Following nominations sought from members, Martin Heraghty and Gerry McAnaney will contest the election for this position at the EGM on Saturday, January 25th.

Below are biographies for the two candidates:

Mr Martin Heraghty
Martin Heraghty was elected to the FAI Board in July 2019 as a nominee of the National League. He has been involved with Sligo Rovers FC for many years. 

• Member of Sligo Rovers Management Board for over six years
• Chairman of Sligo Rovers since 2016
• He has been a member of the FAI Council and was the Sligo Rovers representative on the PCA for over four years

Martin’s professional career was in the Civil Service. He was Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with specific responsibility for the development of the Irish Food industry. He was previously Head of Corporate Affairs and other major Divisions in the Department. Earlier in his career he served as private secretary to various Ministers and was the Departments press/information officer.  

His experience has encompassed policy development and the management of multi-million EU schemes and the corporate governance oversight of major semi-state bodies, including the Irish Food Board, Teagasc and Horse Racing Ireland.  

He was centrally involved in crisis management in relation to the resolution of several major national agri-food related incidents, in particular the foot and mouth disease outbreak. He has had extensive involvement in EU (member of various EU management committees) and international market access/trade negotiations.  

Martin also completed a diplomatic posting for five years as First Secretary in the Irish Embassy in Germany. Martin has significant Board experience having served as a Board member of a number of semi-state organisations.

Since his retirement from the Civil Service, as well as his involvement in football administration, he has been a Board member of a private company and engaged in consultancy work.    
 
 
Mr Gerry McAnaney
Gerry represents Football For All on FAI National Council, having previously represented the Defence Forces on the FAI National Council. Gerry has been involved in football administration for a number of years having served as: 

• Chairperson of the Defence Forces Football Association
• FAI National Council Member
• FAI Board of Management Member (24 Person Board)
• FAI Football Technical Development Plan Working Group member
• FAI Underage and Player Development Football For All Committee member
• Member of Football for All National Executive Committee
• FAI Scouting Regulations Working Group 
• FAI Disciplinary Panel Member
• National representative with CISM World Military Sports Council, both hosting and participating in multiple European and World level events  

Gerry is a retired member of the Irish Defence Forces and has experience in a number of areas including: 

• Regional Director of Military Police responsible for compliance with legal requirements and conduct of all investigations
• Driving standards of governance throughout the Southern Region ensuring a fit for purpose organisational design that facilitated the building of a compliance culture, regulation, oversight and validation that systematically captures and incorporates legal and regulatory updates
• Responsibility for risk assessments and management of a facility extending over 3.500 acres and with an annual footfall of 100,000 people participating in robust training up to and including the discharge of firearms and explosives
• As a Business Development Executive within the Audio Visual industry, Gerry has demonstrated astute business acumen in responding to customer needs and building a sustainable business model through his interaction with various sporting bodies
• As Site and Regional HR Manager, Gerry supported the Defence Forces through strategic headcount efficiencies, managing change, employee and industrial relations, building leadership capability and developing the talent pipeline for critical business roles