Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) has announced the appointment of Accenture senior managing director Paula Neary as chairperson of the board. Neary, who has volunteered as a JAI director since 2019, brings extensive experience in business leadership, technology, inclusion and skills development, which comes as the organisation marks 30 years in Ireland.
Dublin, 30 September 2026 – Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) has announced the appointment of Accenture senior managing director Paula Neary as chairperson of the board.
Neary, who has volunteered as a JAI director since 2019, brings extensive experience in business leadership, technology, inclusion and skills development, which comes as the organisation marks 30 years in Ireland.
JAI aims to inspire young people to realise their potential by valuing their education and developing the skills and attitudes needed to shape their own future.
It delivers programmes on financial literacy, STEM, entrepreneurship and enterprise with support from 160 leading organisations.
More than 64,000 students in 600 schools around Ireland take part in JAI programmes annually.
Neary is expected to help guide JAI’s next phase of growth as it expands its national impact and supports more young people to build skills and confidence for the future.
Commenting on her appointment, Neary said: “I am enormously proud to take on the role of Chairperson of Junior Achievement Ireland as it marks 30 years of impact in Ireland.
"We are at an extraordinarily important moment for our society, as technology and AI reshape the world young people will inherit. We have a shared responsibility to nurture the next generation and ensure they have the skills and confidence to shape that future. At its core, the work of JAI is about opening up possibility. My ambition is to lead an engaged Board that ensures all the resources entrusted to the organisation widen access to opportunity so that, wherever a young person starts from, they can see the possibilities ahead of them and have the confidence to pursue them.”
Helen Raftery, CEO of Junior Achievement Ireland, added: “Paula’s commitment to inclusive education and her belief in the potential of every young person align strongly with JAI’s mission. She has been a highly valued contributor since joining our board in 2019, bringing considerable leadership experience and a strong commitment to creating opportunities for others. On behalf of the entire JAI team, I am delighted to welcome Paula as Chairperson. As we enter our next phase of growth, her leadership and experience will be invaluable as we work to expand our reach and create even greater opportunities for young people across Ireland.”
Since 1996, JAI has enabled more than 1.3 million students to benefit from its programmes and workshops.
