Biography
Christine O’ Kelly is Dublin City University ‘s Age-Friendly University Coordinator. Christine has an extensive background in working with a range of agencies and networks engaged in representing and enhancing the well-being of older adults. She was the former CEO of Ireland’s Older Women’s Network, a global network with a focus on gender and aging and served as a board member of Ireland’s National Women’s Council and Banulacht, a national organization working with women in the developing world. Christine was involved in a government working group to draft Ireland’s National Positive Ageing Strategy and was a member of a team investigating residential nursing home abuse which resulted in the establishment of a national watchdog agency on residential care. She is a member of the AGE Platform and represents DCU, a founding member of the Covenant on Demographic Change in the EU. She also represents DCU on the Dublin and Fingal Age-friendly Alliances and works on subgroups on housing and transport. Christine leads DCU’s Age Friendly University Global Network which spans Europe, North America, and South East Asia. She coordinates DCU’s AFU multidisciplinary team and Expert Advisory Board and works closely with stakeholders at national, regional and EU level. Christine was educated at the National College of Ireland and DCU
O’Kelly, C
Paper
Showcasing opportunities between community and Dublin City University – an age-friendly university
Dublin City University is leading a global Age-Friendly University Network based on Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University which was developed and launched in 2012. DCU collaborated closely with a range of stakeholders from staff, students and those working in the community with older people to organizations representing older people to inform these Principles.
This presentation focuses on showcasing the variety of activities which have emerged from this collaboration and how reciprocal exchange has enhanced and contributed to embedding an age-friendly ethos in DCU.