How we're run
The people we serve are at the heart of all our work. It is so important to us that they receive the highest quality of support on their recovery journey, and so we hold ourselves to the very highest standards.
We have operational and governance processes in place to ensure that we work in an open and transparent manner. This also ensures that we comply with our statutory and legal responsibilities, and with the governance obligations of our funders.
We are governed by a Constitution and our independent, non-executive Board of Directors is committed to maintaining best practice in corporate governance, including adhering to the Charities Regulator Charities Governance Code.
Currently there are seven members of the Board, drawn from diverse backgrounds and bringing to their role a broad range of experience and skills, including significant expertise in business, finance and health and disability services. Together they are responsible for providing leadership, developing strategy, identifying and mitigating risk, and monitoring the budgets and outcomes of the organisation.
There are three Sub Committees of the Board, focusing on the areas of Remuneration; Finance and Audit; and Quality, Safety and Risk.
Board of Directors
Hugh O’Connor
Interim Chairperson
Hugh is Director and Senior Consultant with management consulting firm OCS Consulting and has extensive experience in the area of organisational review and strategy development.
Hugh was founding Chief Executive of Age Friendly Ireland (2012 to 2017) and in this role led the development of Ireland’s World Health Organisation (WHO) inspired ‘Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme’, providing technical support and leadership to the 31 participating local authorities, the Heath Service Executive and other programme partners.
Hugh was previously a member of the Strategic Advisory Group for the WHO Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities; the WHO and European Union’s Age-friendly Environments in Europe Advisory Committee; and the Department of An Taoiseach’s Steering Group on Smart Ageing. Hugh has also lectured in services marketing, strategic management and research methods at the Institute of Technology in Carlow (Ireland). Hugh graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) with an MBS.
Dr Ann Coyle
Board Director
Ann has retired from the HSE following a long career encompassing Clinical, Administrative, Managerial and Strategic Planning roles across several divisions of the Health Services. These include Primary and Community Care, Mental Health, Older Persons Services and Health and Well Being.
She has also acted as Interim Lead for Quality and Safety in the Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation. She has successfully led multi-disciplinary, integrated service initiatives across Primary Care and Hospital Services in the North East and has championed progressive models of care including new models of Nursing Home care and technology supports. She has also championed the introduction of service user advocacy services, safeguarding and social prescribing at a national and regional level.
Ann completed her PhD in 2014, focusing on the organisational barriers to Person-Centred Care within Public Residential Care Services for Older People. Ann’s interests include hill walking, travelling, current affairs and reading.
Colm Eustace
Board Director
Colm has 35 years’ experience working in the Irish Agribusiness industry. All these years were spent with Glanbia plc working with Glanbia Agribusiness, a former business unit of Glanbia plc. His final 12 years with Glanbia Agribusiness were as Chief Executive Officer, reporting to Group Managing Directors of Glanbia plc.
Colm holds a degree in Agricultural Science (Econ) from University College Dublin, an MBA from Dublin City University and Professional Diplomas in Corporate Governance, Business and Executive Coaching, Advanced Business and Executive Coaching, all from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
He is currently Chairperson and Trustee of Irish Community Air Ambulance (I.C.A.A. trading as I.C.R.R.), non-executive director of Grassland Fertilisers Ltd., South-East Port Services Ltd., D. Walsh and Sons Ltd. and an accredited Business Coach and Mentor. Colm is married to his wife, Helen with a daughter, Ella.
Andy Heffernan
Board Director
Andy is currently the Chief Executive of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland having previously served as the National Secretary of the Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP), which is one of the largest voluntary charitable organisations in Ireland.
Prior to his role at the SVP he was Chief Executive of St John of God Community Services, an organisation providing a range of services to those with learning disabilities and mental health issues across Ireland.
He served in the Defence Forces for 19 years, holding a range of training, command and staff appointments. He also served abroad, including three trips in the Middle East with the United Nations, Central Africa with Goal, and the Balkans with the European Union. Andy has a BSc from NUIG, an MSc from the University of Ulster and a certificate in Charity Law, Trusteeship and Governance from the Law Society of Ireland. His interests include current affairs, rugby and reading.
Tina Leonard
Board Director
Tina is a member of the European Institute of Public Relations and a graduate of TCD, UCD and UCC. She is also currently a member of the ICT, Digital and Data Committee of the Board of the Citizens Information Board.
Tina has over two decades experience in influencing through building evidence, awareness, brand and reputation. Known for communicating complex issues simply to a variety of audiences, she brings her rich and varied experiences to each project.
Tina is Communications Director at the Arts Council which she joined from Drury Communications in January 2023. Previously, at the Alzheimer Society of Ireland she led the policy, advocacy and public affairs work for eight years. Prior to that Tina fine-tuned her communications expertise while working as a consumer journalist and commentator across RTÉ Radio, TV, the Irish Independent and other titles. A published author, she was previously Executive Director of Ireland’s European Consumer Centre. She previously served on the Board of the Citizens Information Board and on the Board of the National Consumer Agency, the Central Bank’s Consumer Advisory Group and Safefood’s advisory committee.
Jim Mahon
Board Director
Former Head of Finance at Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Jim Mahon joined the Board of Directors in February 2024.
