By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Accept All Cookies

Our People

Plan International Ireland is made up of an experience group of passionate and committed individuals who are determined to make a difference.

Geraldine Kelly
Margaret Gilsenan
Muireann O’Briain
Kevin Carroll
Harry Goddard
Adrienne Symes
Ray Bowe
Jane Clare
Madeleine Keane
Shane Nolan
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.
Conor Faughnan
Member
Nicole Heimberg
Business Development Officer
Eleanor Flew
Member of the Board
Eleanor is Director of Fundraising and Communications with Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services; Harold’s Cross, Blackrock & Wicklow.
Anna Keane
Individual Giving Manager
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.
Jemma Lawlor
Finance Officer
Jemma joined Plan International Ireland in April 2017 as Finance & Operations Administrator and is currently Finance Officer.
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.
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.
Deirdre Corcoran
Member of the Board
Deirdre Corcoran is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has extensive financial, management, company secretarial and governance experience.
Kelly Souza Marron
Emergencies Officer
Kelly joined Plan International Ireland in May, 2019.
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.
David Martyn
Education Researcher
David joined Plan in 2019. He is an Employment Based PhD Scholar with funding from the Irish Research Council.
George Massey
Programme Team Lead Multilateral
George's overseas experience includes programmes in Haiti, Iraq and Sierra Leone.
John Perry
Member of the Board
John is a partner at Deloitte Ireland LLP and is the Tax & Legal Operate Leader.
Clare McPhillips
Donor Relations Officer
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
Donal Maher
Chief Operations Officer
Nenagh native Donal joined Plan International in 2006.
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.
Emilia Sorrentino
Education in Emergencies Advisor
Emilia has a background in Education in Emergencies and Psycho-Social Support. She spent four years in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (Gaza and the West Bank) where she worked as Programme Manager and later as Country Director for an Italian NGO.
Ashley Westpheling
Development Education Officer
Ashley joined Plan International Ireland in 2019 following the completion of a MSc Humanitarian Action from University College Dublin.
Brian Lehane
Jennifer Victory
Secretary
Jennifer is the Head of Internal Audit with Applegreen PLC.
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.
Dualta Roughneen
Head of Programmes
Dualta joined Plan International Ireland in 2009 after completing a Masters in Human Rights in UCD. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer and was appointed Head of Programmes in February 2016.
Catja Carlson
ICT & Applications Support Officer
Catja joined Plan International Ireland in July 2021 as our ICT & Applications Support Officer.
Ian Brady
Member
Jarlath Doyle
Member of the Board
Jarlath Doyle is the Finance Director at Hilton Hotels Ireland.
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.
Julie Dwyer
Business Development Team Lead
Julie re-joined Plan International Ireland in January 2022 as the team lead for the Business Development Unit.
Caleb M Kyle
Member of the Board
A Plan International Ireland Board member since June 2015, Caleb brings with him a wealth of international business experience.
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.
Siobhan Blackwell
Member of the Board
Siobhan has over 18 years experience in Financial Services.