Minister Patrick O’Donovan announces appointments to the Board of the Chester Beatty
- Published on: 25 March 2026
- Last updated on: 25 March 2026
The Minister of Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, is today announcing the appointment of three new members to the Board of the Chester Beatty.
The new appointees are:
- Ms. Claudette Whyte
- Ms. Mary Gallagher
- Ms. Jacqueline Hall
These appointments are each for five years and follow an open call for expressions of interest and an assessment process operated by the Department of Culture, Communication and Sport.
Commenting on the appointments, Minister Patrick O’Donovan said:
"I am delighted to appoint three high calibre candidates across a range of diverse backgrounds to the Board of the Chester Beatty – Ms. Claudette Whyte, Ms. Mary Gallagher and Ms. Jacqueline Hall whose combined skills cover the area of compliance, finance and communications which compliments the existing cohort of Trustees."
“Boards play a crucial role in the governance, oversight and strategic direction of all our National Cultural Institutions. To all appointees, I wish to express my gratitude for giving so generously of their time and bringing a strength and depth of experience to bear in guiding these organisations. I wish our newest appointees all the very best during their terms and thank them for taking on these important roles.”
Note for Editors
The Board of Trustees consists of a maximum of twelve members, one each of whom is appointed by the President and Taoiseach and three by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. The Director of the National Library serves as a Trustee ex officio. All other Trustees are co-opted. The Trustees elect the Chair.
Details of the current Board members are available at this link: The Board of Trustees - Chester Beatty
Claudette Whyte – is a seasoned compliance professional with extensive experience across the international financial services sector, where she currently serves as a Financial Crime Auditor for a global financial institution. She holds an MSc in Compliance (UCD) a Master of Business in Internationalisation (SETU) and an MSc in International Business (Brest Business School).
Her academic portfolio is further complemented by a Postgraduate Diploma of Science in Data Analytics, a Professional Diploma in Strategic Management and a Postgraduate Certificate in Global Capital Markets (Regulation and Compliance). Claudette is a Fellow of the Compliance Institute and previously served as a board member and Chair of its Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
A recognised advocate for diversity and inclusion, she was nominated for the National Diversity and Inclusion Awards in 2023 and named to the INvolve/YouTube Top 100 Empower & Heroes Women Role Model lists in 2023, 2024 and 2025, reflecting her sustained contribution to inclusive leadership and industry engagement.
She champions DEI initiatives to collectively drive change in attitudes towards gender balance and identify ways to progress equality. She has moderated discussions and has served as a panel member at various DEI-focused events, where she provides perspective on fostering a sense of belonging to under-represented groups, pushing to create greater equality for all.
Mary Gallagher has been an Independent Member of the Audit and Finance Committee of The Chester Beatty since November 2022. Following a career in IDA and Enterprise Ireland, where she was Head of Corporate Governance and Secretary to the Board, Mary Gallagher served as a member of the Board of The Heritage Council from 2016-2020. She was Secretary to the Board of NSCDA (2007-2015) and Member of the Governing Body of Carlow Institute of Technology (1995-2005). She is the Author of 16 Lives: Éamonn Ceannt, published by O’Brien Press in 2014. She has an MA in Modern Irish History (UCD 2011), a Masters in Public Administration (UCD 1985), and a postgraduate Diploma in Business Strategy (IMI 1993).
Jacqueline Hall is the Principal of Partners in Communication, a consultancy specialising in Government Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement. She is Chair of the Irish Georgian Foundation and a lay Member of the Board of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. She has previously served as a member of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland and as President of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. She has served on the board of Irish Water and Ervia and the Council of Dublin Chamber of Commerce. She has a BA (Hons) in History & History of Art, (UCD), a Graduateship in Marketing Management (TUD), a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance (UCD), an Advanced Diploma in Data Protection Law/GDPR (Honorable Society of King’s Inns), and a Graduate Diploma in Conflict & Dispute Resolution (TCD).