Award winning Author, Psychologist, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Science at Maynooth University, Expert in Educational Equality and Digital Inclusion
Katriona O’Sullivan, Professor
Award winning Author, Psychologist, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Science at Maynooth University, Expert in Educational Equality and Digital Inclusion
Why book Katriona O’Sullivan, Professor?
- Professor Katriona O’Sullivan is the #1 bestselling author of Poor , winner of Easons Irish Book of the Year
- She has spoken at the World Education Forum , UN Gender Equality Workshop , and the European Gender Action Workshop
- Katriona is the Principal Investigator on the STEM Passport for Inclusion , tackling gender inequality in STEM education
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Biography
Professor Katriona O’Sullivan is an Associate Professor at Maynooth University, a Psychologist, and the author of Poor. Her bestselling memoir received wide acclaim, debuting at #1 on the Irish Non-Fiction list and winning Eason’s Irish Book of the Year and Post Biography of the Year. The book highlights the deep impact of childhood poverty and why we must invest in our children’s futures.
She grew up in a home affected by heroin addiction, poverty, and instability. As one of five children, her life included teenage pregnancy and homelessness.
However, Katriona went on to earn a PhD from Trinity College Dublin , showing the power of resilience and education. ‘POOR’ is a powerful call to action for educational inclusion and social equity. Katriona shares real stories to explain why children need support, hope, and opportunity.
Her work resonates with educators, policymakers, and community leaders working to remove systemic barriers. At Maynooth University, Katriona is a Senior Lecturer in the Assisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, Department of Psychology. She leads the STEM Passport for Inclusion , a national initiative tackling gender inequality in STEM education.
Her work recently featured on the RTÉ Change-makers series, highlighting her impact on digital access and inclusion. Katriona has received major grants from the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland to address digital inequality in schools. She also led Turn to Teaching , the largest HEA PATH-funded programme focused on diversifying the teacher education system in Ireland. Through these initiatives, she ensures that underserved communities have better access to higher education and teaching careers.
Katriona regularly speaks at major international forums. She has presented at the World Education Forum, the European Gender Action Workshop on Women and Digitalisation, and the UN Gender Equality Workshop. In Ireland, she works with national policymakers to improve inclusive education policies. Her voice is shaping how systems can better serve all learners.
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Topics
Katriona’s talks can focus and develop on the following themes:
Related Speakers
Gender equality
Social Class
STEM inclusion
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Working Class Women and How To Empower
Resilience
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Masterclasses
Related Speakers
You may want to go deeper with your audience. Masterclasses can be tailored and developed to suit your audience needs, be it a 90-minute Masterclass , a half-day or full-day workshop or a full online or face-to-face programme. Please contact one of our expert team to discuss.
Katriona can provide masterclasses in equality diversity and inclusion, as she can provide unrivalled insights as an individual who has come from a working-class background, who has then researched and published in this area, and contributed to national policy.
Topics include micro-aggressions, ableism, intersectionality, power dynamics and anti-racism.
These workshops can be delivered as 2 hour or Half Day masterclasses.
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Videos
Katriona O'Sullivan - UN Speech
Katriona O'Sullivan - The Late Late Show
Katriona O'Sullivan - 2023 An Post Book of the Year Awards
Testimonials
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Enquire about today!
Enquire about Katriona O’Sullivan, Professor today!
Professor Katriona O’Sullivan
Award winning Author, Psychologist, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Science at Maynooth University, Expert in Educational Equality and Digital Inclusion
why book katriona?
Professor Katriona O’Sullivan is the #1 bestselling author of Poor, winner of Easons Irish Book of the Year
- She has spoken at the World Education Forum, UN Gender Equality Workshop, and the European Gender Action Workshop
- Katriona is the Principal Investigator on the STEM Passport for Inclusion, tackling gender inequality in STEM education
“She was really moving and inspiring. Katriona’s words were so powerful in highlighting the power that educators have to make a difference. It was an amazing presentation: I laughed, cried and listened with interest. Every educator should hear this!”
Biography
Professor Katriona O’Sullivan is an Associate Professor at Maynooth University, a Psychologist, and the author of Poor.
Her bestselling memoir debuted at #1 on the Irish Non-Fiction list. The book highlights the deep impact of childhood poverty and why we must invest in our children’s futures.
She grew up in a home affected by heroin addiction, poverty, and instability. As one of five children, her life included teenage pregnancy and homelessness.
However, Katriona went on to earn a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, showing the power of resilience and education.
Her book, Poor, received wide acclaim, winning Easons Irish Book of the Year and Post Biography of the Year.
The memoir is a powerful call to action for educational inclusion and social equity. Katriona shares real stories to explain why children need support, hope, and opportunity.
Her work resonates with educators, policymakers, and community leaders working to remove systemic barriers.
At Maynooth University, Katriona is a Senior Lecturer in the Assisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, Department of Psychology.
She leads the STEM Passport for Inclusion, a national initiative tackling gender inequality in STEM education.
Her work recently featured on the RTÉ Changemakers series, highlighting her impact on digital access and inclusion.
