Sustainability Graduate Spotlight - Maura Kiely
As pressures on natural environments continue to grow from increased recreational use to biodiversity loss the need to foster responsible behaviours in how people interact with nature has never been more vital. Protecting Ireland’s landscapes and ecosystems is not only fundamental for wildlife but also for the wellbeing of communities and future generations who rely on these spaces for recreation, education, and connection to nature.
In this edition of the Sustainability Graduate Spotlight we are shining a light on Maura Kiely, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Leave No Trace. We’re focusing on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land which aims to ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss’.
Maura Kiely
Maura Kiely is based in the west of Ireland and is a committed sea swimmer, sailor and advocate for connecting people with the outdoors. Maura is the CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland, the national charity dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation and safeguarding Ireland’s natural environment.
Through its core pillars - Education and Outreach, Community Engagement, Conservation, Research, and Advocacy, the organisation operates across the island of Ireland to encourage and embed responsible behaviour in outdoor activities. Leave No Trace design programmes to protect Ireland’s wild places.
Education is at the heart of the organisation and Maura is leading the expansion of the community and schools-based programmes. Through the schools’ programme, children are learning more about nature, the creatures that live within it, and how best to protect them. To date over fifty primary schools are participating in the programme.
Maura provides her expertise in environmental behaviour change to national policy, contributing to the government’s strategic development plan for outdoor recreation through Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council), which advises on the recreational use of the countryside.
Educational Experience
Maura completed the Masters in Public Relations (TU 320) in the former Dublin Institute of Technology, now TU Dublin, delivered by the School of Media. Speaking about why she chose the course, Maura says
I knew that protecting Ireland's natural places wasn't only about ecology - it was about communication, persuasion, and bringing people with you. An MA in Public Relations gave me the skills to tell that story well and to engage the communities, stakeholders, and policymakers whose support conservation depends on.
Applying new skills and knowledge
Maura tells us that throughout the Masters in Public Relations she learned how to communicate complex ideas clearly. She also gained valuable techniques for building relationships with diverse audiences and for shaping public conversations effectively, skills that are central to leading a national charity. Maura says:
Strategic communication and stakeholder engagement are at the heart of everything Leave No Trace does, and that foundation traces directly back to my time at DIT/TU Dublin.
What #TUDublinSustainability means to you
To me it's about equipping people to be leaders for nature - not just understanding sustainability in theory, but acting on it in communities, landscapes, and institutions. Sustainability only works when it's lived, shared, and passed on through relationships and future generations.