John Fitzgibbons is the Director of Further Education and Training, Cork Education and Training Board, Ireland. Originally from Mayo, John commenced his teaching career in with County Cork VEC at Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig in 1987. In 1997 John was appointed Deputy Principal at Glanmire Community College, a greenfield school in one of Cork City’s fastest growing suburbs.
n 1999 he was appointed Principal of the college, a role he held until 2006 when he moved from County Cork VEC to become Education Officer with the City of Cork VEC. In 2013, with the creation of the Education and Training Boards, he became Education Officer for Cork Education and Training Board until 2016, when, with the creation of a new management structure, he took on the role of Director for Further Education and Training, overseeing all the ETB’s activities, including the training function that was transferred from SOLAS in 2014.
He has also served as Acting Chief Executive of Cork Education and Training Board. In his career to date, as well as his direct responsibilities and roles, John has been involved at a senior level with the National council for Curriculum and assessment (NCCA) in curriculum design and implementation, with the Department of Education and Skills, SOLAS and Qualifications and Quality Ireland (QQI) in developing and implementing policy and structures to support the sector. He previously served as Vice Chair for the Regional Skills Forum in the South West and is currently a member of the Governing Body of UCC, chairing the Student Experience Committee.