Carnegie Conversations: Caron McCaffrey, Director General of the Irish Prison Service

IADT Carnegie Conversations: Caron McCaffrey, Director General, Irish Prison Service

Wednesday 3rd December, 18:00 – 19:00
The Carnegie Library, Dún Laoghaire

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The next event in the series will see IADT’s Dr Tina Kinsella in conversation with Caron McCaffrey, Director General of the Irish Prison Service where she reflects on leadership, change, and the role of education in shaping the future of justice in Ireland. The discussion offers a rare insight into the human realities of the prison system and the possibilities for building a more inclusive and forward-looking society.

Director General Caron McCaffrey is responsible for the leadership, management, and strategic direction of the Irish Prison Service (IPS), which operates 13 prisons and employs over 3,500 staff with an annual budget of €525 million.

Under her direction, the IPS is committed to providing safe and secure custody, upholding the dignity of care, and promoting the rehabilitation of prisoners. During her tenure at the IPS, she has developed several exciting access programmes, placing life-long learning at the centre of prison culture. Prison Service programmes also include social enterprise and employment schemes and pathways to apprenticeship supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners.

Caron has over two decades of experience in the Justice sector. She began her career in the Department of Justice and Equality in 2000, before joining the Irish Prison Service in 2006 as Press and Programme Manager. She was promoted to Director of Corporate Services in 2008 and held responsibility for a range of portfolios including Human Resources, Finance and Estates prior to her appointment as Director General. Her leadership exemplifies innovation, dedication, and a commitment to excellence in one of the most challenging areas of public service.

Dr Tina Kinsella is a scholar and academic leader specialising in contemporary art practice, visual culture, gender studies, and feminist theory. She currently serves as Head of Research at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Dr Kinsella is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies at Trinity College Dublin and a Fellow of the Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media (GradCAM) at Technological University Dublin.

Tina’s academic background includes a PhD in Visual Culture from the National College of Art and Design, an MPhil in Gender and Women’s Studies from Trinity College Dublin, and a BA (Hons) in Classics and Philosophy from the University of Nottingham. She is Irish Principal Investigator on the research project, ‘Feminist Art Making Histories’, which is funded by the Irish Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK. Her research critically explores the intersections of artistic practice, visual culture, and socio-political contexts, with a particular focus on gender, embodiment, affect, and maternal aesthetics. She investigates how art functions as a form of political activism and a mode of thinking, engaging deeply with themes of visibility, memory, and social justice.

Carnegie Conversations take place at The Carnegie Library, Dún Laoghaire, and are organised by the Planning and Strategy Office at IADT.

Tickets

This event is free but booking is required, click here to: Register now.