Caroline Casey

Caroline Casey is a social entrepreneur and experienced motivational speaker. She is the Founding CEO of The Aisling Foundation and O2 Ability Awards. She established The Aisling Foundation in June 2000 and first came to public attention when she embarked upon a 1000 km trek in India on elephant back. Aisling is the Gaelic word for vision or dream.

Caroline is visually impaired and works to promote the ability of people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on the area of employment. Since its inception, the organisation has had considerable success with its focus on communicating the concept of “ability” to drive attitudinal change. It is the belief of The Aisling Foundation that if we are to change the way disabled people are educated, employed and included in society, we have to see the individual and their potential and not just their disability. It is only when society understands and recognises the value of each individual that it will become more inclusive.

Some of the projects Caroline has been involved with over the years are Around the World in Eighty Ways and Challenge 32. Caroline sits on several boards; FÁS, ICTRG [Irish Charities Tax Reform Group], The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, The Wellbeing Foundation and 98FM. She is a member of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship and was appointed a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in January 2006.

In the same year she received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland in recognition of her work. She was chosen as the Eisenhower Fellow 2007 from Ireland and is the first Irish person to become an Ashoka/SEI Fellow. She is also a cofounder and trustee of elephant family in the UK and a trustee of Sight Savers International.