DR. W.G. O’HARE CBE DL FRICS
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Dr. Gerard O’Hare CBE DL is one of Northern Ireland’s most successful property and business entrepreneurs with a portfolio of developments across Ireland, the UK, Central Europe and the USA.
Educated at Trent University in Nottingham as a Surveyor he joined the growing family construction business Carnbane House Group. Under his guidance Carnbane House Group became one of Ireland’s leading property investment and construction companies – today ranked in Northern Ireland’s Top 100 Companies.
He left his position as director of the family firm Carnbane House Group to found and manage the investment and property business Parker Green International, which specialises in mixed use developments.
In more recent years he has pursued a more independent property investment role and has major investments throughout the Island of Ireland and abroad.
Gerard is recognised as a Champion of Town Centre regeneration.
In April 2006 Gerard was appointed Chairman of the University of Ulster Foundation established to assist the University in obtaining funds for its development programme from philanthropic and corporate sources. He is a Visiting professor at the University of Ulster School of the Built Environment. In July 2004, the Gerard O’Hare Chair was inaugurated to bring a new and wider experience to students in the Faculty of Engineering through a number of new initiatives including a new Degree in Urban Planning and Design common and the launch of a Harvard Graduate School for Design Studio in Northern Ireland.
Dr O Hare is also a Board Member of:
· Belfast Harbour Commissioners
· Invest Northern Ireland
· Northern Ireland Council – The Prince’s Trust
· Business in the Community for Northern Ireland
· Institute for International Urban Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts
· The International Centre for Local & Regional Development
Dr O’Hare is also:
· Chairman of The Prince’s Trust Southern Area Regional Board in Northern Ireland
· An active member of the Institute of Directors
· A member of The Confederation of British Industry
· Chairman of Tall Ships Belfast 2009
In June 2009, HRH Prince Charles appointed Dr O’Hare as his Ambassador for Business and Corporate Social Responsibility.
In October 2009, Dr O’Hare, along with Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, received a joint Lambda Alpha International Award for International Urban Affairs. Dr O’Hare also recently received the coveted Maritime Lifetime Award from Ocean Youth Trust of Ireland.
Dr O’Hare was included in the New Years Honours List 2009 whereupon he was awarded the CBE Honours from Her Majesty The Queen.
In 2012, Dr O’Hare was appointed as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Latvia in Northern Ireland.
More recently, Dr O’Hare has also been assigned as a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Down.
As a philanthropist, Dr O’Hare personally supports many charitable programmes both at home and across the world not least in South America, Africa and Asia and inspires many more to help.