HPRA Leadership Team

Dr Lorraine Nolan, Chief Executive 

Lorraine Nolan is a chemist having completed her Ph.D. and post-doctoral research at Trinity College Dublin in transdermal drug delivery. She worked for a number of years in private industry in the area of enhancing and developing drug delivery systems, and also within the state forensic science services.

Ms Nolan joined the HPRA in 2001 and since that time has held a number of different roles at senior level within the organisation across a range of areas including inspection and authorisation of human medicines, medical devices, cosmetics and controlled substances. Prior to assuming the role of Chief Executive she was Director of Human Products Authorisation & Registration. Ms Nolan is a member of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency. 

Rita Purcell, Deputy Chief Executive

Rita Purcell joined the Irish Medicines Board in 1996 heading up the Finance and Corporate Affairs Department. Her responsibilities include finance, legal, corporate policy, property, secretariat and international affairs. Ms Purcell also sits as an “alternative” member in the EMA management board and was a member of the council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland from 2008 to 2015. Ms Purcell read law at University College Dublin and qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. She worked in a number of different industries before joining the Irish Medicines Board. 

Dr J.G. Beechinor, Director of Veterinary Sciences 

Gabriel Beechinor M.V.B., M.V.M, MSc., PhD., C.Dip.A.F., M.R.C.V.S qualified as a veterinary surgeon having attained both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Veterinary Medicine from University College, Dublin. Following several years in practice, he joined the regulatory authority and having served as a Veterinary Assessor for 12 years, was appointed head of department with responsibility for marketing authorisations of veterinary medicinal products in 1999. Dr Beechinor is a member of the Poisons Council and is alternate member of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) of the European Medicines Agency having previously served as a CVMP member for 13 years. Dr Beechinor achieved a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2001 as well as a distinction in his Master’s of Science degree in Executive Leadership from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland in 2010.

Ms Sinead Curran, Director of Human Products Monitoring

Sinead Curran holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree from the National University of Ireland Galway and a Master Science in Pharmaceutical Medicine from Trinity College Dublin. She has worked in medicines regulation for over 17 years, in the areas of clinical development and pharmacovigilance, and has held positions in academic research and pharmaceutical organisations. Ms Curran has worked with the HPRA for over 10 years, most recently in the post of GCP/pharmacovigilance inspection manager. She assumed the post of Director of HPM in January 2020, having held the post in an interim capacity from September 2019. Sinead has acted as the Irish delegate to the EMA’s GCP and PV inspectors working group, as well as its bioequivalence sub group, and has extensive experience in the areas of pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring operations.

Mr Sean d'Art, Director of ICT and Business Services

Sean d’Art joined the HPRA in 2021 to lead the ICT and Business Services Department. His responsibilities include the provision of best-in-class information technology capabilities to the organisation, and the management, operation and development of the HPRA’s information systems and technology assets. He has held a range of senior roles across a spectrum of industries and organisations in Ireland and abroad. Mr d’Art is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (UK) and holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Engineering from Trinity College, Dublin, and a Masters of Business Administration from Cranfield University.

Dr Finnuala Lonsdale, Director of Human Products Authorisation and Registration
Finnuala Lonsdale joined the HPRA in 2022 to lead the Human Products Authorisation and Registration Department. Finnuala qualified as a medical doctor in 1991 and holds medical specialisations in clinical pharmacology and pharmaceutical medicine. Finnuala has worked across three continents in clinical practice, healthcare administration, pharmaceutical medicine and regulation. She spent 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry with a primary focus on clinical pharmacology, early clinical development, strategic change and alliance management. Most recently she has been the Change Lead and Head of Policy, Strategy and Relationship Management for the Animals in Science Regulation Unit in the United Kingdom.  

Dr Niall MacAleenan, Director of Medical Devices

Niall MacAleenan qualified as a medical doctor at Trinity College Dublin. Niall worked in a variety of clinical and research roles across the Irish health care system. He also attained a business degree from University College Dublin.

Niall joined the HPRA in 2005 as a medical assessor for medical devices. Since that time he has held a variety of different roles at senior level within the organisation both in the area of medical devices and human medicines. In 2018, he was appointed as head of the newly established medical devices department that has responsibility for the HPRA’s market regulatory, surveillance and notified body oversight activities. Niall is a member of the EU’s Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) and the Executive Group of the Competent Authorities for Medical Devices (CAMD) network. At international level, Niall is a member of the Management Committee of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF).

Grainne Power, Director of Compliance

Elizabeth Stuart, Director of Human Resources and Change