Askeaton man awarded UCC’s highest honour

ASKEATON-born Jim Clarken, the chief executive of Oxfam Ireland, has been honoured by his alma mater, UCC, for his immense contribution to society and the leadership he has demonstrated since leaving college.

The UCC Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honour the college can award to a graduate, was presented to Jim at a ceremony in Cork last Friday.

Jim graduated from UCC with an MBA in 2002 but left the business world behind in 2006 in order to fulfil a heartfelt calling to work with development agencies. He worked as general manager at the Chernobyl Children’s Project International and also worked with GOAL in Southern Sudan before taking up his current position as chief executive officer of Oxfam Ireland. He is also an executive director of Oxfam International.

In addition, Jim is chairperson of Dóchas, the umbrella group for all non-governmental organisations in Ireland and contributes to debates and policy discussions on development issues both here at home and internationally, raising awareness on key issues.