Audit and Risk
Trinity Foundation Audit & Risk Committee
The Audit & Risk Committee reports independently to the Trustees on all aspects of controls and risks. The main function of the Committee is to review the significant financial reporting issues and judgements made in connection with TDA’s financial statements and reports, and to review the scope and effectiveness of TDA’s internal controls, including financial, operational and compliance controls. The Committee works in cooperation with the University’s Audit Committee in the conduct of its work. The Committee’s terms of reference may be viewed here.
Members of the committee are Ms Claire Conroy (Chair), Ms Ciara Deans and Ms Mairead Devine.
Committee Members
Claire Conroy
Claire was appointed to the Trinity Foundation Audit & Risk Committee in 2019 and Chairs the Committee since January 2023. She was appointed as a Trustee in January 2023. Claire is currently responsible for Capital & Financial Management as well as Investment Management oversight at B-Flexion Fund Management (Ireland) Limited. Claire was previously a Senior Consultant at KB Associates from 2016 to 2021 where she advised investment managers on the establishment and ongoing compliance and operational requirements of Irish funds.
Prior to joining KB Associates, Claire worked with Davide Leone & Partners Investment Company LLP, a London based investment manager, where she was responsible for fund accounting and operations. Previously, she was part of the PwC Asset Management Group where she specialised in the audit of investment funds and fund service providers. Claire is a graduate of Trinity College’s Business School. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and holds a Professional Certificate in Investment Fund Services Risk Management.
Ciara Deans
Ciara was appointed to the Trinity Foundation Audit & Risk Committee in 2021. Ciara is Head of Strategy, Change and IT at the Insurance Institute. Prior to joining the Institute, Ciara held a number of consulting and insurance industry roles delivering business intelligence, pricing, and system and process change solutions across the UK and Irish markets. She has also held a number of insurance roles on representative councils at both Local and National level. Ciara is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and a Chartered Insurer. She graduated in Management Science and Information Systems from Trinity College, Dublin.
Máiréad Devine
Máiréad joined the Trinity Foundation Audit & Risk Committee in 2021. Máiréad is an experienced leader in Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance and Governance in Financial Services - she is currently the Chief Risk Officer at BNY Mellon (Ireland), previously holding the role of Group Head of Compliance for Bank of Ireland. She has extensive prior experience within regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Ireland and the Bank of England and in professional services (PwC) in both the UK and Ireland. Máiréad was a non-executive director in IAASA and is a current Member of Faculty at the Institute of Banking and Insurance Institute of Ireland Certified Director programmes. Máiréad is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors and a graduate of Trinity College Business School.
Professor Gerard Mc Hugh
Gerard was appointed as a Trustee in January 2023 and also joined the Trinity Foundation Audit & Risk Committee in January 2023. He is a Fellow of Trinity College, Associate Professor of Accounting, and University Dean of Development. Gerard qualified as a Certified Accountant with the Dublin Office of Deloitte. He is a former Dean of Trinity Business School and teaches accounting, financial analysis and financial reporting.