AILBHE SMYTH

Ailbhe Smyth is an Irish academic and LGBTQ+ activist. In 1990, she established the Women's Education, Research and Resource Centre (WERRC) at UCD and was head of Women's Studies from 1990 to 2006. Ailbhe now works independently as a consultant and campaigner. 

Ailbhe was a co-director of the Together for Yes national referendum campaign on abortion, and spokeswoman and convener for the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment. She is also a founding member of Marriage Equality, convenor of Feminist Open Forum, an organiser for Action for Choice and a board member of Equality and Rights Alliance.

She chaired the National LGBT Federation for over 10 years and in 2015 she received the 'Lifetime Achievement' award at the GALAS, Ireland's LGBTQ Awards Ceremony.

In 2019, Ailbhe was named as one of the Time 100 most influential people alongside the other co-directors of Together for Yes, Grainne Griffin and Orla O'Connor, in recognition of their roles within the campaign to legalise abortion in Ireland. Ailbhe was twice nominated by the Minister for Education to serve on the board of the Higher Education Authority and has also served as a Trustee of the National Library of Ireland.

Ailbhe is currently Chair of Ballyfermot STAR Addiction Services, and also of Women's Aid. She is a member of the board of Age Action.