Following an extensive recruitment process involving the Queen’s Foundation and the University's Management Board, Ryan Feeney, Vice-President of Strategic Engagement and External Affairs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Eddie Friel as Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy. 

Eddie Friel has been Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Ulster University since November 2013. He was responsible for leading the University’s engagement with its global alumni body, generating significant philanthropic income in support of University activity aligned to research, teaching and student support.

Prior to his leadership of the development and alumni portfolio, he worked in Ulster University’s Academic Office and was also Head of Business Liaison and Academic Enterprise.  He previously worked for Queen’s University Belfast, Invest Northern Ireland and in the private sector. Having studied at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast, he served as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Foyle Heath and Social Services Trust, Governor of Omagh College of Further Education, was an elected member of Ulster University’s Council and a Director of the Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC). He is currently a Member of the Board of the Nerve Centre, a leading creative media arts centre.

The Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy leads all engagement with the University’s supporters and Alumni including serving as the Clerk to Convocation while also coordinating the University’s Philanthropic fundraising activity working closely with the Queen’s Foundation and serving as honorary Secretary to the Board.  

Welcoming the appointment of Eddie Friel, Ryan Feeney said:

“Eddie is a highly regarded individual across many sectors in Northern Ireland. He has led excellent work at Ulster University in various roles, and I am delighted that he will take over as Director of our new Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy Directorate in early 2024. Eddie will also be a member of the senior leadership team both in the Strategic Engagement and External Affairs Section and the wider University and I am confident he will make a positive contribution to the Queen’s Community. I wish him every success with his new post”

Looking forward to his new role, Eddie Friel said:

“I am delighted to be returning to Queen’s to take on this exciting new opportunity, alongside a great team. The University’s philanthropic activity is addressing needs in our society, while having a major global impact supporting internationally renowned research. Queen’s also has a thriving network of more than 200,000 alumni and supporters around the world. I look forward to building on these strong foundations, helping Queen’s to make a positive contribution, locally and globally.”