Our people

Rachel joined Dublin Rape Crisis Centre as Chief Executive in November 2023. She has senior-level experience working in a wide variety of roles and sectors over the last 20 years, including Irish Cancer Society, Pfizer, Board of Trade (Canada) and Oireachtas Eireann.

She is a graduate of UCD and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and politics, a master’s degree in politics and a diploma in leadership. 

Rachel’s focus is working with survivors, staff, volunteers and stakeholders to accelerate the elimination of sexual violence. Until that day comes, she is focused on delivering a growth strategy for Dublin Rape Crisis Centre so that it can help more people heal after the trauma of sexual violence.

Rachel is from Dublin and enjoys reading, gardening and baking.

You can send general queries for Rachel to info@rcc.ie or contact the office by phone at 01-661 4911. Media queries can be directed to communications@rcc.ie.

Annemarie is a solicitor with nearly forty years’ experience, having qualified with an honours Law Degree from UCD  in 1985. Shortly after qualifying, she was made a partner in the firm of Colm McKeown and Company solicitors in 1989, and is presently Managing Partner of Kirwan McKeown James (KMJ) Solicitors LLP. With a specialty in litigation, commercial and family law, Annemarie has as well as running a busy practice  represented families and individuals with limited means pro bono, facing difficult circumstances and continues to do so to this day.

Annemarie is a human rights activist having volunteered on the ‘Stop the Red Light’ campaign, which advocated for the de-criminalization of prostitution and the criminalization of buyers. She was actively involved in the ‘Yes Equality’ and ‘Together for Yes’ campaign which sought to amend our Constitution to allow for same-sex marriage which was achieved in 2015 and repeal the 8^th Amendment to the Constitution  to allow access to abortion services in Ireland  ultimately achieving the repeal of the ban in 2018.

Annemarie is a member of the Institute of Directors, and she mentors young professional female lawyers under the auspices of the incorporated Law Society of Ireland. She sat on the Board of the Ark, a cultural Centre for Children, and has fundraised for a number of philanthropic and charitable organizations including Women’s Aid, the Irish Hospice Foundation and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, running amongst other events marathons, Camino Trips and as a highlight, crossing the Sinai Desert on foot.

As incoming Chairperson of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Annemarie’s greatest desire is to ensure Ireland implements the terms of the Istanbul Convention and that Ireland provides a safe place for women and young girls free from the threat of sexual violence.

Susan recently retired from her psychotherapy practice, in which she worked from 2005 to 2025. In her practice, she worked with clients, some of whom were survivors of childhood sexual abuse. 

Between 2011 and 2013, Susan undertook a Masters in Bereavement and Loss with the Irish Hospice Foundation and RCSI.

Prior to her psychotherapy career, Susan was a social worker in several HSE settings between 1982 and 1999, working in the area of child protection and welfare.

Eoghan Cleary currently works as a secondary school teacher and assistant principal at Temple Carrig Secondary School where he has taught for the last seven years. He has over ten years previous experience as a youth worker, working in the most marginalised communities in the east inner cities of both Dublin and Galway. He has studied in UCD, NUIG and TCD, completing master’s degrees in Drama and Theatre Studies, International Human Rights Law, and Education.

Eoghan writes as a columnist for TheJournal.ie, he continues to campaign for the online protection of children and adolescents, particularly with regards the ownership of smartphones by children and the subsequent related need for robust legislation as well as digital media, gender based violence and porn literacy based education programmes. He is the co-author of the My Wellbeing Journey series of textbooks for the new SPHE Curriculum at both Junior and Senior Cycle and is currently completing a further master’s degree in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy with the aim of specialising in the area of child and adolescent psychotherapy.

Dr Philip Crowley was until recently the National Director for Wellbeing, Equality, Climate and Global Health in the Health Service Executive. In his previous National Health Service roles over the last 15 years he was national lead for quality and patient safety, national lead for health service planning and national lead for quality improvement.

He is a doctor who worked until recently part-time as a General Practitioner in the homeless primary care services.  He worked for five years in Nicaragua doing health development work, trained in public health in Newcastle Upon Tyne and worked for 6 years as Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health.

Niamh is a retired Chartered Accountant with extensive international experience in financial services, bringing a strong commitment to integrity, accountability, and good governance. With many years spent working across Ireland, the UK and Bermuda, she offers deep expertise in financial oversight, risk management, and regulatory standards.

Throughout her career as an audit partner, she has worked closely with Boards and senior leaders, supporting sound decision making and responsible stewardship of resources. She is particularly motivated by opportunities to use her professional experience to support charities in achieving meaningful and lasting impact.

Niamh has recently been appointed as INED to the Board of Fundrock Management Company (Ireland) Limited.

