ActionAid Ireland CEO nominated as Chairperson of the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence

Last week it was announced that ActionAid Ireland CEO, Siobhán McGee, will take up the position of Chairperson of the Irish Consortium for Gender Based Violence (ICGBV) for the coming term.

Addressing Gender Based Violence across the globe

The Consortium, which is an alliance of Ireland’s leading NGOs, Irish Aid and the Irish Defence Forces, was established in 2005. The Consortium provides a space in which all agencies work together to increase knowledge and understanding of violence against women and girls, and to ensure high quality programming and policy responses, in both Humanitarian and Development settings.

Siobhán, who has been CEO of ActionAid Ireland since 2015, was successfully nominated by the membership to lead the organisation succeeding Concern CEO Dominic MacSorley, who chaired the Consortium for the past 3 years.

Siobhán stated, ‘I am delighted to have been nominated to this position and to be given the opportunity to steward this organisation in what will be an important period in our development. I would firstly like to extend my gratitude to Dominic who has led the Consortium with distinction since 2016. “

She continued, “The work of the Consortium is very important to me. I’ve worked in the INGO sector since 1991, including some years in Malawi, Kenya and South Sudan. At ActionAid, gender equality lies at the heart of our work. Our Women’s Rights programme (funded by Irish Aid) focuses predominantly on GBV and on women’s personal and economic safety. I have always championed ActionAid’s engagement with the ICGBV because I feel it is vital & expedient for us pool our efforts to tackle the growing issue of gender-based violence.”

Giving voice to women & girls a voice from the South

Siobhán concluded, “I am immensely impressed by the experience, commitment and passion held by members of the Consortium. Considering the increasing conflicts and displacement globally, I see this work as more urgent than ever. It is important to me that we continue to be informed by the experiences of women and girls from the south and that we work hard to have their voices heard at a policy level. I am delighted to be given this opportunity and look forward to the term ahead”