IABS - Key Persons
Dr David Nyaluke is UCD-Proudly Made in Africa Fellow in Business and Sustainable Development in Africa. Dr Nyaluke holds a PhD from Dublin City University (DCU). His doctoral thesis investigated trajectories of political and development transformation of African states from independence into the 21st Century. David was a Teaching Fellow for International Development at Kimmage Development Studies Centre and Maynooth University, focusing on the role of business, NGOs and state in development and on Africa and the international system. With a research focus on development in African states, he has presented at several conferences, including the 2014 Cape town special symposium to mark 20 years of South Africa's end of apartheid and return to democracy. David is published in many journals and contributes regular reviews on African political and development issues. His most recent Routledge co-publication is the 2019- Challenging Perceptions of Africa in Schools:Critical Approaches to Global Justice Education
Biography
Dr John Wilkins identifies as U.S.-Black and Gay. He was born in North Carolina, and grew up in Connecticut. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Cryptologist (Russian Language) from 1983-1987. Dr. Wilkins earned his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster Pennsylvania; and he earned his MA in English Literature from the L'Université de Montréal, Canada. His thesis dealt with "Goddess Imagery in the Novels of Toni Morrison". Dr. Wilkins has recently earned his doctorate from Trinity College Dublin's School of English where he interrogated representations of "Black Gay Male Identity in the African Diaspora". Dr. Wilkins has taught on undergraduate and graduate course modules inckuding; The American Genre, Modernism, Post-Colonialism, and Romanticism in Trinity College's School of English; Sociology Department on "Black African Voices in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade"; UCD's School of Social Justice on "Black Male Identity"; UCD's Sociology Department on "Black Activism and Movements in the Black Atlantic"; Dr. Wilkins was a Moderator on Trinity College Dublin's "Black Identity in the Americas" Conference; presented at "Sibéil's Feminist and Gender Network Studies Conference on "Black Gay Male Identity in the African Diaspora"; and also the African Scholars Association Ireland (AFSAI) Conference on "The Black Body and White Memory". His research interests are the intersections of gender, race, and National identity.
Job Titles:
- Bio Resource Technologist, and Medical Researcher
Biography
Dr Loveth Owhor is a Bio Resource Technologist, and Medical researcher. Her area of research is in Reproductive medicine, specialising on the female reproductive system where she investigated the novel work titled ‘ Inflammation in the Bovine Fallopian Tube: Effects on Tubal Functional Morphology and Gameto-Maternal Interaction' utilising Live Cell Imaging. Her novel work has been published by Nature Scientific Reports Journal. Dr Owhor is the Secretary of the African Scholars Association Ireland (AFSAI) and Company Secretary of the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies
Job Titles:
- Diversity and Race Relations Consultant
- Relations Consultant and Director
Dr. Ebun Joseph is a race relations consultant and Director Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies. She was a Teaching Fellow at Trinity College Dublin where she taught the undergraduate module on race, ethnicity and Identity and on the Master's programme, where she developed and taught the module on Intersectionality of race and gender. She developed the first module in Black Studies and critical race theory in Education at University College Dublin. Ebun holds the position of Career Development Consultant at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and she previously worked with Business in the Community Ireland for over nine years as Training and Employment Officer. Dr Joseph has a PhD in Equality Studies (2015) jointly supervised by the UCD School of Social Justice (then named) and the School of Sociology. She has an M.Ed. in Adult Guidance and Counselling from Maynooth University; an IACP accredited diploma in Professional Counselling and a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Benin.
She focused her PhD dissertation, titled ‘Racial Stratification in the Irish labour market' on workforce experiences. Ebun is also an author; TV panellist, Columnist for the Dublin Inquirer on race, Chairperson of African Scholars Association Ireland (AfSAI) and an equality activist. With a research focus on Labour markets and race relations, she has presented at several conferences, businesses, non-profits and as Keynote.
Ebun is published and contributes regular responses on contemporary issues of race and racism in Ireland. Her recent 2020 book is titled, Racial stratification in Ireland: A Critical race theory of labour market inequality with Manchester University press. She also co-authored the book, Challenging Perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical Approaches to Global Justice Education with Routledge in Dec, 2019.
Ebun recently launched the #NoToBrainWaste Campaign which highlights the barriers faced by under-employed and over-qualified migrants and Irish-born ethnic minorities.
Dr Ebun joseph is a Race relations consultant, lecturer Black Studies, Director Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies and Chairperson, African Scholars Association Ireland (AFSAI).
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director Camino Production
Biography
Kunle Animashaun is a first-class honours Master's Degree graduate of the University College Dublin, UCD. He is currently completing his PhD at Trinity College Dublin. In 2014, Kunle was the Artistic Director in Residence at the Tallaght Community Arts. The residency was facilitated by the Arts Council of Ireland, the South Dublin City Council and Rua Red. During his time at Tallaght Community Arts, he worked with various groups of people from the average age 10 to 70 years old. In 2013, Kunle Animashaun was awarded the prestigious Samuel Beckett studentship award by Jimmy Deenihan, TD the Minister for Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht. Amongst his other publications, he is the author of ‘Stand-up comedy in a multicultural setting: Between a raw nerve and a funny bone' in ‘For the Sake of Sanity: Doing things with humour in Irish performance' edited by Eric Weitz, published by Carysfort Press.
Matthew O'Brien is a PhD candidate at UCD's School of History. His research project entitled, "Political Education and Black Power Grassroots Activism in Chicago, 1968-1983," has been sponsored by numerous funding bodies including the Fulbright Commission, the Irish Research Council, and the British Library, among others. Focusing on how African American activists in Chicago challenged traditional power structures to improve their day-to-day lives through a series of innovative and revolutionary techniques, this project draws on the labours of community driven action and leadership, using a vast quantity of primary material collected from archival collections across the city of Chicago as well as interviews with former members of the Illinois Black Panther Party. Matthew is also the treasurer of the Oral History Network of Ireland, where he also serves as the Graduate Officer, attempting to broaden the organisation's student outreach.
Nana Nubi holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law from University College Dublin and an LL.M in International and Comparative Law from Trinity College Dublin. She is currently training at the Honorable Society of the King's Inns to become a Barrister. She is a PhD candidate in University of Limerick. Nana Nubi has professional experience in human resources and business development, she is currently the Project Officer for the United Nations International Decade for people of African Descent, Ireland (IDPAD Ireland). Nana worked with Afro-Irish and Africa Centre Ireland. Between 2015 - 2019 she founded a youth empowerment initiative called the Alpha Project.
Job Titles:
- Specialist in Diversity and Inclusion
Vire Komolafe is a specialist in Diversity and Inclusion. Following her passion for activism for race and anti-racism, she is a presenter with the Institute of Anti-Racism and Black Studies. She was a member of the Race Advisory Council, DCU, Dublin. Vire Komolafe is the Co-Founder of Global Diaspora Engagement, an Organisation which brings awareness, networking and success stories about Nigerians living in the Diaspora.
Vire has expertise in supporting young people, and she founded the African Parents network Ireland to support young people by supporting Parents. Vire also founded the Blackboy Excellence, a movement that aims to celebrate and highlight the success of young black boys in the community to inspire other young boys.
Vire is passionate about her homeland and its culture, she was a Former Acting Interim Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Ireland as well as a former General Secretary of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe.