Valerie O’Sullivan

Valerie is currently Chief Executive of Cork County Council, the second largest local authority in Ireland with over 2,700 staff serving a population of over 360,000, a position Valerie hopes to retain when the role is advertised later this year. Prior to taking up the position of Chief Executive, Valerie was Divisional Manager for South Cork with responsibility for the Cork Metropolitan Area.  This role spanned from Youghal in the east to Ballingeary in the west, including Cork Harbour, the Municipal Districts of Carrigaline, Macroom, Cobh and East Cork, together with overall responsibility for Cork County Council’s Directorates of Municipal District Operations and Rural Development, Planning and Development, and Roads and Transportation, on a countywide basis. Prior to rejoining Cork County Council in 2020, Valerie had spent 12 years with Cork City Council as Director of Service across a range of Departments including Housing, Corporate Affairs, Emergency Services and Operations.  Valerie previously worked in both Housing and Planning with Cork County Council and was also a Business Manager of Acute Services with the Health Service Executive South. Prior to taking up her role as Divisional Manger for South Cork, Valerie completed an Executive MBA with University College Cork, achieving first class honours, evidence of a lifelong love of learning and indeed of UCC. As Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie is looking forward with confidence to the future development of the county, in which Cork County Council will play a key leadership role, as she believes Cork’s potential is second to none in Ireland, as is the staff of the Council, who she is very proud to work alongside.