Grainne Power Appointed as New Chief Executive of HPRA

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of Ireland has announced the appointment of Grainne Power as its new Chief Executive, effective from January 1, 2024. Power, who currently serves as the Director of Compliance at the HPRA, will succeed Dr. Lorraine Nolan, whose tenure concludes at the end of this year.

Power brings more than 20 years of experience in regulatory affairs and leadership within the health products sector. In her current role, she oversees a wide array of activities, including licensing, inspection, market surveillance, and enforcement related to medicinal products, controlled substances, and cosmetics. Previously, she held the position of Director of Human Products Authorisation and Registration, where she managed the assessment of authorisation applications for medicines and clinical trials.

Leadership and Strategic Vision

A spokeswoman for the HPRA highlighted that Power’s leadership will be crucial in advancing the agency’s mission to protect and enhance human and animal health through effective regulation of health products. “Her leadership will also steer the organisation’s strategic ambitions, beginning with the imminent launch of its new 2026–2028 corporate strategy,” the spokeswoman stated.

Prof. Michael Donnelly, Chairman of the HPRA, expressed his support for Power’s appointment. He stated, “The Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Grainne Power as Chief Executive of the HPRA. On behalf of the Authority, I extend our sincere congratulations and a warm welcome to Grainne as she assumes this pivotal leadership role.” He emphasized the significance of her appointment at a critical time for the organization and expressed optimism about collaborating to build on the HPRA’s strong foundation.

Experience and Qualifications

Power’s extensive background spans both public and private sectors, having joined the HPRA in 2018. Before her current role, she held senior quality assurance positions in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, where she was responsible for implementing systems to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Her expertise also includes quality-related roles in the veterinary medicines and medical devices sectors.

She holds a degree in Biotechnology from Dublin City University and has postgraduate diplomas from both University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. This educational background, combined with her regulatory experience, positions Power to lead the HPRA effectively as it navigates the evolving landscape of health product regulation.

As the HPRA prepares for this leadership transition, stakeholders within the health sector will closely monitor the implementation of the new corporate strategy and the impact of Power’s leadership on the organization’s mission and objectives.