Peter Cassells
Peter Cassells is the Chairperson of DHR Communications, where he plays a hands-on role in business development and is particularly active in the Company’s work on delivering consultation processes, crisis and change management services, and strategic advice to clients. He also currently acts as Chairperson for the award-winning consultation process at The Digital Hub.
Until its integration into the National Economic and Social Council in April 2010, Peter was Executive Chairperson of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP), which was established to promote workplace change and innovation through a partnership approach. He continues to serve as a member of the Board of NESDO (the National Economic and Social Development Office), which oversees the work of the National Economic and Social Council.
Peter has worked as an independent consultant and facilitator to a range of agencies, including Aer Rianta, An Post, ESB, RTÉ and Fáilte Ireland, on the implementation of change. He also acted as the Government-appointed mediator on the community / Shell dispute regarding the location of the Corrib gas pipeline. He chaired the Government’s foresight study on the creation of a ‘learning society’ and the Forum on the Workplace of the Future, and has also served as Chair of Forfás, the Government agency established to inform national policy on enterprise.
As General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for 12 years, Peter negotiated five National Partnership Agreements with government, employers, farmers and voluntary organisations. He represented Ireland on the Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation in Brussels, where he successfully lobbied the European Commission for improvements in structural funds.
Peter is a member of the Institute of European Affairs and the Council of the European Movement. He serves on a number of voluntary boards, and was recently appointed as the incoming Executive Director of the Kennedy Centre for Conflict Intervention at NUI Maynooth, which will be launched in 2011.
Contact: peter@dhr.ie.