Welcoming Our First Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO) and Changes in Corporate Delivery

We’re delighted to announce that Tom Laffan has been appointed as the HSE’s Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO). This appointment highlights the HSE’s continued focus on making better use of health data to support patients, staff, and services.

In the CEO’s memo from 16 January 2025, he outlined the purpose of the role: "To ensure high-quality health data that can drive value for all of the people who need to use and access data within our health system, while ensuring the right tools and insights are available to all our services and staff to manage this data for the benefit of patients, staff and our services."

Tom brings a wealth of experience to this new role and is already gearing up to lead the way in integrating data analytics across the health service. His first priority will be to connect with key stakeholders over the next few months, working towards a patient-focused, data-driven health system. As part of this move, Integrated Information Systems and AI & Automation COE will now sit under the CDAO function.

Meanwhile, Corporate Delivery continues its important work under the leadership of Noreen Noonan, who will be expanding her portfolio to include major Corporate Programmes alongside her Population Health workstream.

Noreen has over 30 year’s experience within Healthcare ICT across a broad range of functions and will continue to focus on committed delivery of Technology and Transformation initiatives across the Corporate & Population Health domains and ensure alignment with the HSE’s strategic goals.

These changes mark an exciting shift in how we use data and deliver corporate projects, ultimately supporting a better, more efficient health service. Best of luck to Tom and Noreen in their new roles!