- Department
- Directorate-General for Environment
Micheál Ó Briain spent 30 years working in DG Environment on EU nature legislation and biodiversity policy, particularly on the establishment, management and financing of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.
Since retiring in 2021 he has continued to support nature conservation initiatives, including as member of the advisory committee for Ireland’s national nature restoration plan, as board member of the Irish partner of Birdlife International and as member of EUROPARCs’ advisory committee on protected area management effectiveness.
Micheál holds a PhD from University College Dublin for his studies of Brent Geese in Ireland and Canada. Based on Achill Island off the west coast of Ireland he continues to be actively involved there in helping the recovery of threatened bird species through the EU LIFEonMachair project.