Trained initially as an electronic engineer. He taught engineering science at the University of Dublin, Trinity College for about 12 years before joining the Irish Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) in 2002 with responsibility for research and policy analysis. Since November 2012 he has been employed by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI www.qqi.ie) as Framework Standards and Guidance manager. He is responsible for the development of standards for all of the awards that QQI makes (including vocational and higher education) among other things.