Jim first joined Acquired Brain Injury Ireland as Head of Finance in May 2022. Having worked in the accountancy profession, major retail, and having held senior positions in the pharmaceutical, education and hospitality sectors, Jim brings a depth and breadth of experience to the role from a career spanning over 30 years.
Robert McCarthy
Board Director
Robert has worked for a quarter of a century at the leading edge of the software development business. He is currently responsible for the governance and operations of one of the largest software labs in Ireland.
An accomplished leader, he has throughout his career delivered impact through his focus for innovation, transformation and excellent governance. He joined the board of ABII as he is intrinsically motivated by their work and the positive difference the organisation and people working there make to the lives of those impacted by brain injuries.
Michael O’Mahony
Board Director
Michael holds an honours degree in Management Practice from UL’s Kemmy Business School, and an MSc in Business from UCD’s Smurfit Business Graduate School including Corporate Governance & Strategy, Development & Innovation and Leadership Development. He is a Governor in the Irish Prison Service, with over 20 years’ experience in operational settings.
Posted to the Midlands Prison, with responsibility for Security & Operations, Michael previously held roles coordinating services to optimise prisoner outcomes. Prior to that, from 2018 to 2021, he had overall responsibility for prisoner escorts and was instrumental in the design and innovative operational development of the videolink system across the criminal Justice sector and pivoted the system through the pandemic, maintaining compliance alongside delivering lean efficiencies.
His key interests include managing and building efficiencies particularly within the security envelope to provide greater effectiveness and value for money for the State.
Lorraine McCarthy
Board Director
Lorraine has spent 25 years in financial services holding senior executive and board positions with large multinational entities. She was approved by Central Bank to hold several regulatory roles and in particular has added value to corporate governance, risk and compliance management.
She is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and holds a Professional Diploma in Compliance (LCOI). Lorraine has completed the IOD Chartered Director Programme and also the Certified Investment Funds Director Programme.
She believes that ABI Ireland is making a significant contribution and is enthusiastic about being part of the Board of Directors.
Board Sub Committees
The Board has three Sub Committees focusing on the areas of Remuneration; Quality, Safety and Risk; and Finance and Audit.
Remuneration Committee members 2024: Hugh O’Connor, Clair Cullinan, Tina Leonard
Quality, Safety and Risk Committee members 2024: Andrew Heffernan, Ann Coyle, Michael O’Mahony, Catherine Lacey (Interim Director of Service Operations), Trevor Nesirky (Quality, Safety and Practice Development Manager)
Finance and Audit Committee members 2024: Colm Eustace, Evelyn Fitzpatrick, Jim Mahon, Robert McCarthy.
Quality and Accreditations
CARF Accreditation
In 2003, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland became the first service provider in the Republic of Ireland to achieve CARF accreditation. CARF is the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Services. It is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that assesses the facilities and services of a wide range of rehabilitation providers globally. CARF accreditation is a prestigious and internationally recognised quality mark, signalling that the services we provide meet or exceed international best practice.
CARF accredits organisations in three-year blocks. In 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021 and again in 2023, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland achieved the highest level of accreditation in acquired brain injury residential rehabilitation services, home and community rehabilitation services and governance standards. According to CARF: “This achievement is an indication of your organisation’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons-served”.
In 2018, we also received gold standard accreditation in recognition of our Case Management Service.
HIQA Registered
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland’s neuro-rehabilitation assisted living services are registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and are monitored under the Health Act 2007 (Care and support of residents in designated centres for persons (children and adults) with disabilities) regulations 2013.
Policy Documents
We ensure the rights and responsibilities of the people we serve are upheld, both in policy and practise.
Don’t just take our word for it.
Effectiveness
98.7%
said our services ‘enabled me to do things better’
Responsiveness
94.4%
said ‘I got what I needed, when I needed it’
Informed Choice
95.6%
said they had the ‘opportunity to make important choices’
Respect
98.1%
said ‘I feel respected as a person’
Community
93.5%
said they ‘do better in social situations’
Safety
100%
said they ‘felt safe here’
Transparency and Accountability
Charities Institute Ireland Triple Lock
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is a member of the Charities Institute Ireland (CII) and proudly certified with the Triple Lock standard. The Triple Lock standard is available to members of the CII who deliver best practice in transparency and accountability, particularly in the areas of governance, fundraising and reporting. Triple Lock certification demonstrates that an organisation is strong, credible, well governed, that it implements quality work and does so in a way that respects the people for whom the organisation is founded.
Annual Reports
Strategic Plan
Our ambition is to ensure that every brain injury survivor can access the rehabilitation and support they need within their community, so that they can live their best life as independently as possible. There is still a long way to go. Our Strategy 2020 – 2024 is a roadmap to guide us along our journey, and a commitment to be a voice for change on behalf of brain injury survivors and their families.
Codes and Standards of Practice
We adhere to the following codes and standards of practice:
- Charities Regulator ‘Charities Governance Code’
- Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities – ‘SORP’
- Safeguarding Ireland ‘Adult Safeguarding Charter’
- The General Data Protection Regulations / GDPR (view our Privacy Statement)
