Our People - Plan International Ireland

Margaret Gilsenan

Kevin Carroll

Harry Goddard

Adrienne Symes

Ray Bowe

Jane Clare

Madeleine Keane

Shane Nolan

Muireann O’Briain

Geraldine Kelly

Paul O’Brien

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Paul O'Brien is CEO of Plan International Ireland. With a career spanning 30 years in development and humanitarian work he has lived and worked in a number of developing countries, including Kenya, Sudan, Liberia, Bangladesh and Tanzania. A senior leader in Ireland’s NGO sector for the last 14 years, Paul still travels extensively in his work with Plan International Ireland.

Nicole Heimberg

Business Development Officer

Charles Keane

Member of the Board

Charles brings extensive experience from the Banking and Finance sphere specialising in the small business sector both in Ireland and overseas.

Tara Bedi

Member of the Board

Development economist, Tara Bedi, joined the board in autumn 2021 bringing a wealth of experience in development projects and a focus on gender and social protection.

Jessica Feary

Member of the Board

Jessica Feary is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has worked in finance roles for the past 14 years.

Jemma Lawlor

Finance Officer

Jemma joined Plan International Ireland in April 2017 as Finance & Operations Administrator and is currently Finance Officer.

David O'Leary

Member of the Board

Marketing professional and director of the VHI Women's Mini Marathon, David O'Leary, has been involved with Plan International Ireland since early 2020.

Emily Lyon

Desk Officer

Emily joined Plan International Ireland in February 2021 and currently manages the humanitarian and protracted crisis programme grants from Irish Aid.

Patrick Scott

Member of the Board

Patrick Scott has over 25 years leadership experience in executing strategy and managing business operations.

Mairéad Butler

Member of the Board

Mairéad Butler is studying a BA in European Studies, with a major in Spanish and a minor in German, in Trinity College Dublin, where she is a 2022 Laidlaw Scholar.

Deirdre Murray

Programme Team Lead Irish Aid

Deirdre joined Plan International Ireland in July 2017 and has many years’ experience working in the international development sector.

Saidbh O'Duffy

Finance and Operations Administrator

Aoife Kelly-Desmond

Chair

Aoife Kelly-Desmond is Managing Solicitor at Mercy Law Resource Centre.

Brighid Smyth

Vice-chair

One of Ireland's leading marketing communications professionals, Brighid joined the Plan International Ireland Board in April 2016.

Dylan Phelan

Individual Giving Officer

Dylan joined Plan in September 2021 as a Donor Relations Officer and recently took up the role of Individual Giving Officer.

Lorenza Quadrini

Programme Team Lead EU

Lorenza joined Plan International Ireland in 2018 with 15 years’ experience in the Development and Humanitarian sectors.

Juliane Schmucker

Head of Programmes

Juliane joined Plan Ireland in 2023 as Head of Programmes, through prior to that she worked for over eight years in humanitarian development assistance in Plan International Germany.

Deirdre Corcoran

Chair of the Finance Committee

Deirdre Corcoran is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has extensive financial, management, company secretarial and governance experience.

Carole Wickham

Head of Fundraising and Communication

Carole joined Plan International Ireland in May 2021 bringing over 25 years’ experience in marketing, strategy and communications.

John Perry

Secretary

John is a partner at Deloitte Ireland LLP and is the Tax & Legal Operate Leader.

Ben Davison

Programme Support Officer - EU Unit

Ben has a Master's in Development Practice and began his current role as Programme Support Officer in October 2023.

Ian Brady

Oonagh Kelly

Member of the Board

Oonagh Kelly is a Chief People Officer with over 25 years experience in Financial Services, Professional services and Education Technology.

Jarlath Doyle

Member of the Board

Jarlath Doyle is the Finance Director at Hilton Hotels Ireland.

Julie Dwyer

Business Development Team Lead

Julie re-joined Plan International Ireland in January 2022 as the team lead for the Business Development Unit.

Linda Fuhrmann

Senior Compliance Officer

A dedicated humanitarian worker, Linda joined Plan International Ireland in September 2015 after working in West Africa in response to the Ebola crisis.

Caleb M Kyle