Experience

Asthma Society of Ireland

• Ireland
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Apr 2023 - Present

  Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

• Interim Chief Executive Officer

  • Aug 2022 - Apr 2023

  Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

• Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Advocacy and Research Manager

  • Nov 2021 - Oct 2022

• Research and Advocacy Manager

  • Sep 2019 - Oct 2022

  Dublin



National Women's Council of Ireland NWCI

• Policy Coordinator

  • Sep 2016 - Aug 2019

  Smithfield, Dublin 7 I provided strategic leadership and direction to NWCI’s policy and advocacy work on its economic portfolio, including coordinating its annual national budget programme. This involved securing funding, strategic partnership and high-level representation. Prior to this I held the posts of Women in Local Government and Development Coordinator (January 2015-October 2016) and Women’s Human Rights and Health Officer (June-December 2014). Key Achievements: - I secured over €300,000 in… Show more I provided strategic leadership and direction to NWCI’s policy and advocacy work on its economic portfolio, including coordinating its annual national budget programme. This involved securing funding, strategic partnership and high-level representation. Prior to this I held the posts of Women in Local Government and Development Coordinator (January 2015-October 2016) and Women’s Human Rights and Health Officer (June-December 2014). Key Achievements: - I secured over €300,000 in government funds for the organisation. - I have built and lead several stakeholder advisory groups and coalitions to advance organisational expertise and advocacy goals. - I achieved ground-breaking change to Ireland’s pensions policy, resulting in increased entitlements for thousands of women and economic recognition of women’s unpaid care work. - I managed a research project setting out the first framework for equality budgeting in Ireland and secured the establishment of the government's Expert Advisory Group, on which I sat. - I drove the organisation’s campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment alongside the Director, including coordinating consumer and policy research, lobbying and advocacy, and drove negotiations on the establishment of the referendum campaign entity Together for Yes. I was Head of TFY’s Campaign Platform, managing the coordination of 97 organisations and groups. - I redesigned and coordinated the organisation's pre-budget programme, involving the production, launch and promotion of two submissions, member consultation, political lobbying and high-level events. - I was a spokesperson on national and local media and high-level advocacy fora.

• Women in Local Government and Development Coordinator

  • Jan 2015 - Sep 2016

  Smithfield, Dublin 7 I led a programme of work aimed at ensuring that women’s equality and women’s voices are at the heart of local government processes, through strategic analysis, lobbying and negotiation at national and local levels, with a particular emphasis on building alliances in both the statutory and non-statutory sectors. I supported a cross-country network of representative groups to build their advocacy and strategic capacities, engaging them in collaborative initiatives aimed at progressing their… Show more I led a programme of work aimed at ensuring that women’s equality and women’s voices are at the heart of local government processes, through strategic analysis, lobbying and negotiation at national and local levels, with a particular emphasis on building alliances in both the statutory and non-statutory sectors. I supported a cross-country network of representative groups to build their advocacy and strategic capacities, engaging them in collaborative initiatives aimed at progressing their clients' needs. I coordinated multi-stakeholder consultations and focus groups among members of this network and others to inform my policy submissions to government. Key Achievements: - I worked with cross-country networks of women's community groups to create synergistic advocacy campaigns to influence government policies and programmes on local community and local development. - I developed and delivered support workshops on gender equality in local development to 90 locally based women’s groups across Ireland. - I established cooperative working relationship on behalf of the organisation with key decision-makers in government and State agencies responsible for local government and local development and succeeded in securing large-scale multi-annual funding for NWCI. - I developed a gender-sensitive Public Consultation Checklist for local authority Chief Officers. - I organised and hosted national seminar with government department and agency on social inclusion engagement strategies attended by 200+ service providers and local authority staff. - I secured over €300,000 in funding for the organisations to continue this and other projects.

• Women's Human Rights and Health Worker (maternity cover)

  • Jun 2014 - Dec 2014

  100 North King Street, Dublin 7 I was responsible for establishing and managing relationships with key stakeholders, including Health Service Executive officials, diverse civil society organisations and frontline provision staff to advance gender-sensitive health strategies. Key Achievements: - Through cultivating and establishing relationships with HSE-funded and HSE health providers, I secured three practice site commitments for and designed the roll-out of demonstration projects aimed at testing and developing… Show more I was responsible for establishing and managing relationships with key stakeholders, including Health Service Executive officials, diverse civil society organisations and frontline provision staff to advance gender-sensitive health strategies. Key Achievements: - Through cultivating and establishing relationships with HSE-funded and HSE health providers, I secured three practice site commitments for and designed the roll-out of demonstration projects aimed at testing and developing good practice in gender mainstreaming through diverse sectors of the Irish health system, which were taken on by my replacement on her return. - I secured NMBI accreditation for NWCI’s Gender Matters Training Programme, including the establishment of pilot training programme with the INMO Professional Development Centre and Trinity College School of Nursing and Midwifery. - I submitted a successful bid to the International Association for Women's Mental Health to co-host the 2017 World Congress of Women's Mental Health in Dublin.



