Gerry McKenna

Patrick Gerald McKenna, DL, FIBMS, FRSB, MRIA (born 10 December 1953), known informally and widely as Gerry McKenna, is a Chartered Biologist (CBiol, 1982) and Chartered Scientist (CSci, 2006) from Northern Ireland.

Professor McKenna, grew up in the townland of Lisbanlemneigh situated between Benburb and The Moy, County Tyrone and attended St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon, the New University of Ulster and the Queen's University Belfast.

[6] McKenna has strongly promoted social inclusion,[7] most notably via the acclaimed 'Step Up' program for school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

[12] McKenna was also principal author in 2024 of a major RIA report 'Finding Common Ground: Building Community' focussed on the North-West of the island of Ireland.

The report recommended inter alia independent oversight of higher education in Northern Ireland and outlined the potential for a North-West cross border university.