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Meet Our Board Members

Our Board Members

Galway Simon Community is governed by a Board of Directors with expertise and experience across a diverse range of areas. In addition, the work of our teams is overseen by Board Sub-Committees including the Finance and Governance; Services, Quality & Safety; Property, and Fundraising & Communications.

Our Board Members give their time on a voluntary basis. They hold meetings regularly to ensure the organisation is well run and meets it obligations as a limited company and registered charity. Their job is to scrutinise everything we do.

Stephen Mackey

Chairperson

Joined Board: November 2018

Stephen’s career included many years in management in banking. He was later director and shareholder in a  property investment company. Currently self-employed as a business, finance, and property consultant.

Seán Mahon

Board Member

Joined Board: August 2022

Seán is a Solicitor with Mahon Sweeney Solicitors LLP in Roscommon. He has a B.A. LLB from UCG/NUIG. He has been practicing as a Solicitor for over twenty-five years in Roscommon and is actively involved in the community in Roscommon.

Gerry Cleary

Board Member

Joined Board: April 2022

Gerry is a Chartered Accountant and is Financial Controller with Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF), one of Ireland’s largest arts organisations. He has also worked with a number of other not for profits in Galway including Baboró International Arts Festival for Children. Gerry received a B Comm. from NUI Galway and Dip. in Professional Accounting from UCD. He trained with accountancy firm Arthur Andersen in Dublin.  He worked in the US for a number of years with Arthur Andersen and law firm Mayer Brown, and in Ireland with Ryanair and technology company Nortel.

Claire Gannon, Board Member, Galway Simon Community

Claire Gannon

Board Member

Joined Board: October 2021

Claire has experience working across companies of varying sectors and sizes from Irish indigenous start-ups to multibillion-dollar multinationals. Claire has led global HR teams and for the past 15 years and has worked with executive teams driving organisational change and transformation. Claire is currently an independent business advisor supporting clients to identify and define problems, build initiatives, and drive solutions and strategies for sustainable growth and success.

Seán O'Connor

Board Member

Joined Board: October 2021

A native of Roscommon, Seán has worked in property management in the midlands and west of Ireland for over 15 years. He has also worked extensively in the telecommunications sector in London, Cork and Limerick. A graduate of UL and the University of Coventry, Seán is also deeply involved in volunteering in sporting organisations in Galway.

Billy Owens, Board Member, Galway Simon

Billy Owens

Board Member

Joined Board: March 2021

Billy has experience in training development and quality control in various companies. As a client representative, Billy endorses the value of the client as a fundamental inclusion in all aspects of our community.

Pádraic Ó Máille

Board Member

Joined Board: November 2022

Pádraic is one of Irelands’ freshest speakers and writers on business and motivational issues. A B.Comm graduate from UCG, he is a qualified and skilled group facilitator who can harness the power within groups and activate extraordinary performance within members.

Caroline McGregor

Board Member

Joined Board: September 2023

Caroline McGregor is a CORU registered social worker who has predominantly worked in the field of academia at Trinity College, Queen’s University and the University of Galway. Her social work experience and research interests are mostly within the field of child protection and welfare. Caroline is the current Director of Social Work at the University of Galway and is a Senior Researcher at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre.

Jean Kelly

Board Member

Joined Board: November 2023

Jean held a number of Senior Nurse Management roles in the Saolta Healthcare Group before being appointed as Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery in 2014. She retired in 2020 but she returned to work to assist with the Covid Vaccination programme for Galway. Jean has always valued the contribution that patients/clients can make to healthcare and her focus has been to ensure that their voice is heard at all levels of an organisation.

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