Presidential Distinguished Service Award for Queen’s Chancellor

10 December 2015

 

The University’s Chancellor, Dr Thomas Moran (left), was among 10 people honoured by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins (right) at a special ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin on 03 December.

 

Dr Moran, who is President and CEO of Mutual of America and Chair of Concern Worldwide, received an Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award for his work on Peace, Reconciliation and Development.

 

The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad honours the work of exceptional people who contribute to Ireland and to Irish communities overseas. The awards are organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with nominations made by Irish communities abroad through Ireland’s embassy network.

The ceremony was attended by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan, TD, and Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan, TD.

Delighted to receive the award, Dr Moran said: “It is a great honour to accept this award from the President of Ireland. I hope that in some small way I, along with many others, have helped make a difference for the better. My connections with the island of Ireland run long and deep and, through my role as Chancellor of Queen’s University, I look forward to continuing them in promoting a positive future for its people.”

Welcoming the Chancellor’s recognition, the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick Johnston said: “This award is testament to the role that Tom has played across the island of Ireland over the last 25 years in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. It also recognises his steadfast commitment to helping others and his charitable, philanthropic and educational work.”

Tom Moran was born on Staten Island to Irish American parents and is a successful businessman and well-respected humanitarian. He is chairman of Concern Worldwide (US) Inc., an international humanitarian relief organisation that operates in 30 of the poorest countries of the world.

A noted philanthropist when it comes to causes in the arts, culture, business and heritage worlds, he has contributed to many humanitarian and community causes. He has also been an influential voice in the Irish peace process, acting as one of a group of unofficial peace envoys to Northern Ireland throughout the 1990s and has championed reconciliation here between the communities.

With ancestral roots in Fermanagh and Cavan, Tom is listed as one of the top 100 Irish-American business people in the USA. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mutual of America Life Insurance Company since October 1994, the first person to have been appointed President from within the Company.

Among the other recipients was Queen’s Honorary Graduate Charles Handy, the internationally respected author/philosopher who specialises in organisational behaviour and management.

Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Flanagan said: "This is the fourth year of the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and it is an important acknowledgement by the President, on behalf of all of the people of Ireland, of the significant contribution of those honoured to Ireland and to Irish communities abroad."

Dr Moran was installed as Chancellor of Queen’s University in July.

Media inquiries to Queen’s Communications Officer, Claire Kelly or call +44 (0)28 9097 5391

 

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