Dr John Conama (Ph.D, M. Litt, BA in social policy) is former Chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society. He is currently Chair of the Irish Sign Language Recognition Campaign.  He is an activist and an academic. He holds a M.Litt in Social Policy (TCD) and a PhD in Equality Studies (UCD); his thesis focused on a comparative policy analysis of signed languages in two countries – Finland and Ireland. Dr. Conama is Co-Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College, University of Dublin. He was involved in establishing the first certificate level course for Deaf people organised by the Equality Studies Centre, University College Dublin. Dr. Conama was awarded as the Language Ambassador of the Year 2015 awarded by Leargas / Erasmus + for his work on the promotion and preservation of Irish Sign Language. His recent publications have focused on Deaf people in society and social policies affecting Irish Sign Language.