Niall O Brolchain

Niall Ó Brolcháin has extensive experience in Horizon projects. He is the Unit leader of the ASPECT Research Unit at the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, based at the Data Science Institute in the University of Galway. He has spent over 10 years in research having previously worked in the eGov and IoT units. This follows on from 20 years work in Industry in the ICT sector, 10 years work in Government including as an elected representative (Mayor of Galway City and a Senator in the Irish Parliament). He also has many years of contribution in the Community sector.

Niall founded and secured funding for the ASPECT Unit at the Data Science Institute in March 2023. ASPECT stands for Analytics for Sustainable Policy towards Environmental and Climate Transition. Previously his research work was in the areas of Smart Cities and Regions, Data Stories, Smart Healthcare, Co-Creation and Open & Big Data. Niall has successfully led Horizon and other research applications receiving over €5million in funding for the University of Galway. His funding includes the following projects, EU Horizon Europe Palus Demos €1.57m (Co-ordinator), EU H2020 Your Data Stories Extension €35k, EU Interreg NWE Care Peat €1m, EPA Sheer €175k, EU Interreg NWE STEPS €500k, EU Life Multi-Peat €1.1m, EU Horizon Green Deal Waterlands €450k, DPER Open Data Initiative €30k, EU Horizon Europe wildE €250k, EU Interreg NWE ResNRJwater €400k, Others €50k.

Before his research career Niall had over 20 years cutting edge experience in the ICT industry in software management, analysis, research, development and consultancy. He appraised and carried out an analysis of an early version of MS-DOS. He was the author of Ireland’s first commercial video game, Hitman published by Chymesoft in 1983. He was a pioneer of internet and email technologies. He graduated from the North East Surrey College of Technology in London and went on to become an ICT and business consultant, analyst, project manager and team leader specialising initially in healthcare and then in the dairy sector, managing various teams of up to 40+ people.

He has over 10 years’ experience at the highest levels of Government at local and national levels. Becoming Mayor of Galway City in 2006 and getting elected on the agricultural panel to Seanad Eireann in 2009. Niall was deputy Government whip in the Seanad and spokesperson on Transport, Energy and Communications, Education and Healthcare. He also worked for 2 years as Green Party parliamentary secretary.

He originally graduated in Business and Computer studies and also has a postgraduate diploma in Digital Media, Project Management and Marketing from the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Since 2014, Niall has been working as a Research Associate with the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at the University of Galway.

 Niall is an adjunct lecturer at the University. He is on the board of the multi-disciplinary Masters in Public Policy (SP6126). He has lectured on this course since it’s inception. He has also worked on the following courses as a lecturer; (CT1100) Computer Systems, (MK3105) Marketing Analytics, (MS810) Information Security Systems and Ethics.

 Niall’s specialist area of research is in Evidence Based Policy Development using Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence to provide decision supports in policy making and analysis in the area of sustainability with a strong focus on Wetland restoration and other areas of sustainability. To date Niall is author/co-author of more than 30 reports and peer reviewed scientific publications attracting over 400 citations. Niall has also been invited to make presentations at over 200 conferences, seminars, workshops, and other events during his time with Insight.

He has provided policy advice to Government in a number of European Countries and to the European Commission. Niall is chair of the European Peatland Policy Working Group set up by DG Environment and is directly involved with the UN Global Peatland Initiative. He also initiated the application of the University as an observer to the UNFCCC. He represented the University at COP26 in Glasgow and made a number of presentations at that event. He works closely with governance institutes at various levels including the UNEP at a global level, DG ENV, DG AGRI and DG CLIMA at an EU level, DECC, NPWS and DAFM at a national level,  the NWRA at a regional level and GCC at a local level.