Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop is Chairperson of the National Women’s Council of Ireland. She also serves as a member of the Board of Gaisce, The President’s Award and is a member of the Legal Aid Board.From 2006-2016 Ellen was CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre where she worked with other NGOs and Government agencies to raise awareness of violence against women in Ireland and lobbied successfully for the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

She is a Psychotherapist and Group Analyst by profession. She holds a Masters Degree from UCD and is a member of the Institute of Directors of Ireland. She was appointed Adjunct Professor to the School of Law at the University of Limerick in December 2015. She was the first woman Chairperson of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy.  

Ellen is married to Sandy Dunlop and together they co-founded the Annual Bard Summer School, Clare Island Co. Mayo in 1995.  They have 4 sons and 4 granddaughters. Ellen's interests include music, theatre and Irish Folklore.