About Kingsley

Kingsley has lived and worked in six countries in a lengthy career that covers trade and investment, philanthropy, education, diaspora and tourism, and has worked for major organisations, governments and countries. Throughout his extensive experience he has come to appreciate the power of Networking and he sees it as the ‘glue’ that makes everything happen.

He's currently CEO of the Networking Institute in Dublin whose mission is to share their collective expertise with those who need it.

Early Career

Kingsley is an Economics and Politics graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. He also has a postgraduate Diploma in International Marketing and has studied and worked extensively in France and Spain. He spent five years in Australia representing Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.

While there, he co-founded The Australian Ireland Fund and went on to establish The Ireland Fund of New Zealand.

In January of 1993, he moved to Boston to assume the role of Executive Director of The American Ireland Fund. Set up in 1976, The Worldwide Ireland Funds have raised over $300 million for projects of Peace, Culture, Community Development and Education throughout the island of Ireland.

In June 1995 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Worldwide Ireland Funds now active in 13 countries including Ireland.

After 21 years he left The Ireland Funds to found Diaspora Matters which gives advice on diaspora issues to governments, corporates and individuals.

Kingsley also represented Trinity College, Irish Universities, Vichy (France) and Leinster in rugby. In 2008, he was awarded a CBE for his work on British-Irish relations.

Kinglsey Aikins