Michael’s introduction to humanitarian work came when he was an Irish Army Captain serving with the United Nations in Lebanon in 1982. It truly was a baptism of fire as he volunteered with the International Red Cross during the infamous Sabra and Shatila massacres. Eleven years later, he accepted a period of secondment with GOAL and worked as a volunteer in South Sudan and as Country Director in Somalia. He resigned from the Army as a Commandant to become Assistant CEO of GOAL on his return from Mogadishu, a position he held for ten years until joining ChildFund Ireland as CEO in 2003. Michael has travelled extensively throughout the Developing World initiating emergency and development programmes in Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, India, Timor Leste and DRC to name but a few. Michael was appointed to the Board of Directors of APSO (Agency for Personnel Services Overseas) in 2000 by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowan, a portfolio he held until APSO was subsumed into the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004.

Elena holds a BA in Economics and an MA in International Economic Relations. Having been with ChildFund for the last 14 years, she is the longest serving member of staff and brings with her a wealth of financial experience. Formerly, as Finance and Sponsorship Director she lead the department that takes great care of our sponsors, helping them to make their sponsorship a worthwhile experience and was responsible for standardising and improving sponsorship systems. Elena is responsible for financial matters in her department and works hard to bring new supporters on board. She also plays the lead role in compiling the quarterly Management Accounts for the organisation. Elena was an active member of the ChildFund Alliance Sponsor Relations Network 2008-2014 and was its co-chair for 2 years. Elena was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ChildFund Ireland in 2015.

Lynette graduated in 1999 with a Diploma in Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland. Since then Lynette has spent 9 years working in finance & insurance, both in Ireland and Australia and is currently in the process of completing a Professional Diploma in Financial Advice. Lynette joined ChildFund in 2008, and is the first point of contact for all sponsors; answering queries, setting up new sponsorships, sending updates on sponsored children and liaising with staff in the national offices of ChildFund partners. Lynette’s financial role also sees her conducting monthly reconciliations for all sponsorship donations; preparing financial reports; transferring sponsorship donations and gifts to ChildFund partners in the field; processing credit card payments, standing order donations and cash lodgements; and preparing annual statements.

Deirdre holds a BSc in Management from Trinity College Dublin, a Diploma in Project and Facilities Management and completed a research scholarship at Leeds University. Deirdre spent many years in the service industry before working with Fáilte Ireland for 4 years as Training Advisor. Her interest in humanitarian issues then took her to Romania with Health Action Overseas and to Calcutta with the Missionaries of Charity. Returning to Ireland, Deirdre spent 10 years working with the health service in both Cork and Dublin working with children and young adults with life limiting conditions as Coordinator of Administration and Support services. Deirdre joined ChildFund in 2008, where she addresses sponsor’s issues as one of the first points of contact for sponsors and coordinates ChildFund’s tax rebate scheme.

Patrick was involved at local and national level in voluntary youth work from 1974 to 1987. Qualifying as an accountant in 1985, he went on to work in public practice for 7 years and subsequently spent 2 years with Glanbia and a further 2 years as Financial Controller with YouthWork Ireland. In 1991, he was seconded to Léargas as Executive Director; overseeing the recruitment of a new Executive Director and implementing new financial systems. Following this and drawing on his voluntary experience and professional qualification, Pat then set up his own company specialising in financial support and advice for organisations and agencies involved in the not for profit sector. He currently continues in this business and has been providing financial support and advice on a part time basis to ChildFund Ireland's Programme and Grants department since 2008.

Fiona is a highly experienced banking professional with over 20 years’ experience concentrated in the retail bank sector.

Following a Bachelor of Business Studies in Marketing Management, Clodagh worked in Business Management for a number of years. She began her career in international development working as an institutional funding manager for Edmund Rice Development, where she gained valuable experience in managing grant programmes including proposal development, financial management and report writing. Having completed a MA in Development Studies from Dublin City University, Clodagh joined ChildFund in 2014 as the Programme and Grants Officer. She represents ChildFund Ireland externally in a number of groups including the Irish Consortium for Gender Based Violence.

Before coming to Ireland, Clarissa worked for ChildFund in Brazil for over two years, during which time she dealt with various Sponsor Relations tasks concerning children in the programmes of ChildFund Brasil. She has developed an understanding of how sponsored children and their families are affected by different aspects of child sponsorship and she got to see the “reality” in the Field. Clarissa’s previous experience in ChildFund programmes, and in informing and educating sponsors about the benefits of sponsorship, is an asset to the organisation. She graduated in Social Communications in Brazil and is currently undertaking a MA in Development Studies from Kimmage Development Studies Centre in Dublin, Ireland.

Brian began working with ChildFund in Oct 2014, having graduated with a degree in Media Studies from NUIM earlier that same year. Brian brings considerable experience in roles requiring excellent communication skills, having spent 8 years working as Customer Account Executive with IMRO and 5 years working in the private sector as a Credit Manager. Prior to this, Brian spent two years working in local radio as producer/presenter of a European current affairs programme during which he interacted with journalists, politicians & civil society representatives from across Europe. Following graduation from NUIM, Brian made a conscious decision to move into an area of professional work more closely aligned with his core belief in social justice, as well as a strong interest in humanitarian and global affairs.