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.
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.
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 also holds a MII accreditation in Professional Mediation. Fiona 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 the organisation's Policy and Programmes 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.
Caroline França | Communications Lead
Caroline coordinates Doras’ external communications and engagement with local and national media, the organisation’s presence across social media channels, supporter engagement and fundraising. Caroline has a BA in Law from Universidade de Sao Paulo and an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from Trinity College Dublin. Originally from Brazil, she is passionate about empowering communities to campaign for social and economic justice.
Sue Windle | Welfare Coordinator
Sue first joined Doras in 2017 on a student placement from LIT (TUS). She continued to work for Doras on a voluntary basis and in 2020 was appointed as a Support & Outreach Officer. She holds a BA (Hons) in Social Care Studies from LIT, a MII accreditation in Professional Mediation and a professional diploma from UCD on Project Management. Prior to coming to Doras, she 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.
Donnah Sibanda Vuma | Project Coordinator
Donnah is the Migrant Victims Support Project Coordinator. Originally from Zimbabwe, she has been working in Doras in different capacities over the last 8 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.
Tahereh Fardin Tabrizi | Project Coordinator
Tahereh has been with Doras since 2021 working as a Caseworker. She currently coordinates the Gateway to Employment for Third Country Nationals Project, focused on helping migrants and refugees access employment and overcome related challenges. She is an Iranian South-African and holds an LLM in International Law, specialising in Human Rights Law. She has worked with the UN Refugee Council in Iraq and Afghan refugees in Iran. In Ireland, she coordinated the Bridge Project at Galway City Partnership and worked as a migrant integration worker with PAUL Partnership. She sits on the board of AkiDwa, ADAPT and AMDAF and volunteers as a translator for Afghan and Iranian communities and supports the Rape Crisis Mid-West Centre. Passionate about gender equality, diversity and integration, Tahereh continually engages in training to advance these causes.
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
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.
Margaret Cardy | Support and Outreach Worker
Margaret joined Doras in 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 with a variety of issues such as IRP card renewals, medical card applications, F.R. applications, EU Treaty Rights applications, Citizenship applications and Social Welfare applications and support.
Hadjer Hammadi | Intercultural Engagement Specialist
After working with Doras as an English teacher, Hadjer officially joined the organisation in 2025. In this role, Hadjer is responsible for coordinating and delivering English language classes for migrants, co-facilitating anti-racism and intercultural awareness training with INAR and Doras. She also contributes as a researcher focused on multilingualism and inclusive education, and takes part in the design and delivery of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) project. Hadjer holds a PhD in Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics with a focus on intercultural training and an MA in TESOL. Her background includes tutoring, programme coordination, teaching Arabic and English, and delivering intercultural training. She is passionate about intercultural and community engagement, EDI, and supporting literacy development in multilingual contexts.
Serge Korobtsov | Integration Support Worker
Serge 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 2022. Serge is also deeply involved with volunteering projects, taking part in different migrants forums, and helping to organise Limerick events for many different communities.
Rachele Facchin | Project Worker
Rachele joined Doras in 2025 as the Community Sponsorship Project Worker. After working as a criminal lawyer in Italy, she transitioned to a career supporting immigrants and asylum seekers. Rachele has collaborated with local charities, providing support and training on the process of recognising international protection. She holds a degree in Law from the University of Ferrara and an LLM in European and Italian Immigration Law from Università di Bergamo. She is currently enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Irish Immigration Law at King’s Inns.
Jill Pati | Support and Outreach Worker
Jill has 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.
Miloš Burzan | Racism Response Service Coordinator
Miloš leads the development of coordinated, victim‑centred support processes and works with organisations countrywide to strengthen responses to racist incidents. His role focuses on improving referral pathways, building frontline capacity, and supporting frontline practitioners across the sector. Miloš first collaborated with Doras in 2023 through his research on supporting victims of hate incidents at the University of Limerick. He holds a degree in anthropology (Goldsmiths, Univerity of London), and master degrees in gender studies (Lund University), and human rights (University of Sarajevo and University of Bologna). He previously worked with UNICEF and UNHCR in Montenegro in research and protection roles, and with different civil society organisations on human rights‑based projects.
Valentyn Dombrovskyi | Integration Support Worker
Valentyn joined Doras in July 2024 as an Integration Support Worker, primarily working with Ukrainian community in Limerick. Having received his bachelor’s degree in Philology/Translation from Zhytomyr State Ivan Franko University in 2022, he is a certified Ukrainian/Russian interpreter and prior to joining Doras, has been working with various translation agencies in government offices, hospitals and social services. In his hometown, he is a co-founder of a charity fund “Dovira Zhytomyra”, which nowadays helps with integration of internally displaced Ukrainians into the community. At the moment Valentyn is pursuing his MA in Songwriting in University of Limerick.
Gloriana Viquez | Support Worker
Gloriana is a Supporter Worker in the Migrant Victims Support Project. She holds a Law degree from the University of Costa Rica. She has a background in criminal law, international protection, and victim support. At Doras, she provides information, advocacy, and support to people who have experienced violence, exploitation, or discrimination, and assists them in accessing their rights. She is committed to promoting access to justice and supporting individuals in vulnerable situations through a trauma-informed and intersectional approach.
Abdurrahman Niazi | Support Worker
Abdurrahman Niazi joined Doras as a Support Worker in 2025. He holds a Master’s Degree in International and Sustainable Business Strategy from TUS, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics. He speaks English, Turkish, Persian, and Pashto.
Robyn O'Donnell | Receptionist
Robyn has been working in Doras since February 2024. She is the first point of contact for everyone who comes through Doras' doors. She is currently undertaking her Bachelor of Arts in the University of Limerick. Robyn is responsible for booking appointments, taking calls, helping with queries and assisting people in a welcoming manner. She is passionate about promoting and protecting migrants rights in Ireland and being of help to anyone that needs it.
Abbie Downes | AMIF Project Support Worker
Abbie joined Doras in 2025 as a co-op student and is now supporting the delivery of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) project, by helping organise events and activities that encourage inclusion and community engagement. She is currently studying Sociology and English at the University of Limerick. Through both her studies and her work at Doras, Abbie has developed a strong interest in equality, social justice, and the experiences of migrants and refugees in Ireland. She is passionate about helping create welcoming communities where people from all backgrounds can access opportunities and build positive futures.
Chairperson: Trisha Rainsford
Chairperson of the Board, Trisha was a member of the Migrant Integration Steering Group for almost 10 years, and is one of the founding members of the MidWest Interfaith Network. She also served as the Integration Working Group representative 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 Maynooth University 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: 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, some of her experiences include: Part-time lecturer at MIC; Journalist at West Limerick 102FM; Head of Communication and Press Liaison at Global Peace Foundation Ireland; Journalist and Co-founder of Africa World Newspaper; Editor and journalist at The African Voice.
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.
Board Member: Fatima Aydin
Fatima is a Senior Manager at Fragomen’s Dublin office and has more than eight years experience in the Irish immigration sector, supporting corporate and non-corporate clients. Fatima leads the responsible business strategy initiatives for the Dublin office. In this capacity, she oversees and drives forward efforts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Wellbeing, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Prior to joining Fragomen, Fatima worked in the non-governmental and corporate sectors, providing support to non-EEA nationals. Fatima has also had several roles at free legal advice centres that promote access to justice. Fatima speaks English, Kurdish and Turkish.
Founder and Life President: Ann Scully
