Caroline Spillane is to leave her role as director general of Engineers Ireland to take up the CEO position at the Institute of Directors in the summer, it has been announced.

Caroline Spillane, Engineers Ireland director general

President of Engineers Ireland Professor Orla Feely said: "Caroline is to become the new CEO of the Institute of Directors in July. I wish her well with this new challenge and thank her for her outstanding service to Engineers Ireland since she became director general in 2015.  

'Broke the mould'

"She has been a great support to me since I became president last year and to all of those who went before me in the role since 2015. She also broke the mould becoming the first female and the first non-engineer to lead the organisation since its establishment in 1835.

"Thanks to Caroline’s stewardship over the past seven years, the organisation is in very good shape. She has been a strong advocate for the role of the profession in addressing significant societal challenges such as Covid-19 and climate change.

"Her commitment to excellence, combined with her innovative approach to advocacy and engagement, has greatly advanced Engineers Ireland’s reputation as a professional body. Our strategy has proven its robustness and membership numbers are at an all-time high. Training and development offerings for members go from strength to strength."

From 2010-2015, Spillane was the CEO of the Medical Council of Ireland (MCI) where she led work on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of medical practitioners, medical practice and medical education and training.

'Accomplished leader'

Prior to the MCI role, she held the role of assistant national director with the HSE and CEO of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (2006-2009). She is a Chartered Director, holds a master’s degree in communications and is an economics graduate of University College Cork. She is currently studying for a doctorate in business administration at Waterford Institute of Technology.

Spillane has also served as a board member in the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), ESB Networks and Irish Manufacturing Research. She is chair of the National BIM Council – a national body to support the advancement of digital in the construction sector and is a former chair of the Construction Industry Council. 

Institute of Directors president Imelda Reynolds described Spillane is an accomplished leader with wide expertise in strategic planning and the delivery of results.

The recruitment for a new director general will begin shortly, said Prof Feely.