Dearbhail McDonald is an award winning Irish journalist, author, broadcaster and motivational speaker. A global Eisenhower Fellow, the former Group Business Editor of Independent News And Media is a recipient of the Mary Cummins Award for Women of Outstanding Achievement in Media. A director and trustee of the St Stephen’s Green Trust, the Newry native is a member of the board of Fighting Words, Ireland’s national creative writing centre for children and young adults and serves on the strategy committee of the Centre Cultuerel Irlandais in Paris. Dearbhail has also served on the External Advisory Board of Maynooth University Department of Law. Dearbhail received an inaugural Dublin City University Special Alumni Achievement award for her contribution to public affairs journalism and is an Irish Tatler Media Woman of the Year. Dearbhail holds an LL.B (Law) from Trinity College Dublin as well as a Masters Degree in Journalism from Dublin City University.