Mark Mellett

Mark Mellett

Board Chair, Strategic Advisor, Founder/Director

· Former Chief of Defence of the Irish Defence Forces

· Former Chief of the Irish Naval Service

· Chair of the Board of Trustees for Sage Advocacy

· Chair of the Board for the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority

· Chair of the Council and Board Member of the Irish Management Institute

· Founder of Green Compass

· Chairman of the Advisory Council for Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Think Tank

Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM (Rtd) is a distinguished leader with extensive military, academic, and strategic experience. As Ireland’s highest-ranking military officer and former Chief of Defence, he advised the Government on national security and served on both the National Security Committee and the EU Military Committee. His decorated military career includes service in Afghanistan and Lebanon, and leadership of the COVID-19 military response. He is the recipient of two Distinguished Service Medals.

Mark has a PhD in Ecosystem Governance and is the founder of Green Compass, offering strategic advice on climate change, offshore energy, ocean governance and security. He chairs the Board of the Irish Maritime Area Regulatory Authority. He is also Board Chair of Sage Advocacy, the independent national advocacy service supporting older and vulnerable people. Additionally, he serves as Council Chair at the Irish Management Institute and is an Adjunct Professor at University College Cork.

Mark’s achievements have been internationally recognised, including his appointment as Commander in the National Order of the Légion d’Honneur by the President of France. He remains deeply committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and innovation across the public, private and NGO sectors.

Academic Qualifications and Professional Achievements

· PhD Political Science and Law, Ecosystem Governance, University of Galway (2009)

· Master of Commerce, Integrated Resource Management, University College Cork (2002)

· Distinguished top graduate U.S. Naval Staff, Irish Command and Staff and Royal Naval Staff Colleges

· Awarded two Distinguished Service Medals (DSM) by the Government of Ireland.