Michelle Shannon recently retired as director (assistant secretary level), in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

She was a very senior civil servant who has extensive experience leading and driving reform in youth justice services, developing policy and legislation in the area of adoption, the effective administration of youth service funding, and the reform of youth funding programmes.

She also had senior responsibility for supporting the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, and for ensuring that the voice of children and young people is heard in decision making.

During her career, she has overseen the capital development of the Oberstown Children Detention Campus and oversight of the governance arrangements and humane reforms to policies and practices in relation to young people in detention. 

Michelle’s leadership in the area of youth justice policy has contributed significantly to key reforms and policy impacts.