Francis O’Donnell

Ambassador Francis M. O’Donnell is a member of the Peace-making Reflection Group (of former UN system seniors, under the auspices of the Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability, Brussels); a Life Member of the Institute of International and European Affairs (Dublin); a director/trustee of the School of Civic Education (formerly the Moscow School of Political Studies, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, and affiliated with the Association of Schools of Political Science of Council of Europe); and frequent participant in global policy networks comprising primarily current/former Heads of State/Government (such as the InterAction Council, and the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre). He also serves as President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland and President of the Clan Association of the O’Donnells of Tyrconnell, both elected positions. He was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Slovakia from 2009 to 2013. He previously served as a United Nations official for 32 years, latterly as Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in Ukraine, from 2004 until 2009, and previously in similar capacity in Yugoslavia/Serbia-Montenegro, 2000-2004. The initiative to create an Irish-Arab Society was proposed by him in November 1968, and taken up by a group of Irish and Arab friends. It played a key advisory and facilitative role promoting Irish-Arab trade and cultural links. With its support Irish diplomatic relations were established with 12 states in the Middle East and North Africa between 1974 and 1976.