Paul Kirwan

23 Years experience in a broad spectrum of Humanitarian, Democratisation, Conflict and Post Conflict, Political Crisis, Capacity Development roles MSc in Development Practices Representational, Chief of Party and Technical Support Roles. A generalist, my experience in international activities is broad based and operationally driven. While my most recent roles have been senior management, government advisory and strategic support, I also have experience in logistics, administration, operations, security and mission coordination. I am familiar with the full project planning and management cycle, from initial technical assessment to mission establishment and operation, to eventual mission closure, administrative liquidation and lessons learned processes. Although much of my work has been conducted within the political sphere, I have a background in engineering and a general leaning towards real world effects. During my work in crisis management I have established a reputation for taking on difficult tasks and getting the job done, often by way of innovative approaches to problems which otherwise seem insurmountable. Having a clear understanding of the interrelationship between the political/security envelope and operational opportunities, I would be well suited to roles where a mixture of diverse competencies is required, geared to real world outcomes in complex dynamic situations. As Deputy Head of Mission for the EUJUST-LEX Rule of Law mission, I managed, coordinated and controlled all activities related to the objectives of the mission. This involved the establishment of high level relationships with Iraqi counterparts as well as with other international actors; fine tuning the mission work in response to government requirement and coordinating our activities with those of other international actors. Internally, with the support of senior operations staff, I developed the work plan, tracked mission activities against the mission mandate, held responsibility for mission reporting as well for the development and oversight of the mission budget. In respect to HR, I provided senior management authority over all staff, conducted staff appraisals and also held responsibility for maintaining discipline. As EUJUST-LEX approached final closure, I had full authority over closure and hand-over planning, and eventually for the final liquidation of the mission. Much of my work during this time was undertaken with Iraqi counterparts, the EU Delegation and with EU Member State ambassadors, to ensure a European Commission follow-on project would pick-up the key lines of work successfully conducted under EUJUST-LEX. Prior to my recent work in Iraq, I worked in coordination and senior management roles in successive EU crisis management missions across the world, before taking up a post as part of the EU External Action Service in Brussels, where I acted in a planning and support structures role. Here I took the lead in the development of rapid civilian deployment and equipment provision capabilities, while effectively lobbying for the rationalising of implementation procedures.

Alongside the above work, I was also a key member of a team establishing a series of new EU crisis management missions and conducting mission reviews across the world. This work entailed the identification of inter-relating issues, and their solutions, in order to enable mission operations to rapidly go forward in politically challenging / dangerous environments. An integral component of this work was to liaise closely with EU Member State representations, Council Secretariat, the European Commission, ECHO, EDA, and Third States representatives; suggesting ways forward and lobbying for essential technical and political support when required.

My wider experience includes operating under UK, EU, OSCE, USAID, WB reporting, financial and procurement rules in a series of missions of varying political sensitivity and typically within situations of high security concern. I have extensive experience in situations of high instability and within militarily active environments. This includes experience of negotiating with political factions and militia in respect to operational access.