Caoimhe Gleeson is General Manager for the National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy at the Health Service Executive (HSE) and a Barrister at Law. Caoimhe is the HSE representative on the Inter-departmental Steering Board for the implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

Caoimhe has responsibility for the oversight of HSE National Consent Policy, oversight of the implementation programme to support compliance with the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 in the HSE and works to progress equality, human rights advocacy and policy issues for people with disabilities and other diverse groups in Ireland. Prior to joining the HSE, Caoimhe worked in Community Development across the border counties and in Northern Ireland. Throughout her career, Caoimhe has worked on and volunteered in several international programmes based in Central America, Africa, Eastern Europe and beyond, that focus on gender equality, youth work, intercultural education, conflict transformation and mediation.

Caoimhe holds a BA, an LLB, a master’s degree in Community Development, a professional diploma in Equality and Human Rights, is a trained mediator and was called to the Bar in 2024. Caoimhe was a ministerial appointee to the National Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 during its tenure from April to August 2020 and is deputy chairperson to one of the National Research Ethics Committees for Clinical Trials.

She is a board member of the CORU Social Workers Registration Board. Caoimhe has contributed to a number of publications on equality and human rights issues. She co-edited “The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015- personal and professional reflections” with Professor Mary Donnelly, School of Law, UCC.

Her research interests are advance planning, decision-making capacity, consent to treatment, supported decision making and voice in legal proceedings.