Ann Heelan

Ann Heelan is a graduate of UCD with a background in adult education and Staff Training and Development. She is currently Executive Director of AHEAD, the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability. AHEAD was established in 1988 to promote best practice and to improve the experience and participation of students with disabilities in higher and further education and in making the transition on into employment. Ann’s leadership and innovation in this field was recognized when she was awarded the Myriam van Acker award at the Eighth International Conference on Higher Education and Disability in Innsbruck 2013.

Prior to joining AHEAD Ann worked in a senior capacity in Programme Development and Training for NTDI. This involved managing a range of new projects and initiatives including Horizon and other EU funded projects in the disability sector. Before that she worked as a teacher in Adult Education, the Institutes of Technology and Secondary Schools.