Mary Davis

Mary Anne Davis (née Rooney; born 6 August 1954) is an Irish social entrepreneur, activist and long-term campaigner for the rights and inclusion of children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

This was the first time the event was staged outside of North America since Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the movement in 1968 and the largest sporting event in the world that year.

In 1985, Davis worked as Events Director when the 1985 Special Olympics European Games were hosted in Dublin, Ireland.

She served as member of the SO International Sports Rules Committee (1986–1989), chairperson, SO European Development Committee (1982–1986) and chairperson, SO International Advisory Council (1993–1997).

By 1989, she was appointed National Director of Special Olympics Ireland.

She is well known for serving as CEO of 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Dublin, Ireland.

Davis was awarded a Person of the Year Award in 2003, for her work for this event as well as for her years of service with Special Olympics Ireland.

She was one of the main driving forces behind Ireland's bid to host the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games and her track record on national and international bodies was a major factor in bringing the Games to Ireland.

Davis served as CEO of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organising Committee.

This was the first time in 35 years that the World Summer Games were ever held outside of North America.

The event involved participation by 165 countries, 32,000 volunteers and 10,000 athletes and coaches.

In November 2004, Davis was appointed by President Mary McAleese to serve on the Irish Council of State.

Davis moved into the mainstream of Irish politics when she was appointed to the Irish Council of State by President Mary McAleese for her second term as President of Ireland, starting in 2004.

Davis was one of seven personal appointees to the body established by the Constitution of Ireland to advise the President of Ireland in the exercise of her discretionary, reserve powers.

In 2006, Davis was made chairperson of the newly created Taskforce on Active Citizenship.

She also co-chairs the North South Consultative Conference for the Irish government.

In April 2006, Davis was appointed Chair of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship, due to her track record in "generating such a tremendous response from ordinary citizens to an extraordinary experience that was Special Olympics 2003. This is one example of the type of voluntary effort and community participation which sustains a healthy and vibrant society".

More recently she was appointed Chair of the Steering Group on Active Citizenship to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the taskforce.

Davis is also a co-chair of the North South Consultative Conference on behalf of the Irish government.

The conference seeks to explore social, cultural and economic issues that have a North/South and cross-border dimension.

The focus is on identifying potential for improved co-operation for mutual benefit.

In 2009, Davis secured €6 million in funding from the European Parliament.

A further €447,000 was secured for SOEE's Youth Unified Sports programme.

Davis was a candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election having received the required nominations from thirteen county councils.

In a number of media columns and speeches, Davis expressed how as President of Ireland she could represent Ireland on an international stage, promote communities and community development, and support the values of fairness, equality and respect.

She came last in the election receiving 48,657 (2.7%) first preference votes.

Mary Rooney grew up in Kinaffe, Midfield, which is halfway between Kiltimagh and Swinford, in County Mayo, she attended Kinaffe National School and St Louis Convent School, Kiltimagh.

She has said that the seeds of her success were sown in her upbringing in East Mayo, saying "there was always a prevailing attitude of looking after your neighbour, of taking care of each other".

After finishing secondary school, Davis trained as a Physical Education teacher from Leeds Trinity University, United Kingdom, a women's teacher training college affiliated to the University of Leeds.

From there she won a scholarship to the University of Alberta where she completed her academic studies.

After returning to Ireland, she became PE co-ordinator with St Michael's House in Ballymun, Dublin, an organisation caring for people with intellectual disabilities.

It was then that she first volunteered for Special Olympics Ireland.

Davis was named acting CEO of Special Olympics International in October 2015 and then appointed full-time, permanent CEO in May 2016.

Prior to this role, she served as Regional President and managing director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE), responsible for overseeing the growth and development of Special Olympics across 58 countries.

The primary purpose for SOEE is to empower and enable these national programmes to make sports training and competitions opportunities available for people with intellectual disabilities as well as change attitudes, foster community building, provide healthcare and influence policy.

She has been the chief executive officer of Special Olympics International since May 2016.

She previously served as managing director and Regional President of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE), with the responsibility of overseeing the growth and development of Special Olympics across 58 countries in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Davis also served as Chairperson of Special Olympics Ireland.

In May 2016, she was named chief executive officer.

She is the first CEO from outside the U.S. in the organization's nearly 50-year history.