Co-Founder The Next Wave
Director of Program Development and Experiential Learning

FOUNDER IRISH GAP YEAR | CO-PRESIDENT GAP YEAR ASSOCIATION

Ryan Allen is the founder of Irish Gap Year and serves as Co-President of the Gap Year Association, where he also chairs the Sustainability Committee. A long-time advocate for experiential and place-based education, Ryan has worked internationally in the field for over two decades, with teaching and leadership roles across Europe, Scandinavia, and the U.S.

Originally from the East Coast of the U.S., Ryan studied Literature at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand—an experience that deeply shaped his approach to education, blending academic inquiry with a deep connection to the natural world.

Now based in Bundoran, County Donegal with his young family, Ryan continues to lead programs that foster personal growth through adventure, reflection, and community. Outside of work, he’s a lifelong surfer, musician, and passionate advocate for sustainability in education.