience, cyber and ICT risk, sustainability and digital transformation.

Brendan Byrne is a Finance Director and Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years’ experience across financial and management accounting, strategy, governance and organisational transformation in complex global environments. He spent over a decade with Accenture, most recently as Finance Director for Global Corporate Services & Sustainability. Brendan also brings significant not-for-profit board experience through his long-standing involvement with the National LGBT Federation of Ireland and Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Susan Frankish is a highly experienced museum and heritage professional with a career spanning nearly 40 years as a curator and director across museums and historic houses in the UK. She most recently served as Director of the Burton Constable Foundation, where she was responsible for the stewardship of Burton Constable Hall, an Elizabethan mansion in the East Riding of Yorkshire, retiring from the role in January 2024. Susan brings extensive experience across both Local Authority Museums and Charitable Trusts, along with strong governance expertise through her roles as a trustee of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (Yorkshire) and the Hull Maritime Foundation. She holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Manchester and a postgraduate museum qualification from the University of Leicester. 

Cliona Murphy is a Chartered Director and experienced Non-Executive Director with extensive board service across Irish state agencies, charities and the private sector. She currently serves on the boards of Bord Bia and the Irish Red Cross and previously served on the boards of Teagasc and Science Foundation Ireland. Cliona brings more than 25 years of senior international executive leadership experience with PepsiCo, alongside strong expertise in governance, audit and risk, commercial oversight and strategy. She also has a strong personal and professional interest in heritage and conservation.