With a background in Management, Psychology, Economics, and Business, Carmel holds Honours masters Degrees in both Business Administration, and Social Policy and Planning, with additional post-graduate qualifications in Organisation Development and Teaching.

Carmel has held middle and senior management responsibilities in both the public and private sectors, including three Chief Executive posts. She has been directly involved in strategic management and planning, as well as many aspects of Human Resources Management. She has a thorough knowledge of Health, Education, Fiscal, Research, Social Policy formulation and implementation, involving close collaboration with Government Departments, Ministers, as well as with European institutions. Her work in the private sector involved working in partnership with the Irish Export Board and with Irish businesses exporting Irish products abroad.

She has held consultancy roles involving a watchdog remit on legislation and advertising involving work with the E.U., W.H.O., and with agencies and professionals in Canada, U.S.A., Australia, Finland, Norway, France, Italy and the U.K. She has additionally worked in the areas of public education, training, public relations, and media work.

Carmel is now engaged in management consultancy work, a substantial portion of which involves teaching, training, and coaching in these areas. Her portfolio includes Management - including Change Management - and Leadership training work. Her consultancy work includes work with European institutions, and with some of the major business companies in Ireland, the Irish management Institute, the Irish Institute of Public Administration, and the Irish Civil Service.