Dr Niloufar Omidi

Dr. Niloufar Omidi is the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Policy and Project Development Officer at the University of Limerick (UL). In this role, she developed and authored the UL Dignity & Respect Policy, reflected in the UL Dignity & Respect E-Learning program for staff, and is the principal author of the UL Race Equality Action Plan (2024–2027). 

She also serves as Chairperson of the Ethnic Diversity Forum (EDF) at UL, a sub-committee of the UL Human Rights–EDI Steering Committee reporting to the UL Executive Committee. The EDF promotes race equality and fosters inclusion, respect, and dignity for all, regardless of ethnic background.

At national level, Dr Omidi is a ministerial appointee to the Advisory Committee on Racism and Racial Equality which is dedicated to monitoring the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR), alongside the Special Rapporteur for Race Equality in Ireland. Moreover, She has been a lecturer and trainer for workshops and modules on “Race and Intersectional Equality Law” and “Equality Law in Practice” for HR professionals and staff in higher education and industry, promoting EDI understanding across professional settings.

Holding a Ph.D. in International Human Rights Law from the Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway, and an LLM in International Law, she specialises in the right to peace as a prerequisite for equitable, peaceful, and inclusive societies.

Formerly, Dr Omidi was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Galway, contributing to the Respect Project and Gender Pay Gap Project under the Office of the Vice President for EDI. As a legal consultant with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Network, she has contributed to various research projects on child protection, civic space for civil society, xenophobia, and anti-Muslim hatred in Ireland. She has also contributed to various civil society organisations by developing policy papers, reports, and booklets on on topics such as asylum seekers' rights, the rights of the Irish Traveller Community, the integration of resettled Syrian refugees, the rights of the Deaf Community, access to justice for racialised groups, and racism in Ireland. She also co-authored Ireland’s shadow report on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), in collaboration with the Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) Coalition. Additionally, she has worked on research projects analysing minority rights in Iran. Furthermore, Dr Omidi was a lecturer in 'Human Rights Law for Advocates and Activists', and supervised postgraduate dissertations at the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, University of Galway.