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Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes  (centre) and Michelle Noone, publicjobs, meet with Shannon Chamber members

Shannon Chamber is encouraging more business professionals across the Mid-West to consider applying for State board positions and bring their private-sector expertise to the governance and strategic direction of Ireland’s public bodies.

The call follows an information session hosted by the Chamber and addressed by Michelle Noone, head of talent attraction at publicjobs, the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the civil and public service in Ireland.

Ms Noone’s briefing provided members with an insight into the State board appointments process, the competencies being sought and the opportunities available to professionals from a wide range of business backgrounds. With around 156 State board vacancies filled per annum, the event highlighted opportunities for experienced professionals to contribute their knowledge and expertise to public service, while broadening their own leadership and governance experience.

Addressing attendees, Ms Noone explained that the State board appointments process, introduced in 2014, is designed to widen the pool of potential candidates, strengthen the calibre of appointments and ensure greater transparency in the selection process. She outlined how State boards are increasingly seeking a broader mix of skills and perspectives, including expertise in finance, audit and risk, corporate governance, leadership, sustainability, customer focus and cybersecurity. She also highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, digital transformation and cyber resilience as matters requiring effective board oversight.

Figures presented at the event showed that 77% of applications for State board positions in 2025 came from the private sector, compared with 63% three years previously. The average number of applications per advertised vacancy was approximately 11, although interest varies considerably depending on the board and the skills required.

Ms Noone explained that while some prominent State boards attract significant interest, others, including smaller regulatory bodies and certain transport-related boards, can find it more challenging to attract applicants with the required expertise.

The session also highlighted the value of diversity in board composition, not only in terms of gender but also professional backgrounds, experience and perspectives. In 2025, women accounted for approximately 47% of appointments through the publicjobs State board recruitment process, highlighting progress towards more balanced representation while reinforcing the importance of encouraging applications from a diverse talent pool.

Ms Noone stressed that candidates do not necessarily need previous State board experience or formal corporate governance qualifications to apply. What matters is their ability to demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria and can bring independent judgement, relevant expertise and a strong understanding of public service responsibilities to the role.

A particularly valuable aspect of the event was the practical advice provided to members considering applying for State board positions. Ms Noone advised potential applicants to pay particular attention to their covering letter, demonstrating clearly how their experience meets each essential criterion, outlining their motivation for applying and explaining the contribution they believe they could make. Candidates were also encouraged to provide context around their professional experience, including the scale and complexity of organisations in which they have worked.

She advised first-time applicants not to be discouraged if they are unsuccessful initially, suggesting that they consider boards of a comparable scale or in sectors adjacent to their own experience. She also encouraged professionals to explore opportunities while still actively engaged in their careers, rather than waiting until retirement.

Commenting on the event, Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said that the Chamber was keen to encourage more individuals from its member companies to consider how their professional expertise could contribute to public service.

“We have an exceptional concentration of business and professional expertise across Shannon and the wider Mid-West; executives with extensive multi-disciplinary experience and the types of competencies that State boards require. Our objective in hosting this event was to encourage more of these professionals to recognise that the skills and experience they have developed throughout their careers could be of considerable value beyond their own organisations.

“Michelle’s presentation was extremely informative, particularly in explaining how the appointments process works and providing practical guidance on preparing an application. We hope the event will encourage more people from across our membership to take that first step in applying,” Ms Downes concluded.

Anyone interested in exploring State board opportunities is encouraged to register on www.publicjobs.ie and sign up for State board vacancy alerts.