The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Paul Kavanagh as Chair Designate of the NCRI Board.

Dr Kavanagh was appointed as a member of the NCRI Board in July 2025 and brings a wealth of experience in public health, health intelligence, healthcare governance, and population health to the role.

A medical doctor and registered specialist in Public Health Medicine, Dr Kavanagh graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1997 and holds postgraduate qualifications in Community Health, Health Economics, Medical Education, Healthcare Leadership, and Data Science.

Throughout his career, Dr Kavanagh has worked across a wide range of health system settings, leading strategic initiatives that strengthen healthcare governance, support evidence-based decision making, maintain public trust in healthcare services, and improve population health outcomes.

He currently serves as Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the National Health Intelligence Unit, where he provides epidemiological advice and public health expertise to support health information system design, national health service reform, population profiling, and health service planning and evaluation.

Dr Kavanagh has a particular interest in tobacco control and has advised both the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme and the World Health Organization on smoking cessation services. He also serves as Chair of the Clinical Advisory Group on Smoking and E-Cigarettes at the Royal College of Physicians.

His previous public service contributions include membership of the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee and the National Screening Advisory Committee, where he provided expert public health advice on national health policy.

In addition to his clinical and policy work, Dr Kavanagh is actively involved in academic and professional education. He is Senior Honorary Lecturer in Epidemiology and Public Health at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Adjunct Associate Professor at the Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin. He is also a member of the Board of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine and the Institute of Public Health in Ireland.

Welcoming the appointment, NCRI Board Secretary Ms Catherine McGovern said:

"We are delighted to welcome Paul as Chair Designate of the NCRI Board. His extensive expertise in public health, epidemiology, health intelligence and healthcare leadership will be a tremendous asset to the Registry as we continue to provide high-quality cancer data and evidence to support cancer control, research and policy development in Ireland."

Dr Kavanagh's appointment comes at an important time for the NCRI as it continues to develop and strengthen Ireland's national cancer surveillance infrastructure, supporting healthcare planning, service improvement, research and better outcomes for people affected by cancer.

The NCRI looks forward to working closely with Dr Kavanagh in his new role and wishes him every success as Chair Designate of the Board.