• Masters in Equality Studies from University College, Dublin Ireland
• Bachelor of Social Studies Honors, Trinity College, Dublin Ireland
• Certificate of Qualification for Social Work, Trinity College Dublin and British Association of Social Workers
• Certified Trainer OF Managing Workplace Conflict, Mediation Training Institute International
• Part II Advanced Mediator Certification, Mediation Training Institute International
• Part I Mediator Training, MAG Training, Mediators Institute Ireland and Association for Conflict Resolution, USA
• Trainer Anti-Racism and Interculturalism, National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, Ireland
• Theories on Race and Ethnicity, Department of Sociology, Trinity College, Dublin

I am Certified Management Consultant member of the Institute of Management Consultants and Advisors, a member of the Mediators Institute of Ireland and the Irish Social Policy Association.

I provide professional mediation services and deliver managerial mediation training programmes in a range of workplace settings. I recently delivered a self-help and managerial mediation training course for the Human Resource Management Team in Hewlett Packard Ireland.

I conduct Employment Equality Reviews and Diversity Audits. I have delivered employment equality reviews for third level education organisations, for hotels, for the Irish Aviation sector and for non-governmental organisations. These Reviews involve a comprehensive examination of the policies, practices, procedures and perceptions that operate within the workplace (through full staff surveys and focus groups across all functions in the organisation) and the production of an Action Plan to enhance the achievement of equality outcomes.

I develop equality policies and design and deliver equality and diversity training for SME's all over Ireland. I recently completed project for a nursing home, one for an NGO providing housing services and one for company with three childcare facilities employing 50 people.

I design and deliver equality and diversity training courses for managers and supervisors responsible for equal opportunities and have recently delivered training programmes in Trinity College Dublin and Jury's Inn Custom House.

I conduct research, produce policy papers and have been published on equality issues in Ireland. In 2007 I completed, for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions a policy paper on promoting equality and managing diversity and I conducted research - literature review, interviews and held focus groups with ethnic minority groups in Dublin City, and wrote the report to establish the Dublin City Integration Framework for the City municipality, Dublin City Council.

My publications include: Hegarty, Maria. 2006. "Equality Proofing - emerging practices and challenges" in O' Broin et al Taming the Tiger. Dublin: TASC.

I conducted desk research, worked with the national social partners and wrote 'A Strategic Policy Framework for Equality Issues - Forum Report No. 23' for the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF), and Hegarty, M and McNally. 2004. "Promoting Equality of Opportunity in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises". Dublin: Equality Authority

I was a member of the management team providing Technical Assistance for the EU EMPLOYMENT Integra Programme consisting of 88 projects all over Ireland delivering pilot innovative and transnational actions to combat labour market exclusion.