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Maria O'Brien is a Lecturer in Taxation at the University of Galway - J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics since April 2024. Maria serves as a Board Member of IMIRT - The Irish Game Makers Association and is the Co-Founder and Co-Organiser of the East Asia Film Festival Ireland, roles held since January 2017 and January 2022, respectively. Previously, Maria was a Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast from September 2020 to April 2024, and held multiple teaching positions at Dublin City University and Maynooth University from 2015 to 2022. The research focus includes cultural and creative industry policies, with a doctoral thesis on the political economy of tax incentives for the audiovisual industries completed at Dublin City University in 2020. Educational qualifications include a Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies from Dublin City University and a Diploma in Arts, Entertainment and Media Law from the Law Society of Ireland.