About Katriona
Dr Katriona O’Sullivan is a psychologist, memoirist and best-selling author
Katriona’s Story
As one of 5 children in a home shaped by her parents’ heroin addiction, Katriona’s story chronicles her journey from poverty, teenage pregnancy and homelessness to graduating with a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and becoming an award-winning lecturer whose work challenges barriers to education. Her first book, Poor, debuted at #1 on the Irish Non-Fiction bestseller list. The book, a memoir of growing up in extreme poverty, describes the far-reaching impact of childhood poverty.
Poor: Grit, Courage, and the Life-Changing Value of Self-Belief
Katriona O’Sullivan’s book, “Poor: Grit, Courage, and the Life-Changing Value of Self-Belief,” has received significant recognition and acclaim. The book became a No. 1 bestseller and has been at the top of the Irish book charts since its release on May 25, 2023. It won the Biography of the Year and The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award and the audiobook was in the Top 10 downloads of 2023 on Amazon. The book has been praised for its honest and inspiring portrayal of overcoming poverty and adversity. Including reviews “Full of insight into a life lived right up against the boundaries placed on it by poverty… so important… we’d highly recommend” - Fi Glover, Times Radio. “An amazing story… moving, uplifting, brave, heroic” - Nuala McGovern, BBC Woman’s Hour. Goodreads reviews include: "This is a devastating story, and the courage and self-belief that Katriona O’Sullivan shows to turn her life around is remarkable. It’s raw and gritty, powerful, brutally honest and brave". "One of the best books I have ever read about the complexities of poverty… one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet". Katriona’s story is a powerful testament to resilience and the transformative power of education and self-belief.
Advocacy
Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan is a dedicated advocate for education and social inclusion. Her advocacy work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and academic background. Katriona delivered an impactful speech at the UN Commission for Social Inclusion in 2024. In her address, she highlighted the critical role of education in fostering social inclusion and equality. She shared her personal journey from being an early school leaver to becoming an academic and advocate, emphasizing the transformative power of education. Dr. O’Sullivan also discussed the importance of inclusive policies and the need for governments to invest in education for marginalized communities. Her speech underscored the necessity of creating opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background, to access quality education and achieve their full potential.
Education
Katriona is a Senior Lecturer in the Assisting Living & Learning Institute, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University. She is the Principal Investigator on the STEM Passport for Inclusion project, featured recently on RTE's Changemaker series. And has held research grants from the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland, leading an initiative to tackle digital inequality in education. Katriona also successfully led the largest HEA PATH funded programme entitled Turn to Teaching which focused on diversifying teacher education. Katriona has been an invited speaker at the World Education Forum, the European Gender Action Workshop on Women and Digitalisation and most recently at the UN Gender Equality Workshop. She has worked with Irish policy makers to develop policies around education and inclusion. And has published research on equality, gender, education, inclusion and STEM.
Inspirational Talks
Katriona brings a combination of personal experiences, academic expertise and empathy to motivate and inspire audiences.