Ruairí McKiernan is a bestselling author, award-winning social innovator, Fulbright scholar, speaker, charity founder, campaigner, consultant, and podcast host. He is also a mental health advocate and practitioner with 20 years' experience across a range of areas including health promotion, counselling, coaching, men's development and mindfulness.
Ruairí McKiernan is a multi-award-winning social impact and wellbeing leader with over two decades of internationally recognised experience in social innovation start-ups and strategy, mental health and wellbeing, advocacy, campaigning, community development, communications, and facilitation. He is a Fulbright Scholar with qualifications in business management, counselling, and psychotherapy qualifications. His experience covers the roles of founder, co-founder, CEO, board member, consultant, campaigner, advocate, bestselling author, public speaker and podcast host. Ruairí was previously the founder and former CEO of SpunOut, one of Europe’s leading youth organisations. He founded and co-founded numerous other youth, health and community organisations and initiatives, and served on the founding boards of the Soar Foundation and Uplift, Ireland’s equivalent of GetUp! In 2011, the President of Ireland appointed him to the Council of State, the President’s constitutional advisory body. He served a 7-year term alongside the President, former Presidents, the Prime Minister (Taoiseach) and other major figures. His public advocacy and campaigning advances causes such as refugee and migrant rights, gender equality, international development, and gambling reform and encompasses campaign strategy and implementation, media, mentoring, events, and talks. Ruairí was named by global social entrepreneurs organisation Ashoka as one of the top changemakers in Ireland. He is a recipient of numerous international awards, accolades, and fellowships. He is currently working on several writing and campaigning projects while leading a social impact and wellbeing consultancy with clients across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in Ireland, the UK and Australia.
“This book by Ruairí McKiernan is in the fine tradition of a search for what is most valuable in the different spaces of Ireland and how they might help us craft a new way forward together. Empathic in approach, well written, and crucially, it offers hope.” - Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland.
Named as one of the top changemakers in Ireland by the Ashoka global foundation
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Podcast
Host of a chart-topping podcast featuring inspirational voices for change worldwide. It reaches several thousand listeners each month in more than 50 countries. ListenNotes.com lists it as one of the world’s leading podcasts and has been named as one of the top international social change podcasts by Last.fm. Incorporating live festivals and events and regular media coverage. 
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Consultancy / Projects
Providing strategic and operational leadership support to social impact, cultural, and wellbeing-orientated community, government, and corporate clients. Work areas include vision and strategy planning, program design, civic engagement, digital and media communications, talks, training, workshops, events, facilitation, coaching, and mentoring. Clients include Ombudsman for Children’s Office, the Health Service Executive, Google, Facebook, Bank of Ireland, Law Society, Vodafone, and RTÉ. 
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Book
Author of Irish Times No.1 Bestselling Book Hitching for Hope | Published Internationally by U.S. Publisher Chelsea Green Hitching for Hope is an Irish Times and Nielsen BookScan number 1 non-fiction bestseller. It received a Best Book Award by the American Book Fest, a UNESCO City of Literature recommendation, and a Book of the Month by IrishCentral.com. Described as “a modern travel tale—part personal pilgrimage, part political quest—that captures the power of human resilience,” it has received acclaim from readers, reviewers, and leading respected global figures such as Bill McKibben, Amanda Palmer, Peggy Seeger, Joanna Macy and Christy Moore. 
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"In these times of great change we can be the authors of new stories, the dreamers of new dreams, the builders of new realities.”
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Irish Times No.1 Bestseller
‘Ruairí takes note of what many of us sometimes fail to see.’ — Christy Moore
‘..an easy and uplifting read.’ —Peggy Seeger ‘An authentic and utterly compelling narrative.” —Brian O’Connell ‘This is a tale that will resonate all over the world.’ —Bill McKibben |
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