Dr Sean Baker, a co-founder of IONA Technologies plc, has been appointed chairman of the Governance Committee of Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre.

In 2013 Dr Baker was named as the Irish Software Association’s ‘Person of the Year’ in recognition of his contribution to the software industry. He replaces Mr Eoin O’Driscoll who has been appointed chairman of the Tyndall National Institute.

The Lero Governance Committee works with Lero management to ensure that the centre operates in lines with its strategy and the expectations of SFI (Science Foundation Ireland).

“I’m looking forward to working with Lero as it has a central role to play in building Ireland’s reputation as the European centre for software research and development,” commented Dr Baker.

“Sean is one of the great pioneers of the Irish software industry. It’s a coup for Lero that he was able to commit to leading our Governance Committee,” added Prof Mike Hinchey, director, Lero (www.lero.ie). “It’s important too that we place on record our appreciation of the great contribution of his predecessor Eoin O’Driscoll.”

Entrepreneur Dr Sean Baker is chairman of Incaplex, a healthcare IT start-up, and a director of Calom Technologies. He also chairs NDRC, an early stage investor in innovation, and chaired the Irish Software Association from 2009-11.  He is an Adjunct Professor at the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin.