Guest Speaker:  Bill Prasifka, Financial Services Ombudsman

William Prasifka took up his position as Financial Services Ombudsman in March 2010. William has extensive experience as a public servant and as a lawyer in private practice.  Prior to taking up the post of Financial Services Ombudsman, William held the position of Chairperson of the Competition Authority, from 2006 to 2010 and was Commissioner for Aviation Regulation, from 1999 to 2006. 

Between 1996 and 1999 he was a Member of the Competition Authority.  Before entering the public sector, William worked as a lawyer in the private sector, in both Dublin and New York, where his work was predominantly in the areas of competition law, antitrust law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions.

During his term as Chairperson of the Competition Authority William was also a member of the board of the National Consumer Agency and the National Competitiveness Council. He also spent eight years on the Board of the Irish Fulbright Commission, four years as Deputy Chairperson.  Away from his public roles William is President of the Irish Czech and Slovak Society.