Our People
We are privileged to have a team of compassionate individuals who are deeply committed to making a positive difference in the world. From our tireless staff members to our passionate volunteers, each person plays a vital role in our mission of promoting and protecting the rights of migrants and refugees in Ireland. Together, we form a diverse group with a shared passion for serving. Our team brings together a wide range of skills, expertise, and backgrounds, fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation and hope for a brighter future.
John Lannon (CEO)
John has been Doras CEO since June 2020. Prior to that he served on the Board, including 4 years as chairperson. John previously worked as a lecturer and researcher at the University of Limerick, specialising in project and programme management, and as a consultant with a range of international development and human rights NGOs. He has also served on the boards of Amnesty International Ireland and the Blue Box Creative Arts Therapy Centre. John holds an MA in Peace and Development Studies and a PhD in human rights information management.
Fiona McCaul (Direct Support Manager)
Fiona joined Doras as a Legal Officer in 2015, having graduated from the University of Galway with a First Class Postgraduate Degree in Irish Law. She is now the organisation’s Direct Support Manager, overseeing a team of direct support and outreach workers. In addition to her managerial role, Fiona continues to provide one-to-one legal advice and information on a wide range of immigration related issues. She is passionate about promoting the full participation of minorities to ensure an equal and accessible provision of support services for all.
Aideen Roche (Policy and Programmes Manager)
Aideen has been working with Doras since 2014 and is currently employed in a full-time capacity as the organisation's Programmes & Policy Manager. She has been working in the human rights, social care, and migration sector since 2006, with extensive national and international experience in project management, policy development, advocacy and direct support. Aideen's qualifications include a Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law, specialising in International Refugee Law and Equality; a Higher Diploma in Project Management, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Sociology.
Audrey O’Sullivan (Finance and Operations Manager)
Audrey joined Doras in 2017 as a Finance Manager. She has over 25 years of diverse accounting and financial experience in the private and public sectors. Audrey tracks the organisation's income and expenditure, and handles the financial planning and analysis of Doras. She manages financial reports, prepares financial forecasts/budgets, reports and monitors financial and HR details to ensure legal compliance. She also oversees the operational aspects of the organisation day to day activities.
Ahmed Hassan Mohamed (Community Sponsorship Coordinator)
Ahmed is a social worker and human rights activist, with a professional background in education, youth empowerment, peace building, gender issues, human rights, and community development. He has a degree in Law and in Social Care. Ahmed has developed and lead on a number of different projects on integration in the Mid-West. He was involved in the development of the organosation's Refugee Resettlement toolkit , and has contributed and co-authored in several research programs for migrant health and integration carried out by the University of Limerick. His areas of experience and expertise are in migration, resettlement, community sponsorship and hosting, and supporting vulnerable children and families.
Karen Kunje (Support and Outreach Worker)
Karen is a Support and Outreach Officer with Doras. She has a Master’s degree in Social Science, a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities, and a certificate in Social Welfare Law. Karen provides direct support on a variety of areas affecting our clients, but specialises in social welfare, housing, and homelessness. She has previously worked with NOVAS and Volunteer Mission Movement.
Margaret Cardy (Support and Outreach Worker)
Margaret first worked with Doras as an intern in 2018 and joined as a full time employee in July 2022. She holds a degree in Law with Economics from the University of Limerick. She has completed training in Domestic Abuse Awareness and Social Welfare Law. Working in Direct Support, Margaret assists both appointment and drop-in clients with issues ranging from citizenship applications to social welfare support.
Consolata Okonkwo (Support and Outreach Worker)
Consolata is Nigerian/Irish, and has been in Ireland for over 21 years. She holds degrees in Banking and Finance and Business Studies, and also in Health and Social Care. Consolata joined Doras in 2009 and since then she has worked on a number of roles, both as a volunteer and an employed staff member. In 2018 she joined the Direct Support team as a case worker. She is passionate about assisting and supporting migrants on a one-to-one basis, maintaining their confidentiality and also empowering them to be able to access their individual rights.
Hassan Shariif (Legal Support Worker)
Hassan holds a BA in Politics & Public Administration. He works on supporting and advising international protection applicants and others on their rights and entitlements. He has extensive experience and skills in processing of family reunification applications, visa applications (both short-stay and long-stay), naturalisation applications for both non-EEA and EEA citizens, travel document applications, independent status applications, EU-Treaty rights and Irish-born-children (IBC) applications.
Serhii Korobtsov (Integration Support Worker, Ukraine)
Serhii is a qualified English language and foreign literature teacher. Throughout his career he has changed professions, working in several different fields, including international projects. From the first days of the war in Ukraine he has been helping Ukrainian people with their new challenges, and has been working with Doras as an integration support worker since the middle of 2022. Serhii is also deeply involved with volunteering projects, taking part in different migrants forums, and helping to organise Limerick events for many different communities.
