Mr. David Denieffe
Chief Operations Officer (COO) of South East Technological University (SETU)
A former officer with the Irish Defence Forces, Mr Denieffe has held key responsibilities in leadership and management in Ireland and Lebanon, while also leading the development of the Defence Forces’ first telecommunications network. Following his military service, he embarked on a distinguished academic career of over 25 years, holding senior leadership roles in higher education, including as Vice President at SETU.
An engineer by profession, David studied Electronic Engineering at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), before completing a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering at Dublin City University (DCU). He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland. Over the past 25 years, he has become a respected academic leader, publishing more than 40 technical papers and taking on senior positions that have seen him lead on global strategic partnerships, champion change management, and improve the student experience at SETU.
Outside of his professional life, David is a committed volunteer and sports leader. He serves as Chairperson of the Governance Committee of Athletics Ireland and Chairperson of the National Planning and Training Committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). He is recognised as an expert in club development, governance, and planning within Irish sport.