Dr Michael Barron is a strategist, author, researcher, and social justice practitioner with over 25 years’ experience across youth and community work, philanthropy, public policy, and international advisory roles. He is the author of How Ireland’s LGBTQ+ Youth Movement Was Built: Civil Society in the Pursuit of Social Justice, a widely recognised account of how sustained community organising reshaped Irish public life and policy. His work is grounded in frontline practice and shaped by long-standing relationships across the youth, equality, and human rights sectors. He is a founder of BeLonG To, Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ youth service, and played a leading role in the Marriage Equality referendum, helping frame a hopeful, values-based public conversation about the kind of society children should grow up in. He later led education-equality reform through EQUATE, successfully removing the Baptism Barrier in Irish schools and widening access to education for children of all backgrounds. Michael works closely with government departments, has advised international bodies including the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and the OSCE, and has supported philanthropic strategies focused on social justice and civic change. At NB Social Justice Studio, he leads applied research and strategy that helps organisations navigate complexity and move forward with clarity, confidence, and integrity. He holds a Doctorate in Social Science from Maynooth University.