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Our Speakers

We have an exciting line-up of speakers and panellists confirmed for the Conference session. Find out more about each of them below.

Senator Tom Clonan (Independent Trinity Senator)

Keynote address

Senator Tom Clonan is a dedicated advocate for equality, disability rights, and Irish neutrality. A former army captain, journalist, and lecturer, he has spent his life championing dignity and justice, from peacekeeping missions in the Middle East to exposing systemic issues within the Irish Defence Forces.

Born in Finglas, Dublin, Tom graduated with an Honours Degree in Education from Trinity College Dublin in 1987, the first in his family to attend university. He served in the Irish Army from 1989, commanding troops in UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Bosnia. These experiences shaped his unwavering commitment to peace and neutrality. Tom’s groundbreaking PhD at DCU exposed discrimination and harassment against women in the Irish Defence Forces, prompting an independent inquiry and policy reforms. He later became a respected security analyst for The Irish Times and The Journal.ie, focusing on global conflicts and ethics.

Elected to Seanad Éireann in 2022, Tom continues to advocate for social justice, informed by his personal experience as a carer for his son, Eoghan, who has a neuromuscular condition. His work reflects a lifelong dedication to creating a fairer, more inclusive society.

Abby Stoddard (Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes)

Aid Under Fire: Reflections on the deadliest year for aid workers

Abby Stoddard is a founding partner of Humanitarian Outcomes, an independent research group providing analysis and policy advice on international humanitarian action, and the creator of the Aid Worker Security Database. For the past two decades, she has led or contributed to several seminal studies and publications on humanitarian operational security and access in high-risk environments. Prior to Humanitarian Outcomes, she held positions at CARE and Médecins du Monde-USA and was a non-resident fellow at New York University's Center on International Cooperation. Her most recent book is Necessary Risks: Professional Humanitarianism and Violence Against Aid Workers. 

Find out more

Head to the Conference webpage for more information on the event.

Global Security Risk and Policy Conference