We are governed by a Board of Directors whose principal responsibilities are the setting and monitoring of the strategic direction of the organisation, monitoring compliance, ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources and the establishment of policy. No remuneration is paid to Directors for their services on the Board.Â
Renée Clifford Dempsey was appointed Chair of the ActionAid Ireland board in July 2024. Renée is passionate about women’s rights and equality and has an experienced track record both in Ireland and internationally. She is a former civil and public servant, experienced as a national representative at international fora (EU, UN, OECD, IEA, IAEA) on issues such as energy, electricity, climate change, transport, nuclear safety, telecoms and disability. During Ireland’s EU Presidencies, she chaired several working groups and she is the former CEO of the Equality Authority, including management of the merger with Irish Human Rights Commission. She is former interim CEO of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, former co-Chair with Japan of OECD Climate Technology Initiative, former Ministerial appointee to Board of the National Disability Authority and member of the alumni of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies. Renée is the independent Chairperson of the Disability Stakeholders Group, ending December 2024.
Makena joined the board in July 2020. She is a multi-skilled development practitioner with over thirty years in senior leadership in the civil society sector. She has both local (Kenya) and international field experience from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somaliland, India and South Sudan. She has vast experience in programme design, implementation, evaluation, and people management. A capacity builder, a mentor, and an enabler especially to young people and especially vulnerable girls and women. She has led and inspired multi-cultural, multi-diversity strong teams with three International NGOs and has also lived in Sweden where she volunteered with a local organisation working with people seeking political asylum.
Makena is a founding memberof Sauti ya Wanawake (Women’s Voices), a local movement that has become a powerful voice of women and girls in Kenya. Makena is a former Executive Director with ActionAid Kenya before she retired in 2020 and is currently the Executive Director at the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation in Arusha, Tanzania. Makena has served on several boards including the CHS Alliance where she represented the ActionAid Federation. Makena holds a Bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University, USA.
Moira Leydon joined the board in February 2021. She is Assistant General Secretary at the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI). Her role at the ASTI is focused on education and research, including curriculum and assessment, education policy, education for sustainable development, teacher professionalism and global education issues.
She was a co-founder of the Irish Forum for Global Education, which is affiliated with the Global Campaign for Education which with ActionAid International is actively engaged. Moira represents the ASTI on the Research Network and the Solidarity and Co-operation Committee of Education International. She also represents ASTI on the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD’s Education and Skills Working Group. Moira was on the Board of Aontas, supporting adult learners from 2017 to 2022. She chairs a Gael Scoil in Trim, Co. Meath.
Graham Roe joined the Board in February 2021; he is a professional in the International Development sector and a supporter of ActionAid Ireland. Graham has extensive experience working within a public engagement context on International Development, with integrated communication, campaigns, advocacy, and fundraising, through his roles with Oxfam Ireland, Oxfam International, World Vison Ireland, Concern Worldwide and Amnesty International.. He is currently Marketing, Communications & Fundraising with Special Olympics Ireland.
Graham is a leader in the Irish fundraising market; he has been involved for many years with Fundraising Ireland – now Charities Institute Ireland – contributing on fundraising regulation and where he delivers modules for CII’s education courses. He holds a Diploma in Fundraising Management (honours) from Fundraising Ireland/Charities Institute Ireland, a Certificate in Charity Law, Trusteeship and Governance (with distinction) from the Law Society of Ireland, and an MA (honours) in Law.
Ben Burton joined the Board in February 2021. He relocated to Dublin from London in 2018 and now works for the Communications Function of the Central Bank of Ireland. He is a highly experienced strategic communications advisor and brings a blend of his journalism and communications agency experience to the Board. Ben was previously Managing Director Corporate, Financial & Public Affairs with Weber Shandwick in London, prior to that he also worked for Edelman in London. Between 2002 and 2008 he was a political correspondent and producer for ITV Meridian.
Sadhbh O’ Neill joined the board in March 2023. She is Climate Campaign Coordinator with Stop Climate Chaos. A former policy advisor to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action between 2018 and 2020, she also acted as coordinator and spokesperson for Climate Case Ireland during 2019 which took a successful legal challenge to the State’s National Mitigation Plan. She is currently a member of the EPA Advisory Committee and writes a monthly column on climate change for the Irish Times. She has held positions as a lecturer and researcher at the DCU School of Law and Government and UCD School of Politics and International Relations. She is currently lecturing at TUD in EU and national energy and climate law as part of its MSc programme in energy management, as well as completing a research project for the Climate Change Advisory Council.
BrÃd read law in University College Dublin (1993-1996) and attended the Kings Inns for the years 1996-1998 obtaining a Barrister-at-Law degree. Brid is a practising barrister with over 25 years’ experience and a CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) accredited mediator since 2007. Brid’s practice encompasses all areas of civil law including Constitutional, human rights and equality cases. She has regularly appeared before statutory bodies including the Hepatitis C and the HIV Compensation Tribunal and the Residential Institution Redress Board. BrÃd is a Chairperson for Mental Health Tribunals conducted under the Mental Health Act 2001. She was appointed by the Minister for Justice to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in 2017 which determines appeals relating to application for refugee and subsidiary protection under the International Protection Act 2015.
Gillian is Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, with over 23 years of professional experience in various finance roles across the public and private sectors.
She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG Dublin and then moved to work in KPMG Sydney. Her experience spans domestic and international clients predominantly in the regulated financial services sector.
Gillian has held leadership roles in prominent start-up enterprises that grew into large, sustainable organisations. She has established highly respected and valued finance functions from the ground up, leveraging the latest technology and selecting skilled resources.
Gillian has a Master’s in Accounting from UCD and holds qualifications in Insolvency and Corporate Governance.
She is currently an independent business consultant and Board member. Gillian is a member of the Board of ActionAid Ireland and Chair of the Finance & Risk Committee.
Sign up to our NewsletterStay up-to-date on ActionAid’s innovative programmes, get news on global social justice issues, and find out how you can get involved.
