About
Owen Ward is a native of Galway City and is a member of the Irish Travelling community. An early school leaver with no Junior or Leaving Certificate, he graduated from the University of Galway with a B.A. (Hons) and Masters in Post Primary education (PME). He was also a member of Údarás na hOllscoile (University of Galway Governing Authority), the first Irish Traveller elected to a University Governing authority in Ireland.
Owen is the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Programme Manager for Race Equality in the Office of the Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Galway and has led the development and is currently leading the implementation of a Race Equality Framework and Action Plan for the University.
He is a member of the HEA Intersectionality Working Group that developed the HEA Race Equality Implementation Plan 2022-2024 and Anti-Raism Prinples for the HEI Sector. He was a member of National Anti-Racism Committee that has developed a National Anti-Racism Action Plan for Ireland that was launched in 2023.
Owen has extensive experience working in higher education, is an advocate for widening participation of students from diverse socio economic backgrounds and the advancement of race equality in higher education.
