Ryan Feeney

Ryan Feeney is a university administrator and former Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) official from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He is registrar and the vice-president for governance and external affairs at Queen's University Belfast, and the member of the University Management Board with responsibility for governance, administration and external affairs.

Feeney previously held senior roles with Ulster GAA, served as an independent member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2011 to 2018 and was Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Early life and education

Feeney is from Faughanvale, County Londonderry, and trained as a teacher.

He studied education, business and history at St Mary's University College, Belfast. He later completed a doctorate in governance through the Institute of Public Administration and the National University of Ireland, with research examining the operation and functions of the Strand Two institutions created by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Feeney has also served as a visiting professor of governance and public policy at Ulster University.

In September 2021, it was announced that he would leave the PSNI and return to Queen's University Belfast. He subsequently served as Director of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility at Queen's. His role later became vice-president, Governance and External Affairs and Registrar. As Registrar, he serves as secretary to the university's Senate and Academic Council. His portfolio includes governance, civic engagement, strategic communications, research and enterprise, alumni engagement and philanthropy, and government engagement.