Niall Cussen
Chief Executive, OPR
Niall is the Chief Executive and Planning Regulator at the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) established by Government in April 2019.
The OPR’s functions are to oversee the effective delivery of planning services of Irelands 31 local authorities and An Bord Pleanála, including implementation of national and regional policies and to conduct research and public awareness programmes in relation to planning.
Prior to his appointment Niall was Chief Planner at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government from July 2014 and he worked in the Department from January 2000 prior to that.
Prior to joining the Department in 2000, Niall had an extensive planning career working for local authorities in Clare, Meath and Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanála.
Niall holds qualifications in economics and geography, regional and urban planning and environmental engineering from Maynooth University, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin respectively and is both a member and a past President of the Irish Planning Institute.
Niall will contribute as a panelist in the National Balance Imperative: Challenge + Opportunity session on Tuesday 25 March.