Kerry McCarthy (Online Education Coordinator)
After volunteering with Doras to set-up an online education platform in 2021, Kerry officially joined Doras in 2022 as the Online Education Coordinator and works on developing SaorEd. Kerry also assists migrants in Limerick with employability skills in Doras’ weekly Employment Hub and coordinates the Laptop Loan programme. Her background includes achieving a BA in English and an MA in Child, Family, and Community Studies, teaching English language, and volunteering for other organisations in Ireland, including Recruit Refugees. Her passion for providing educational resources for asylum seekers grew significantly during her time volunteering on refugee camps in Greece, and her goal is to continue to improve education and literacy resources for migrants in Ireland
Helen O’Grady (Failte Isteach and Community Outreach Coordinator)
Helen has worked for Doras since 2007, with a 2008 Vodafone Awards enabling her to take up a full-time position as Education and Employment Coordinator. Helen has a particular interest in integration through education and she is now responsible for the implementation of a range of Doras projects, from language acquisition to family welfare. Prior to joining Doras, Helen worked in the field of Development Education where she was involved with training and supporting asylum seekers and refugees. She was also involved in a European Gruntvig partnership with five countries that exchanged learning on mentoring practices for newly arrived migrants. Helen has a Degree in Social Studies in Social Care and a Masters in Contemporary Migration and Diaspora Studies from UCC.
Sue Windle (Welfare Coordinator)
Sue first joined Doras in September of 2017 on a 4 month student placement from LIT (TUS). Sue continued to work for Doras on a voluntary basis and in 2020 she was appointed as a Support & Outreach Officer. She holds a BA (Hons) in Social Care Studies from LIT. Prior to coming to Doras, she had worked in the community for over a decade supporting people in disability services. Sue is passionate about supporting and advocating for families and individuals in Direct Provision and the community. She is an advocate for more robust mental health services for people in Direct Provision and people who have experienced trauma.
Tahereh Fardin Tabrizi (Gateway to Employment Coordinator)
Tahereh is an Iranian-born South African who moved to Ireland about five years ago. She holds an LLM in International Law with a specific focus on Human rights law. She coordinates the “Gateway to Employment for Third-Country Nationals” project at Doras. She has also served Galway City Partnership as a project coordinator for the “Bridge project”, which supports refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. In addition to this, Tahereh sits on the board of directors of AkiDwa, and volunteers with Rape crisis centre Midwest as well as the Ethnic minority domestic abuse observatory.
Donnah Sibanda Vuma (Migrant Victims Support Project Coordinator)
Donnah, originally from Zimbabwe, has been a resident of Ireland for 8 years and has been involved with Doras in different capacities over the last 6 years. She is a renowned activist, public speaker, and advocate for human rights, often drawing on her personal experiences of the direct provision system to advocate for the rights of migrants. Donnah holds a Joint Honours BA in Politics and International Relations with Sociology from the University of Limerick and is currently studying towards an MS in Peace and Development Studies. She also holds qualifications in QQI level 6 psychology and mental health studies, and was awarded the Soroptimists International “Clare Woman of the Year 2017” for her outstanding service to the human rights of refugees in direct provision services in Co. Clare.
Jane Ridley (Migrant Victim Support Project Worker)
Jane joined Doras'sMigrant Victim Support project in July 2022. Originally from the UK with a background in policing, she has also completed LLM International Human Rights Law and Practice from the University of York. Jane continues to work on the Migrant Victim Support project assisting clients who have been victims of crime in Ireland.
Fahmeda Naheed
Fahmeda Naheed s working with Doras on the SALAAM (Sustainable Strategic Alliance Against Anti-Muslim Hate in Ireland) project. She holds several academic degrees, including an M.Phil from UCC, Certification in Mental Health in Communities from UCC and Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland from the University of Limerick. Fahmeda Naheed is a former Graduate Intern for Diversity with An Garda Siochana, Regional Office, Cork, Ireland. She writes for Garda Review Magazine. She is a tutor of Fusion Cooking (Irish-Pakistani food) with Cork City Partnership. She is an Ambassador of the Schools of Sanctuary of Cork, a member of Cork Three Faith Forums and Ethnic Minority Domestic Abuse Observatory. She is the founder of the Irish Pakistani Community of Cork Group
Nasima Shafaq (INTEGreat project worker)
Nasima is from Afghanistan and has been living in Ireland since September 2021. She is a project worker on the EU-funded INTEGreat project, providing support and training for migrants, refugees and asylums seekers. Before coming to Ireland she worked iwith a number of international organisations in Afghanistan in the areas of international humanitarian protection, human rights, women rights, and civilian centred advocacy on harm mitigation in conflict situations. Nasima holds qualifications in Law and Political Science, and a Master degree in Public Administration.
Hazera Begum (Community Engagement Worker)
Hazera is a dedicated Community Engagement Worker at Doras. With a passion for creating meaningful connections, she excels in arranging and organizing events and activities for the communities we work with. Her role involves planning and coordinating various initiatives, ensuring that each event is a resounding success. Hazera's warm and approachable nature makes her invaluable in assisting at events and fairs, where she effortlessly fosters an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Through her tireless efforts, Hazera enhances community engagement and empowers individuals to connect and thrive.
