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Our Board

Our board is voluntary and elected by members to serve a four year term under our Constitution.

Paul Kehoe Image of our Treasurer, Paul Kehoe

Paul joined the Epilepsy Ireland Finance & Audit sub-committee in 2017 and was elected to the Board in 2018. He currently serves as Treasurer. He is an experienced accounting and finance professional who has worked for over 40 years in the Financial Services sector including many years at AIB Global Treasury.

 


Paul FaheyImage our board member, Paul Fahey.
Paul Fahey is a Chartered Director and member of the Institute of Directors Ireland. Paul is a Director of Glenough Consulting Limited which provides consultancy services to the health sector. Paul is a pharmacist previously owned and operated a pharmacy business for over 25 years. He served as the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland from 2011-2013. Paul is actively involved in the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and is a member of its Technology Forum and ONE FIP Data & Intelligence Commission 


Prof Mary KingImage of our board member, Professor Mary King.

Prof. King is a recently retired Consultant Paediatric Neurologist from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple St., Rotunda Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. She is a Professor in Paediatrics at University College Dublin, School of Medicine & Medical Science and has many publications in the field of Paediatric Neurology including “A Handbook of Neurological Investigations in Children”. Professor King has collaborated in several Genomic projects which have led to definite diagnoses, genetic counselling and personalised treatments for many Irish families.


Nicola SaarsteinerNikki Sarsteiner

Nicola joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2003 and subsequently volunteered for Epilepsy Ireland as a media volunteer, speaking at a number of conferences and events. She became a barrister in 2012 and practices in a number of areas in civil litigation, including personal injury, professional negligence and employment law.


Mark CurranMark Curran

Mark joined the Board of Directors in 2023.  He is a practising barrister and accredited mediator engaged in civil litigation with a particular focus on financial services & pensions law, regulatory law, judicial review, personal injuries law and employment law.  Mark is a member of the Bar of Ireland and the New York State Bar and holds degrees from University College Dublin and the University of Cambridge.


Aaron ChalkeAaron Chalke

Aaron is the founder and Managing Director of Foe, a film production and advertising creative studio. He has worked in the marketing and advertising sector since 2010, developing a number of award-winning campaigns with a range of international and domestic brands. Alongside the advertising services, Aaron also produces films. He is a graduate of Dublin City University and is currently studying a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Producing for Film and TV in TUD with Screen Ireland. 


Nicola NagleNicola Nagle

Nicola joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She has a BSc in Accounting from UCC and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. She is a Director in KPMG’s technical accounting department with over 13 years’ experience working with listed companies, private Irish family-owned business as was all not-for-profit organisations. She brings invaluable experience to the charity in financial reporting, legal and corporate governance requirements. 


Caoimhe NearyCaoimhe Neary

Caoimhe joined the Board of Directors in 2025 having previously served on the Finance & Audit sub-committee since 2024. Working as a Tax Director in EY, she has over 13 years’ experience advising corporates in employment tax with a particular focus on tax technology and transformation and Revenue Audit remediation programmes. Caoimhe is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Irish Tax Institute, and holds degrees from University College Dublin and Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. 


Liam WoulfeLiam Woulfe

Liam has an undergraduate degree in Production Management from the University of Limerick. He has 20 years’ experience working with Fortune 500 Medtech organisations in roles of increasing responsibility. In that period, he as completed an MSc in Project and Programme Management in UL and an Executive MBA from the UCD Smurfit Business School. He is currently a Senior Strategic Director in Medtronic's Global Operations and Supply Chain organisation.  He is currently a member of the EI Finance & Audit sub-committee. He was diagnosed with Epilepsy at the age of 16 and is passionate about supporting the strategic aims of Epilepsy Ireland.


Finance & Audit sub-committee

The sub-committee assists and advise the Board on the organisation’s finances, business activities and strategic direction.

Board Members: Cathy Grieve; Paul Kehoe; Paul Fahey; Caoimhe Neary; Liam Woulfe;
Independent Members: Owen McCarthy; Allan Barrett; 
Staff: CEO & Finance Manager


Governance & Nominations sub-committee

The sub-committee advises the Board on all matters of governance including on the composition of the board and board recruitment.

Board Members: Helen Behan; Clare O'Dea; Cathy Grieve; Mark Curran
Staff: CEO


Remuneration sub-committee

The sub-committee sets the CEO’s objectives, appraises and reports to the Board on performance and sets policy on management remuneration.

Board Members: Cathy Grieve; Paul Kehoe; Clare O'Dea


Quality & Safety sub-committee

The sub-committee oversees accountability for quality, safety and risk management in our services and across the organisation.

Board Members: Anne Kilroy; Ambrose Kealy; 
Staff: CEO & Director of Services


Communications & Fundraising sub-committee

The sub-committee assists, supports and advises the Board on strategies relating to income generation, communications, awareness-raising and advocacy.

Board Members: Aaron Chalke; Nicola Saarsteiner;
Independent Members: Tony Caravousanos; Roisin Kelly;
Staff: CEO; Fundraising Manager; Advocacy & Comms Manager


Research sub-committee

The sub-committee assists, supports and advises the Board on research funding priorities, EI's research investments and how our strategic objectives in this area can be best met.

Board Members: Mary King; Paul Fahey; Anne Maguire.
Staff: CEO


Service-User Consultation Group 

In 2023, the Board approved the establishment of the Epilepsy Ireland Service-User Consultation Group. The group has a defined Terms of Reference and is composed of individuals who currently use or have previously used our services, are actively involved in our work, or who have volunteered with us in the past. The purpose of the Group is to provide input, feedback, and new ideas into the operational activities of Epilepsy Ireland, that helps the organisation ensure that we continue to meet the needs of people with epilepsy and their families in accordance with our vision, mission and values. The role of the Group includes input and feedback on matters such as service delivery, research priorities, awareness themes, advocacy goals, public communications, events and more. The group is currently made up of 11 service-users/ volunteers and met three times in 2024, facilitated by the EI management team. 


Epilepsy Ireland Management Team

Chief Executive, Peter Murphy
Director of Services, Tara Smith
Finance Manager, Deirdre Noyes
Fundraising & Development Manager, Cian Dikker
Training & Quality Manager, Edel Curran
Advocacy & Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan