Governance

Board of directors

There are six directors on the current Safe Ireland board. They provide vital expertise on:

• Governance
• Strategic planning
• Financial management
• Funding
• Organisational development
• Culture and change management
• Human resources
• Networking

Board members

Ann Larkin (Chairperson) began working with Women’s Aid Dundalk as a support worker in 2005 and from there she went on to serve as a Board member and held the role of Chairperson for nine years. Ann was recently appointed as Services Manager. Women’s Aid Dundalk provides a range of pre crisis, crisis and post crisis services for women and children experiencing domestic violence. Ann holds a BA in Business (Management Studies), IPASS Payroll Technician and a Higher National Diploma in Community Development.

Lisa Morris (Company Secretary) has over 14 years experience working in the Domestic Violence sector, namely at Amber, Kilkenny Women’s Refuge CLG. ‘Amber’ provides emergency Refuge accommodation and various support services to women and children experiencing domestic violence in Kilkenny and Carlow. Lisa has worked in many roles including Project Worker, Senior Project Worker, Acting Manager and then took on the role of Manager in 2015. Lisa has a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care which she obtained from Cork Institute of Technology. Lisa has previous experience working with women and children experiencing homelessness also. She has a keen interest in being involved at a National level at working towards making Ireland the safest country in the world for women and children.   

Anne Clarke has over 13 years’ experience working in the domestic abuse sector and is currently the CEO of Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service CLG which provides one to one support and various other supports to victims/survivors of domestic abuse throughout Offaly. Anne is a graduate of the College of Marketing and Design in Dublin, with Post Grads from University of Galway in Community Development & Practice and Counselling Psychotherapy, Postgraduate in Leadership from TUS Athlone, and Certificate in the Fundamentals of Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse from DKIT. Anne a keen interest in social justice and working at national level to advocate for safer communities and safe homes.

Emma Reidy has 15 years’ experience working in the area of domestic abuse in a frontline and senior management capacity. Emma has been working in Aoibhneas Domestic Abuse Support for Women and Children for 12 years taking on roles of relief worker, keyworker, outreach worker, interim deputy manager, manager and CEO. Emma has a bachelor’s (hons) degree in Social Science, master’s degree in Equality Studies, additional qualifications in Human Resource Management, Group Facilitation, Mentalization Behaviour Training and is in the process of completing a master’s in Business Administration. Emma’s area of focus in her academic studies was the role of women, family and conflict. In addition to her employment Emma has volunteered in specialist services that support women who experience domestic violence and women engaged in sex work. Emma has also worked with non-for-profit organisations in the areas of homelessness and housing.

Kathleen Chada is a nurse working in the area of Infertility for over 20 years. In 2013 her 2 sons were murdered by their father. And following this she became a founding member of SAVE (Sentencing and Victim Equality). SAVE is an advocacy organisation campaigning for greater justice for the families of murder victims in Ireland. They strive to tip the balance of justice in favour of victims over perpetrators.

Carmel McNamee has been an activist in the area of Violence Against Women for the past 20 years. A founding member and current manager of DVAS Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (Sligo, Leitrim and West Cavan), she has also previously worked as a consultant with Safe Ireland. Carmel has been involved in community-based women’s education and is a volunteer facilitator with Danú Birth Mothers Support Group. Carmel’s key area of interest is in Feminism. Carmel holds a BA in Business Studies (Training and Development) and a BA in Art and Design.

The Board is supported in its work by a:

• Staffing Committee
• Audit & Finance Sub Committee