This week, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) welcomes its new Executive Director Dr Lorraine Nolan (Ireland), as she begins a five-year term leading the agency.
Dr Nolan was elected to the position by the EUDA Management Board in June 2025, following a competitive public recruitment process launched in September 2024.
Dr Nolan brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience across science, public service and regulatory affairs, including 10 years as Chief Executive of Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Her career spans national, European and international roles, including Chair of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency (2022–2025) and key adviser to the Irish Ministry of Health on regulatory and drug policy development.
During her career, Dr Nolan has steered and empowered multidisciplinary teams, overseen complex organisational change and delivered strategic, digital and operational transformation programmes. She has a strong track record in resource management, financial performance and corporate governance and is recognised for fostering positive working cultures and high-performing organisations.
On taking up the position, Dr Nolan said: ‘It is a great honour to take on the leadership of the EUDA at this exciting stage of its development. I look forward to guiding the agency in strengthening Europe’s capacity to anticipate and respond effectively to evolving drug challenges, while driving innovation and organisational transformation. By promoting collaboration across national, European and international partners and communities, we can enhance resilience, improve preparedness and support healthier, safer societies. The agency has a long history of scientific excellence. I am so proud to join such a highly committed team at a time when strong facts and evidence-based decision-making matter more than ever.’
Dr Nolan holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Trinity College Dublin. She is the fourth person to hold the top position at the agency and the first woman in the post. She succeeds Alexis Goosdeel (Belgium) who led the agency for the previous 10 years.
Read Dr Nolan’s full profile.
The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) is your source of drug-related expertise in Europe. We prepare and share independent, scientifically validated knowledge, alerts and recommendations. We work alongside our partners to improve EU preparedness on drugs.
