Siobhan Tiernan was awarded her PhD from the University of Limerick in 1995. Her thesis was entitled 'From Bureaucratic to Network Organisation - Organisational Change and the Outcomes at Team Aer Lingus'. The change at  Aer Lingus was driven by liberalisation in Europe, restricting the ability of European governments to underwrite the losses of their flag carriers. This gave rise to the emergence of low cost carriers throughout Europe. The effect on Aer Lingus has been a complete change in their business model.

Siobhan Tiernan holds an MSc in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, from the London School of Economics, and a primary degree in Business and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin. Siobhan was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2004 and spent a year as  Visiting Professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Florida, USA. 

Siobhan is principal author of the leading undergraduate management textbook in Ireland and is the MBA (Aviation Management) Stream Leader, at the University of Limerick.