IT Services Staff Spotlight: Noelle Barry

12 Dec 2024

Noelle Barry works in IT Services Project Management Office (ITPMO) as the ITPMO Officer. Noelle is also a passionate volunteer for the Greyhound Rescue RIGHT.

Noelle, tell us about your career to date? I have over 25 years of experience in strategic and financial planning, as well as project and program management. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work in companies such as Compaq, Oracle, J&J, and Abtran, focusing primarily on IT and facilities projects and programs. In 2016, I joined UCC to establish the ITPMO and have not looked back since!

Can you give some insight into what the ITPMO Officer does? I am part of the IT Directorate team within IT Services. I manage the Strategic Planning, Finances, ITPMO and Governance (HR, H&S, Risk) for IT Services. I work closely with the IT Director, IT managers, HR, Finance and other units across UCC. It’s a busy and challenging role and no day is the same. Keeping on top of the pace of change is probably the key challenge in my role, but I thrive off this and the job is never boring.

What does UCC mean to you? I completed my B.SC in Accounting and the Executive MBA in UCC and loved my student experience, I can see how UCC can shape and change lives. My Dad received a bursary in the 1960’s to attend UCC and it changed his life. Not only was he on the panel of the famous 1963 UCC Hurling team that won UCC’s first county medal, but working in the dairy industry he had a long relationship with UCC via the Carbery Group and Dairygold. My one regret when I started working at UCC was he was not alive to see it.

In honour of my Dad, I started a bursary in 2021, donating annually via the Access Office to support disadvantaged students in the food science and business field. I also mentor with two groups: The CUBS Dean List and the 1916 Bursary programme for disadvantaged and underrepresented students. 

We love when Daphne joins you on Teams to say Hi.  Tell us about Daphne and your volunteer work with Greyhound Rescue RIGHT? Daphne is my greyhound, she’s 4 years old. She’s a cuddle monster, super affectionate and very lazy. After getting my first greyhound I fell in love with the quirky breed and started volunteering for Greyhound Rescue, RIGHT. I transport foster dogs to new homes, do home checks for foster and adoption candidates. I also create their annual calendar to sell and raise funds for them (you may have seen the email I send out annually). This year's calendar has sold out and I’ve raised €3,972 so far! I’m still accepting donations, so please do contact me if you would like to support RIGHT.  For more details about RIGHT and the work they do to help vulnerable greyhounds please go to www.adoptagreyhound.ie and please give them a follow on Instagram @right_rehomingirishgreyhounds

Image credit: Max Bell