Professor Mary McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011, the first to come from Northern Ireland. Following her Presidency, McAleese pursued a Doctorate in Canon Law from Gregorian University, Rome. In 2016, she joined St Mary’s University, Twickenham as Distinguished Professor in Irish Studies and is completing a Doctorate in Children’s Rights in Canon Law at Gregorian University.

McAleese’s other offices include: formerly Pro-Vice Chancellor, The Queen’s University Belfast; Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies; Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology; and Penology, Trinity College Dublin.