About Us

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) shapes public policy across the island of Ireland so that everyone has a healthier life.

Through evidence, policy, and partnership, we work to make lives better for all, by improving health equity and reducing health inequalities in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

IPH supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 3, which focusses on good health and wellbeing.

This year the Institute marks 25 years of working towards healthier populations in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Institute was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement in 1998 to provide support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.

Partnership working is a key priority for IPH, which collaborates with local, national and global partners in the health community.

The Institute is jointly funded by the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Key Goals and Strategic Objectives

Our teams in Dublin and Belfast work across the following areas:

Research and Evidence Review

Partnership Working

Policy Analysis and Evaluation

Specialist Training and Public Communications

Take a look at our Strategic Objectives 2020-2025 to find out more

IPH Board

The Institute is governed by a Board of Directors. Professor Bernie Hannigan and Martin Higgins are Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board. Other Board members include Dr Marie Casey (Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE), Dr Paul Kavanagh (Specialist in Public Health Medicine, National Health Intelligence Unit, HSE) and Dr Deirdre Mulholland (Area Director of Public Health , Area A - Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Dublin North, HSE).

Bernie Hannigan

Chair, Board of Directors

Professor Bernie Hannigan took up her role as Chair of the Board of the Institute of Public Health on 1 January 2023. Between 2014 and 2021, Bernie served as Director of Research, Translation and Innovation for Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency) and prior to that as Director of R&D and Chief Scientific Adviser for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland (2008-2014),…

Martin Higgins

Deputy Chair, Board of Directors

Martin Higgins took up his role as Deputy Chair of the Board of the Institute of Public Health on 1 January 2023.Mr Higgins was Chief Executive of safefood, one of the cross border bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement, for 14 years until his retirement. Prior to that, he worked in the Department of Health for many years specialising in finance and later in public health regulation. He is…

Suzanne Costello

Chief Executive

Suzanne is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Public Health. She has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the Institute. With a background in senior management across a range of health and social issues, Suzanne joined the Institute as Chief Executive at the end of 2018. Prior to joining the Institute, Suzanne served at the CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland and…

IPH Team

With offices in Dublin and Belfast, our teams work across a wide range of disciplines, from research and evidence review, policy analysis and evaluation, to specialist training and communications.

Meet the IPH Team

Partnership Working

As a North South agency, partnership working on the island of Ireland is a priority for the Institute. We work with national and local government departments and continue to develop key partnerships with allied public health organisations across the island of Ireland, in the UK, EU and globally.