Breda O'Driscoll
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Biography
Breda is an experienced researcher whose career profile reflects a journey spanning a number of diverse interdisciplinary fields, from innovative entrepreneurship in materials science to her current focus on qualitative social research methodologies.
Research experience: Breda has over 25 years’ experience immersed in the global research and development landscape. She has a proven track record in establishing and managing successful R&D enterprises, and in managing small & medium scale research projects in collaboration with academia and industry and also serving the needs of both with commercial solutions.
Entrepreneurship : Breda has a proven track record in securing venture capital and other funding streams and has grown a number of businesses from concept stage in the arena of materials science. Notably launching a number of innovative technological products on the global analytical instrument industry and attracting clientele in numerous prestigious academic institutions and renowned industry players such as Pfizer, Astrazeneca and GSK.
Breda has some specific expertise in strategic marketing management with a focus on promoting and positioning innovative solutions for example launching an award winning- technology in the analytical instrumentation industry.
Research impact: Breda has in recent years, made a transition to social research, specialising in qualitative methodologies and developing expertise in Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Breda's current research, which explores social workers' experiences in participatory practice within child protection contexts, showcases her dedication to social justice. The emphasis on human rights-based methodologies contributes significantly to scholarly discourse on participatory practice aiming to enrich the field of social work and social care work with children and vulnerable people.
Current research interests: Breda's wide -ranging interdisciplinary research interests spanning children's rights , emotional labor, innovation in social work , social work and social care methodologies , management and leadership , reflect a holistic approach to addressing complex societal challenges through rigorous inquiry and innovation in social research.
During her career in research and development , , Breda maintained her interest and involvement in social work , lecturing part-time in Trinity College Dublin (undergraduate and Master ) and being a tutor ( professional practice ) for over a twenty year period.
Selected Publications
Book chapter
O'Driscoll, B., & Kirwan, G. (2024). Social justice as tool and process in research: Progressing insight into children's right to participation through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. In K. McGarry, C. Bradley, & G. Kirwan (Eds.), Rights and Social Justice in Research: Advancing Methodologies for Social Change (pp. 222-242). Bristol University Press/Policy Press.
Kirwan, G., & O’Driscoll, B. (2023). Applying Threshold Concept Theory in Social Work Management Education: The Pedagogy of Emotional Labour in Social Work Practice. In M. Arnold (Ed.) Handbook of Applied Teaching and Learning in Social Work Management Education. Springer,
Book
Kirwan, G., O'Driscoll, B., & Swords, C. (2023). See Me See Child: A Holistic Approach to Supporting the Participation of Children in Decisions that affect their Lives. Maynooth University in collaboration with Youth New Ross and Tusla. ISBN 978-1-7392351-1-6
Development and delivery of professional training materials (social work and social care ) for program : See Me See Child: A Holistic Approach to Supporting the Participation of Children in Decisions that affect their Lives.
Conference Presentations
O’Driscoll, B. (2023). Listening to Children. Presentation at SWCONF, National Child Protection Conference, UCC, 2023.
O’Driscoll, B. (2022). Social Work is Emotional Work. Oral Presentation (online) at Joint World Social Work, Education and Social Development Conference, Korea, October 2022.
O’Driscoll, B. (2018b). ‘Relationship matters. Poster Presentation at SWSD2018, Joint World Social Work, Education and Social Development Conference, Dublin, July 4–7, 2018.
O’Driscoll, B. (2018a). ‘Children’s participatory rights in the context of child protection. Finding a gap in the literature’. Poster presentation at PhD symposium: Scholarship and research with children and young people in Ireland. Children’s Research Network and University College Dublin Research Symposium, UCD.
Book Chapter
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2024 | O'Driscoll, B., & Kirwan .G. (2024) 'Social justice as tool and process in research: progressing insight into children' In: Policy Press. Bristol : Bristol University Press. [DOI] | |
2023 | Kirwan, G.; O’Driscoll, B. (2023) 'Applying Threshold Concept Theory in Social Work Management Education: The Pedagogy of Emotional Labour in Social Work Practice' In: Handbook of Applied Teaching and Learning in Social Work Management Education: Theories, Methods, and Practices in Higher Education. [Link] [DOI] |