Helmsman of the Marine Institute appointed to EU Mission

Dr Peter Heffernan, who has served as chief executive of the Marine Institute in Ireland since 1993, has been appointed to European Commission’s Mission Board for Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters. He will retire from his current position in October.

The Mission Board is one of five major research missions of Horizon Europe – the EU Research and Innovation Programme 2021-2027.  The board, comprising 15 experts, aims to identify the first specific mission on healthy oceans by the end of 2019.

Chairman of the Marine Institute, John Killeen, said Dr Heffernan has played “a fundamental role” in developing Ireland’s ocean capacity and in driving collaboration in marine research and innovation in Europe and internationally.

Over 2,100 people applied to become a member of a mission board. Dr Heffernan served on the EU’s Research and Innovation Area Board from 2012-2016.