Together for Yes

• Ireland
• Political Organizations

• Head of Campaign Platform (External Affairs)

  • Feb 2018 - Jun 2018

  County Dublin, Ireland I headed up the establishment, management and coordination of the Together For Yes Campaign Platform, made up, ultimately, of 97 organisations and groups working to achieve a 'yes' vote in the referendum to repeal the eighth amendment to the Irish Constitution.


European Women's Lobby
• Belgium
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Executive Committee Member

  • Jun 2016 - Jun 2018


‎Al-Haq Organisation | مؤسسة الحق‎

• Palestine, State of
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• UN Advocacy Officer

  • Oct 2012 - Dec 2013

  Palestinian Territory I coordinated strategic and operational planning and led all advocacy and engagement activities at the UN, while developing relevant policy positions, acting as lead spokesperson, and lobbying and negotiating with diplomatic representatives in Palestine, Israel and Geneva. I also line managed the UN Advocacy Associate and was chair and convenor of the Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council’s (PHROC). Key Achievements: - I developed best practice campaign, lobbying and project… Show more I coordinated strategic and operational planning and led all advocacy and engagement activities at the UN, while developing relevant policy positions, acting as lead spokesperson, and lobbying and negotiating with diplomatic representatives in Palestine, Israel and Geneva. I also line managed the UN Advocacy Associate and was chair and convenor of the Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council’s (PHROC). Key Achievements: - I developed best practice campaign, lobbying and project management approaches within Al-Haq and PHROC, including developing and maintaining information systems to map, track, schedule and monitor activities related to UN advocacy objectives. - I successfully lobbied on behalf of Al Haq and PHROC to influence the report of the UN International Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which significantly reflected our policy recommendations. This work involved leading detailed sensitive negotiations with Permanent Missions in the UN and Palestine and organising a parallel event at which I presented alongside chair of the Fact-Finding Mission Ms. Christine Chanet. - I coordinated the advocacy efforts of two coalitions – PHROC and the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem – for Israel’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR), succeeding in having over 60% of questions presented to Permanent Missions being asked during the review. - I attended and arranged side events at the first and second UN Fora on Business and Human Rights Show less



Amnesty International

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Campaigns Officer

  • Sep 2008 - Oct 2012

  Reporting to Campaigns and Activism Manager, I had lead responsibility for two of AI Ireland’s campaigns, which involved the development, implementation and evaluation of impact-driven strategies to influence national and international policy positions of the Irish government and intergovernmental bodies. I monitored and analysed political developments at a national and international level and mapped the mandate of relevant bodies to identify potential entry points and avenues for impact… Show more Reporting to Campaigns and Activism Manager, I had lead responsibility for two of AI Ireland’s campaigns, which involved the development, implementation and evaluation of impact-driven strategies to influence national and international policy positions of the Irish government and intergovernmental bodies. I monitored and analysed political developments at a national and international level and mapped the mandate of relevant bodies to identify potential entry points and avenues for impact. Key Achievements: - Over four years from 2008 to 2012, I represented Amnesty International (AI) Ireland in successfully lobbying for the introduction of Irish legislation criminalising female genital mutilation with extraterritorial jurisdiction, the 2012 the Criminal Justice (FGM) Act, which strongly reflects the human rights recommendations I developed and proposed. - I facilitated the campaigning efforts of 27 local activist groups across Ireland, which fed into and supported our national and international-level campaigning. I arranged public talks with high-profile figures, such as Nobel Peace Laureate Mairéad Maguire and former Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq Denis Halliday, as well as leading Palestinian human rights defenders. Show less



Oxfam Ireland

• Ireland
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Campaigns and Advocacy Administrator

  • Mar 2006 - Sep 2008

  Reporting to Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, I was responsible for administration, external communications and event organising for the department. Key Achievements - I designed and implemented a digital project promoting Fair Trade Fortnight, made up of vlogs, blogs and workshops around the country. - I coordinated a cross-country film tour of the multi-award-winning documentary Black Gold, involving screenings and speaker panels including the film's makers. - I designed and… Show more Reporting to Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, I was responsible for administration, external communications and event organising for the department. Key Achievements - I designed and implemented a digital project promoting Fair Trade Fortnight, made up of vlogs, blogs and workshops around the country. - I coordinated a cross-country film tour of the multi-award-winning documentary Black Gold, involving screenings and speaker panels including the film's makers. - I designed and produced a monthly online and hardcopy magazine for campaigners, which included information on up-to-date opportunities to engage with the organisations campaigns, including pull-out/downloadable tools. - I organised all festival presence, including managing and overseeing volunteers and developing interactive organising campaigning activities over the two summers of my term. Show less


Griffith College Ireland
• Third Level Tutor

  • 2005 - 2005
• Faculty Administrator

  • 2003 - 2003