On Tuesday 24th February 2015, Brian Carlin attended the launch of a UNESCO Chair at The Institute of Technology in Tralee, Co Kerry. The aim of the Chair is for "Transforming the Lives of People with Disabilities, their Families and Communities, Through Physical Education, Sport, Recreation and Fitness". The Chairholder is Dr Florian Kiuppis from Lillehammer University in Norway.

Brian Carlin said: “It was an honour to be invited to attend the launch of the UNESCO Chair, as Aspire is dedicated to transforming the lives of spinal cord injured people, supporting them from injury to independence. I was delighted to meet Michael Higgins, President of the Republic of Ireland, and have the opportunity to discuss with him the work that Aspire does helping disabled people. This Chair is of particular interest to Aspire as our InstructAbility programme, in partnership with YMCAFit, provides free fitness industry training and qualifications for disabled people, followed by a voluntary industry work placement. More than 100 disabled people have qualified as instructors, working to encourage other disabled people to get active.”