Katriona has received major grants from the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland to address digital inequality in schools.
She also led Turn to Teaching, the largest HEA PATH-funded programme focused on diversifying the teacher education system in Ireland.
Through these initiatives, she ensures that underserved communities have better access to higher education and teaching careers.
Katriona regularly speaks at major international forums. She has presented at the World Education Forum, the European Gender Action Workshop on Women and Digitalisation, and the UN Gender Equality Workshop.
In Ireland, she works with national policymakers to improve inclusive education policies. Her voice is shaping how systems can better serve all learners.
Topics
Katriona’s talks are focused on her story and journey from growing up in poverty, mother at 15 and homeless, to then becoming an award winning lecturer and writer.
Her talks can focus and develop on the following themes:
Gender equality
Social Class
STEM inclusion
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Working Class Women and How To Empower
Resilience
Resilience:
Turning Adversity into Opportunity
In this powerful and deeply personal talk, Professor Katriona O’Sullivan explores what resilience truly means and how it is shaped by opportunity, support and belief from others. Drawing on her own journey from childhood poverty and homelessness as a teenager with a young child to becoming a professor at Maynooth University, Katriona challenges the common myth of the “self-made” success story.
Blending lived experience with her academic work in psychology, she reflects on the pivotal people and moments that changed the trajectory of her life and the role that education and mentorship played in unlocking her potential. Her message encourages audiences to reconsider how resilience develops and how small interventions can have life-changing consequences.
The talk leaves audiences inspired and reflective, while also offering a powerful reminder of the responsibility organisations and individuals have to create opportunities where talent can flourish.
Empowering Women to Step Into Their Potential
In this insightful and energising talk, Professor Katriona O’Sullivan explores why so many capable women underestimate their potential and what can be done to change this. Drawing on her research in psychology as well as her own remarkable personal journey, she examines the societal expectations, internal narratives and structural barriers that can limit women’s confidence and ambition.
Katriona speaks candidly about the importance of opportunity, mentorship and belief in helping women step forward into leadership and influence. She highlights the role organisations must play in creating environments where talent can thrive and where diverse voices are encouraged and suported.
With warmth, honesty and humour, Katriona leaves audiences with a renewed belief in what is possible — and a powerful reminder that empowering women is not only the right thing to do, it is essential for building stronger organisations and a more equitable society.
Katriona O’Sullivan, Professor
Masterclasses
You may want to go deeper with your audience. Masterclasses can be tailored and developed to suit your audience needs, be it a 90-minute Masterclass, a half-day or full-day workshop or a full online or face-to-face programme. Please contact one of our expert team to discuss.
Katriona can provide masterclasses in equality diversity and inclusion, as she can provide unrivalled insights as an individual who has come from a working-class background, who has then researched and published in this area, and contributed to national policy.
Topics include microaggressions, ableism, intersectionality, power dynamics and anti-racism.
These workshops can be delivered as 2 hour or Half Day masterclasses
Resources
Books
“Katriona is a wonderful storyteller and a persuasive advocate for all underserved learners who require teachers and school leaders to do more and better for them”
testimonials
“Welcoming Katriona O’Sullivan to SMBC Aviation Capital for International Women’s Day was a privilege She was such an inspiring presence at our event. Her powerful story and her message about the importance of opportunity, equity, and education resonated strongly with our team. The message that opportunity can change the trajectory of a life — challenged us to think differently about inclusion and to recognise the responsibility we all share in creating it. Her reflections on resilience, education, and equity sparked conversations that will stay with us long after the event.
Her authenticity and insight sparked meaningful conversations and reminded us that progress is built through support, mentorship, and shared ambition. We are grateful for the lasting impact she made on our organisation.”
Dara O’Sullivan, VP Communications, SMBC Aviation Capital
“The event was a huge success, and we were all thrilled with it. Katriona was an absolute force—we all loved her! I have no doubt our clients and network found her insights incredibly valuable.”
Siobhan O’Shea, Head of Business Success EMEA, Indeed
“When Katriona speaks to education leaders of the struggles she experienced at school, her messages are raw, authentic and painful but also uplifting, inspirational and vital. Katriona is a wonderful storyteller and a persuasive advocate for all underserved learners who require teachers and school leaders to do more and better for them. When we were fortunate to secure her as a keynote speaker at the HFL Education’s Better Serving Underserved Learners conference, delegate feedback was that Katriona O’Sullivan was phenomenal – she was really moving and inspiring. Katriona’s words were so powerful in highlighting the power that educators have to make a difference. It was an amazing presentation: I laughed, cried and listened with interest. Every educator should hear this!”
Rachel Macfarlane, Lead Advisor, HFL Education
“Prof O’Sullivan was an incredible speaker. She really spoke to the power of the individual but also to the support needed to succeed. Found her really moving. ”
“We loved her authenticity – she was a breath of fresh air!”
Allianz
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Award winning Author, Psychologist, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Science at Maynooth University, Expert in Educational Equality and Digital Inclusion
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