In May 2008, he was instrumental in the success of the historic US:Northern Ireland Economic Conference which took place in Belfast. The conference, supported by the Bush administration, was attended by Fortune 500 executives to meet with senior political figures including Gordon Brown and Brian Cowan (UK and Irish Prime Ministers). In 2009, Hanley was honored in New York by Belfast Media Group’s U.S. publication The Irish Echo as one of its Top 40 under 40. In addition, he has been named to the Irish-American Magazine Top 100 Business Leaders as well Business and Finance Most Influential U.S.-Irish Business Leaders in 2008. Hanley currently serves on the Board of Directors’ of the Irish Education Foundation, the Boston Irish Business Association and the American Ireland Fund – Dinner Committee.
He resides in Boston Massachusetts with his wife and two daughters.