David O'Leary

David O'Leary is the Communications Director at the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), based in Brussels, Belgium.4 He has extensive experience in European and international public affairs and communications, with over twenty years of advising business leaders, senior politicians, and interest groups.1

In his role at IFRA, O'Leary leads the organization's communications activities, including:

• Outreach on IFRA's global initiatives
• Corporate communications
• Media relations7

Prior to joining IFRA, O'Leary's career included:

• Working as a political assistant to MEPs in the European Parliament, including the Chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee
• Spending nine years at Burson-Marsteller, where he worked on political communications campaigns
• Serving as Communications Director at the Brussels-based think-tank Friends of Europe1

At IFRA, O'Leary has been involved in several key initiatives:

• Implementation of new IFRA Standards
• The organization's Sustainability Initiative2
• Moderating discussions on industry priorities, such as the Stockholm+50 webinar5
• Presenting on the IFRA-IOFI Sustainability Charter6

O'Leary is known for his expertise in public affairs and communications strategies, particularly in fields such as food, health, energy, environment, and digital policy.1 His work at IFRA involves representing the fragrance industry's interests globally and communicating the industry's value to stakeholders.3

Outside of his professional life, David O'Leary is an avid runner who has completed seven marathons, including races in Chicago and New York.1