Yvonne Shields has 19 years’ experience working in the marine sector. She is Chief Executive of the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL). CIL is a statutory body responsible for navigation services around the island of Ireland, adjacent seas and islands under the Solas Convention (for Safety of Life at Sea). It operates in partnership with Trinity House (England) and the Northern Lighthouse Board (Scotland and the Isle of Man) and is funded by a combination of shipping industry levy, government funds and commercial income. Prior to this, Yvonne worked for the Marine Institute and held three key roles over a 16 years period, Director of Strategic Planning, Director of Science & Technology and programme Manager for Marine Tourism and Leisure. Yvonne was responsible for developing and implementing across government national marine strategy (Sea Change – A Marine Research & Development Strategy for Ireland 2007-2013, Smart Ocean Strategy 2010, Ocean Energy Strategy 2006, Tourism and Leisure Strategy 2007-2013) influencing EU marine policy development, securing EU and national funds, managing national marine budgets and overseeing the operation of marine R&D infrastructure and facilities. On a day to day basis she had functional responsibility for IT and Information Services, Ocean Energy Programme and Offshore Test Sites, Marine Biotechnology, EU Desk, International Programmes, Industry Liaison and the National Seabed Survey. Yvonne has led numerous national stakeholder consultation processes on multiple marine topics. From 1992 – 1996, Yvonne worked as manager of AquaTT, transnational Network promoting aquaculture training and technology transfer. Yvonne has a background in science (MSc Environmental Science) and business (MBA). She is a member of the world council of IALA, a Director of Smartbay, a past a board member of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) and the Irish Energy Research Council and has held various other national and international roles.