Carol Baxter is an Assistant Secretary and Head of the Equality, Rights and Participation Division at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. She leads the Department’s policy work on gender equality and equality, including on LGBTIQ+ and Traveller and Roma issues. Key priorities currently include the finalisation of an Equality Data Strategy, reform of Ireland’s Equality Acts, development of a successor strategy to the National Strategy for Women and Girls and implementation of the latest National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028 and of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028. She leads the teams responsible for her Department’s preparations for Ireland’s EU Presidency 2026 and for supporting participation by children and young people in decision-making processes.