EdTech expert announced as new Director at research and innovation centre Learnovate

The Learnovate Centre – one of Europe’s leading research centres in learning technologies – has announced EdTech expert Nessa McEniff as its new Centre Director.

Based at Trinity College Dublin, The Learnovate Centre is an industry-led technology centre, funded by Enterprise Ireland.

It is made up of expert researchers using learning technologies to help transform the lives and learners in the workplace, schools, at third level and in the home.Nessa, who took up her position as Centre Director on March 2, has a long career in learning technology.

Nessa will lead and manage all applied research, collaboration, commercialisation, business development and operations activities in the Centre. Working with Learnovate’s extensive network of industry partners, she will drive a research agenda to explore how technology can support learning innovation leading to new markets and job creation for Irish EdTech companies.

Learnovate supported over 300 companies last year – companies that have created hundreds of new jobs in the Irish economy. Based in Trinity College Dublin, Learnovate is funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to help companies with learning, technology, user experience, and innovation to ensure business success.

Nessa is joining The Learnovate Centre from Touch Press Inc. where she was Chief Operations Officer and responsible for all operations (Dublin & New York) including product development, marketing, legal and HR.

Prior to that she was Head of Project Management and Operations Manager at Independent News & Media and Head of Content Development & Product Manager at the Digital Skills Academy.

Before those roles, Nessa had a long and distinguished career at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) and Riverdeep, culminating in the position of VP for Strategic Initiatives and VP of Program Management.

Nessa holds an MSc in Innovation & Technology Management from Smurfit Business School in UCD.

‘I am excited to continue Learnovate’s journey inspiring innovation in Ireland’s world-class EdTech sector and helping Irish companies transform the way we learn at work, school, university and at home,’ she said.

‘We are delighted Nessa will lead the Learnovate Centre into the next phase of growth as the Centre expands its support to Irish companies delivering learning products to meet the demands of the thriving global EdTech market,’ said Jonny Parkes, Chair of the Centre’s Steering Committee.