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Louise Allen

Director, Creative Futures Academy

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Bio

Louise has extensive leadership experience in the creative and cultural sector both nationally and internationally. As Director of the Creative Futures Academy, a pivotal initiative that will provide agile and responsive courses to up-skill Ireland’s cultural and creative sector, she leads a team that spans three Higher Education Institutes: The National College of Art & Design (NCAD), Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT) and University College Dublin (UCD).

Prior to this, as CEO (acting) and Head of Innovation and Research at the Design & Crafts Council Ireland, she was central to the strategic development of the design and craft sector. During her tenure as President of World Crafts Council Europe, she forged critical international partnerships, most notably with Atelier d’Art de France, the LOEWE Foundation and The Michelangelo Foundation where she was instrumental in the development of the Homo Faber biennale in Venice in 2018. During Irish Design 2015, as Head of the International Programme, she devised the strategy for the co-ordination and delivery of over 100 design-led events across 60 cities in 30 countries. She has curated numerous exhibitions including Liminal-Irish Design at the Threshold, The Global Irish Design Challenge and Second Skin.

Louise is a regular contributor to policies with national reach including: Ireland Design Ireland – Towards a National Design Policy; Plans for a National Design Centre as part of the Government's National Development Plan, 2040; Future Jobs Ireland and Ireland's Global Footprint.