Avril Hutch
Biography
Dr Avril Hutch joined UCC as Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2021. Avril has over fifteen years’ experience working in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI). Prior to joining UCC, she established and led the EDI Unit at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she developed and successfully implemented the RCSI EDI Strategic Plan 2018-22, including landmark initiatives such as Women on Walls and the development of the first Race Equality Action Plan in an Irish university. Avril previously managed human rights and equality programmes on behalf of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and UNICEF. She spent seven years leading Irish Aid and United Nations (UN) funded capacity development programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. Avril holds a PhD in History and was awarded the UCC Boston College and Washington College scholarships, as well as IHREC and International Committee of the Red Cross bursaries. Avril has also completed a postgraduate diploma in human rights and equality, a diploma in humanitarian law, and a certificate in visual art practice. Avril served as Chair of the Athena SWAN National Committee 2020-21, is a member of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) National Committee for EDI and is a Director of the Cork International Film Festival and Women on Air.