Speaker:  Senator Katherine Zappone

Senator Katherine Zappone is one of Ireland’s foremost legislators and advocates on equality, social justice and women's issues.

 
Katherine is a co-founder of An Cosán, Ireland’s largest community education organisation, which is breaking cycles of inter-generational poverty and unemployment though education and entrepreneurship. Before entering politics in 2011 through her nomination in the Seanad, she was a Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights Commission (2002 -2012) and she is a former CEO of the National Women’s Council of Ireland.

As a member of the Oireachtas, Katherine is a strong voice for equality, human rights and justice.

She has published bills on housing, political reform and on the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and gender recognition. She is a member of the Justice & Equality Committee, and Rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights.

As a founder of Marriage Equality organisation and as a leading campaigner over the past decade, Katherine knows that determination and perseverance can achieve positive results and change society for the better.

Katherine holds a Ph.D. in education (Boston College), an MBA (Smurfit, UCD) and an honorary doctorate in law from UCD and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from UCD School of Law.