Kathleen Ireland is the STEP Grant Program Director for South Dakota Trade. Ms. Ireland is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to moving to South Dakota, Ms. Ireland worked in the aviation sector and was the legal adviser for over 14 years for Comair, an airline operating in southern Africa under license for British Airways. Ms. Ireland worked as part of a team that managed key management decisions regarding the leasing and purchase of aircraft, and related airline and travel services. She also gained significant experience in the review and negotiation of international contracts across the airline and its subsidiary travel divisions. After moving to the United States, Ms. Ireland worked in the manufacturing sector for Astec Industries managing international transactions for the company’s international divisions.

Ms. Ireland received a Bachelor of Arts in law and international relations and a law degree (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has also completed a Masters degree in law (LLM) with a focus on international trade from the University of Stellenbosch in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Ms. Ireland is a qualified attorney registered with the bar in South Africa, and she is preparing to stand for the New York state bar exam.