UCC Technical Officer becomes first Herschel Leader from an Irish institution.

7 Nov 2025

Dr Sally O’Hanlon, Technical Officer for Physical Chemistry in UCC's School of Chemistry, has completed the prestigious 2025 Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership.

Sally was the only participant from University College Cork and, significantly, the first delegate from any Irish higher education institution to do so. The six-month leadership development programme tailored specifically for women in technical roles across universities and research institutes concluded with a celebration event in Birmingham in late June. 

Run by the Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy, the Herschel Programme was created to address a well-documented gap, as only around a third of technical leadership roles are currently held by women. Unlike broadly focused management courses, the Herschel Programme is purpose built for women in technical careers, recognising the unique leadership demands of these roles, which include overseeing teaching laboratories, ensuring compliance and safety, training and supporting students, and advancing best practice in technical education and research.

Through structured leadership development, action learning, and sector specific mentoring, the programme equips participants with practical skills that translate directly to the laboratories, facilities, and technical platforms that enable world class research and teaching. By centring the realities of technical work, it empowers participants to amplify their impact within their Schools and across the wider university.

In 2025, 205 technicians from 84 higher education and research institutions completed the programme. Dr Sally O’Hanlon was the first and only delegate from an Irish institution, an achievement that shines a spotlight on the vital contribution of technical professionals to UCC’s research and education mission, and marks an important milestone for both the School of Chemistry and UCC’s broader EDI ambitions in STEM.

Speaking after the event, Dr Sally O'Hanlon said, “It was incredibly inspiring to be in a room of more than 200 women working in highly technical fields, each contributing to innovation and excellence in their fields. Being the first participant from an Irish institution this year was a real honour, and I’m proud to represent UCC and highlight the important role of technical professionals in higher education.”

Professor Anita Maguire, Head of School, said, “We are very proud that Sally successfully participated in this initiative, reflecting her commitment to developing her technical leadership skills and bringing back new ideas and innovations to benefit our students in UCC’s School of Chemistry. Technical officers in our School play a critically important role in ensuring students have a very positive learning experience in our laboratories. Being the first Irish participant in the Herschel programme is a tremendous achievement – well done Sally!”

The School warmly congratulates our colleague on this milestone and looks forward to the leadership, collaboration and advocacy that will flow from it, benefiting our students, our research community, and UCC’s broader commitment to excellence and inclusion.