Dr Emer Nowlan is an education leader and chief executive officer of Educate Together, the Ireland‑based equality‑based school patron body that supports primary and second‑level schools across the country. She was appointed CEO in 2020 after previously holding senior roles within Educate Together, including chief operating officer, head of education and network development, and second‑level project manager, where she contributed to the opening of the organisation’s first second‑level schools and expansion of its network. Nowlan is originally a qualified post‑primary teacher and holds both a master’s degree and a PhD in education, with research focusing on equality in schooling and experiences of minority ethnic students. She has also worked on projects to increase teacher diversity and has lectured in education at multiple Irish institutions. In her role at Educate Together, Nowlan leads national strategy, organisational development, and advocacy for increased access to multi‑denominational schooling while engaging with government and education stakeholders on policy and school choice.