ALICE Prendergast has been elected president of the TUI, the first woman president in the union's history. She will take up office on July 1st.

Prendergast has been a member of the Council for the Status of Women and the ICTU executive. She is currently on the FAS board of directors and the NCVA executive council.

A teacher of communications and professional development at DIT Bolt on Street, Dublin, she has held many union positions at branch and national level in the last 20 years, representing teachers at both second and third level. She is the outgoing vice-president of the TUI and has also been executive committee member, honorary secretary, honorary treasurer and acting assistant general secretary.

She scored another first some years ago - becoming the first woman to qualify as a soccer referee in the State.

As president, she is particularly anxious to help to secure an enhanced pay and conditions package for teachers and college lecturers. She says the best way to ensure a first-class educational service is to restore the morale and confidence of teachers.

The term of office is one year; however, in the past presidents have generally stayed on for a second term.