From 2021 to 2024, Deborah was the first woman appointed General Manager of IBM in Ireland. She most recently served as Vice President of Technology & Strategic Segment Sales Leader for UKI at IBM, in her capacity as a member of the UKI Senior Leadership Team. Deborah has over 25 years of experience in technology, specialising in building high-performing teams and leading organisations through significant transformation across the UK, Ireland, and EMEA, with particular focus on delivering business growth through advanced technologies such as Automation and Artificial Intelligence.

Deborah is a strong advocate for gender diversity, having acted as an executive sponsor for women’s advancement in IBM EMEA, and is committed to lifelong learning and digital skills development.  Deborah holds an MBA from the Open University with a distinction in Business Strategy and Finance.  She is also an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marking. 

She has been a Board Member of Business In the Community Ireland since 2021, where she champions sustainability and social inclusion, and serves on the Nominations & Governance Committee.

A strong advocate committed to gender equality, Alison is ex-Chair of Women for Election and has worked for 10 years to improve the gender balance in Irish politics. She is currently a director of the international humanitarian agency GOAL, and Chairperson of Rough Magic Theatre Co and a Board member of the Ronald Mc Donald House Charity. She is also a member of Bord Bia Consumer Foods Board. As a Dragon investor in the RTE series Dragons’ Den,  Alison has invested in and mentored a number of new Irish businesses. She also hosts a business podcast series on the online business publisher “The Currency”.

Fergus Finlay is the former CEO of Barnardos, Ireland’s largest children’s charity. For around twenty years prior to that he was employed as Senior Adviser to the Labour Party, serving in three Governments and working for the Party in opposition. He was one of the drafters of the Downing Street Declaration and was centrally involved in the election of President Mary Robinson in 1990. He also served for three years as a Director of Wilson Hartnell Public Relations. He is the author of four books.

He has been a life-long campaigner for the rights of people with disabilities and was chair of a government task force to implement a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities. For fifteen years he has also worked as Chair of the Dolphin House Regeneration Board, which is overseeing one of the largest regenerations in the city. He is also Chair of Lakers in Bray, a highly successful club and service provider for young people and adults with an intellectual disability. He broadcasts regularly on radio and television and contributes a weekly column to the Irish Examiner. He is a member of the Board of the HSE, the Christine Buckley Centre, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, and was on the Charities Regulatory Authority.

Fergus was awarded a Human Rights Award by the French Embassy in Dublin in 2013 to recognise the work of Barnardos with Ireland’s children. He was also honoured by UCC as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2016 and awarded an honorary Doctorate by NUIG.

Peter was called to the Bar in 1986 and appointed Senior Counsel in 1999. He practiced mainly in public law, specialising in Criminal and Administrative Law (including Health Law and Human Rights). He was Lead Counsel to the HSE at the Commission of Inquiry into sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin and the Diocese of Cloyne. Chief legal advisor to the original inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar. Peter was an Advisor on the Eight Amendment and appeared in legal cases related to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

Doreen is an experienced executive coach and organisational development specialist with over 35 years of leadership experience in Learning & Development, Human Resources, and Organisation Development. She has worked as a trusted partner to executive leadership teams in leading Irish and international companies across diverse industries, including Semiconductors, Pharmaceuticals and Food in Ireland, EMEA, USA, and Latin America.

Committed to excellence in leadership and governance, Doreen has invested in board performance and governance expertise, with a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors (Dip IOD). She is passionate about supporting businesses in developing the right talent and organisational culture to align with ambitious strategy and deliver meaningful impact.

Dr Madeleine McCarthy is a specialist GP with over thirty years' experience in Women’s Health and General Practice. She set up her GP practice in 1988 in Dun Laoghaire where she continues to work. The practice is now known as Harbour Health. Her work includes training  both GP Registrars and undergraduate medical students. She is also a family planning and contraception (LARC) tutor.  

She developed a keen interest in menopause over her many years in general practice and completed advanced clinical training in menopause care over a six month period in Birmingham Women’s Hospital. She also has an interest in the impact of menopause in the workplace. 

She regularly attends both national and international conferences to stay up to date with the latest medical developments. She has multiple further qualifications in Occupational Health, Diabetes, Sexual Health, Family Planning, Therapeutics, Minor Surgery, Dermoscopy, and Travel Health. 

Madeleine is currently a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland Occupational Health Faculty, the British Menopause Society, the Dun Laoghaire ICGP Faculty, the Travel Medicine Society of Ireland, and the Irish Association of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Professionals.

Previous organisational experience includes being a Continuing Medical Education tutor for GPs, a member of the St Vincent’s University Hospital GP Liaison Committee, a member of the Steering Committee for the Trinity and UCD GP Training Schemes, Chair of the Research Committee of the ICGP (which meant sitting on the ICGP Board at the time), and Chairperson of the Women’s Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation (during which time she was the IMO representative to the then Council for Status of Women).