Who we are
Real People
Our team of educators, psychologists, creatives and practitioners has been shaping meaningful change - in classrooms, campuses and companies.
The Team
Senior Management
Aidine Calvert
Founder
Ruth Connolly
Chief Strategy Officer
Shane Whelan
Head of Events & Experiential
Kay McKeon
Head of Design
Kate Lyons
Food Dudes Programme Director
Dan Vaughan
Head of Production
Anna Morrison
Head of Education
Company
Our People
Origins
Built around people since 2000.
2000: Real Nation is Born
Founded by Aidine following a post-primary Masters project that scaled to become Ireland’s largest schools initiative within five years..
2007: Recognised by the World Health Organisation
Our Food Dudes behaviour-change model received a WHO Award for combatting childhood obesity (one of only nine awarded globally that year), delivered with Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture.
2013: Global Creative Leadership
After expanding to Dublin and broadening our client base, Real Nation was awarded Global Concept. Creator for the Heineken Star Serve Awards, which evolved into the Worldwide Heineken Global Bartenders Awards.
2025: Growth with Purpose
We continue to expand our core work with five specialised divisions:
- Research - Voice-of-the-child insight and evaluation
- Accessibility - Supporting clients to meet WCAG standards
- Production - Event infrastructure, exhibitions & fit-outs
- Cognation - Our adult learning & development practice
- Third-Level Partnerships - Leveraging direct access to 400,000 students nationwide
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