Jill Pati (Receptionist/Administrator)
Jill works as an Office Administrator and Receptionist at Doras. With a degree in Public Health Communications, she has skills tailored to customer relations. With her knowledge and past experiences, she deals efficiently with diverse queries and provide solutions that are time sensitive. Using a triage system, she allocates clients to the support workers best suited for their case, as well as ensuring that priority is given on a case by case basis. She ensures that everyone who contacts Doras is treated with respect and dignity and that they know their case is of importance to us. Jill also trains and supports a team of volunteers who assist with office work.
Bernadette Walsh (Volunteer Coordinator)
Bernadette has extensive experience in third-level institutions, including Munster Technological University, NUI Galway, and the University of Limerick. At UL, she co-founded the President's Volunteer Award (PVA) for students engaged in volunteering, recognising their efforts with a unique accolade. Bernadette coordinates UL student volunteers for DORAS and manages public volunteers, overseeing the Garda Vetting process. She's dedicated to education for all and tutors migrants in Conversational English classes through Fáilte Isteach, the national Third Age Programme responding to the Opportunities of Ageing in Ireland. A wonderful and engaging opportunity for a very diverse cohort of people living in Ireland.
Ruairí McKiernan (Communications Advisor)
Ruairí is a bestselling author, social innovator, speaker, charity founder, campaigner, and podcast host. He is also a mental health advocate and practitioner with 20 years of experience across a range of areas, including health promotion, counselling, coaching, men’s development and mindfulness. For the last two years, he has worked with Doras on a part-time basis, developing and implementing our communications strategy.
Chairperson: Trisha Rainsford
Chairperson of the Board Trisha Rainsford is a member of Limerick Integration Working Group and one of the founding members of the MidWest Interfaith Network. She also serves on the Steering Committee of Learning Limerick, a network of local authority, community, educational and cultural bodies dedicated to lifelong learning. She is currently employed as Coordinator of the Irish Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs and in that capacity works with both human rights and community building issues. Trisha is a graduate of NUIM and has worked as a writer and also as a teacher of Classical Studies to Leaving Cert. students.
Board Member: Jennifer Schweppe
Dr Jennifer Schweppe is an Associate Professor at the School of Law at the University of Limerick. She is co-director of the International Network for Hate Studies, and a founder and co-director of the UL-based European Centre for the Study of Hate. Her research explores the relationship between minority communities and the criminal justice system, with a particular emphasis on hate crime and access to justice. She was appointed as an independent expert to the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Hate Crime in 2021.
Board Member: Philip O'Regan
Philip O’Regan is an accountant and former Dean of the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick. He has considerable experience in the sector having served on the boards of a number of educational and charitable bodies.
Board Member: Linda Kirwisa
Linda Kirwisa is a social worker by profession, with a BA in Social Work and an MA in Criminal Justice Systems. She has over ten years’ experience in the Probation service, working mainly with youths and more recently adult offenders. Prior to that she was a social worker in the HSE for five years. She sits on the advisory committee of Akidwa, a national network of migrant women in Ireland, and regularly volunteers with Goshh, an LGBT support organisation in Limerick. She is passionate about working with vulnerable people at a grassroots level.
Board Member: Seamus Enright C.S.s.R.
Fr Seamus Enright C.S.s.R. is a Redemptorist priest and proud Limerick man. He is currently serving as Rector of Mount St Alphonsus, a role he has held on three previous occasions. As well discharging the administrative and pastoral aspects of this role, Fr Seamus is also the Chair of the Board of Management of St Clements College, a member of the boards of both Doras and the Limerick Youth Service and a member of the Diocesan Justice and Peace Committee. He is the driving force behind the Redemptorist Christmas Hamper Appeal and Redemptorist Perpetual Help Fund and initiated the formation of the Limerick Food Partnership. He co-chairs the Limerick Food Partnership with Professor Niamh Hourigan.
Board Member: Lylian Fotabong
Lylian Fotabong is a PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics in Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and investigating language as a form of social practice. As an African Irish multi-platform journalist and public speaker, her experiences include: Part-time lecturer at MIC; Former: Course Co-ordinator - CRE at MIC; Journalist, Presenter and Production Assistant at West Limerick 102FM; Head of Communication and Press Liaison at Global Peace Foundation Ireland; Presenter at Clare FM; Columnist at the Limerick Leader; African Affairs Correspondent at UL Magazine; Journalist and Co-founder of Africa World Newspaper (Dublin); Editor and journalist at The African Voice (Waterford); MC.
Her special interests are in media language; critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics; diversity, equality, inclusion, racism and discrimination; religion and spiritualism. She was twice celebrated for her contributions to Irish media in Royal Powerlist Award for 100 Most Influential Afro-Caribbean in Ireland. Lylian believes that, broadening her learning and professional experiences by integrating how media language offers solutions to real life issues, can heal some of the divides in our society.
Founder and Life President: Ann Scully
Patron: Micheal D. Higgins, President of Ireland
