VLM BOARD
Susan Looby
Susan is an accountant, an FCCA with over 20 years senior executive experience working in the financial services sector in both London and Dublin. She is currently lecturing in the Faculty of Business with TU Dublin. She has volunteered on other not for profit committees and boards. She has a Diploma in Company Direction and is a member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland. Susan brings both financial and governance expertise to the board and is the interim Chairperson of VLM.
Sr Geraldine Henry DC
Geraldine is a Daughter of Charity with extensive experience of mission in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, particularly in the areas of healthcare and service provision for those with intellectual disabilities. She is currently the Mission Development Coordinator for the Daughters of Charity Mission in Ireland, supporting the work of her colleagues on the ground in Africa.
Rico Zaidan
Rico is a former participant of the VLM School Immersion Programme. He has further volunteer experience in Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania. He has a BA in Economics, Politics and Law from DCU and is currently studying medicine in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Rico sits as a member of the Fam Vin National Council and brings further experience as a previous member of the US Embassy Young Leaders Council.
Maureen Looney
Maureen has worked for the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service for the last 24 years. She currently works with families who experience Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control. Maureen is originally from Toronto Canada and worked with the Toronto Children’s Aid Society. Maureen joined the VLM Board in November 2023.
Fr.Stephen Monaghan CM
Stephen is a Vincentian Priest. Formerly: National Chaplain to the Deaf Community in Ireland; Parish Priest at the Parish of the Travelling People, Dublin Diocese; Chaplain at St. Patricks Teacher Training College, Drumcondra. Presently: assistant coordinator and developments officer at the Ambo Lazarist Deaf School, Ambo, Ethiopia, where he also assists with teaching.
(Fr. Stephen has a HDip (Teacher of the Deaf) from DCU). He is chairperson of our Ethiopia Deaf Project subcommittee.
Aidan Whyte
Aidan is a second level teacher at St. Vincent’s CBS Glasnevin, with qualifications from Mater Dei Institute, Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin. He has volunteered on VLM’s summer programme in Mekele with the Vincentian Fathers three times and is a key facilitator of VLM’s alumni network of returned volunteers. Aidan chairs the VLM Fundraising and Social Media committees.
Miriam O’Regan
Miriam is an Electronic Technician with Horner APG based in Cork. She is the secretary and is a founding member of EDP and has been on the board of VLM since March 2021. Miriam is the parent of 2 children, both adopted from Ethiopia, one of whom is deaf. Her desire to assist deaf children in Ambo to access education led to the establishment of the EDP.
Dymphna Cullen
Dymphna is a secondary school teacher and was Deputy Principal with City of Dublin VEC prior to her retirement. Since then, she volunteered with VLM in Ethiopia for two months in a teaching capacity development role. Dymphna joined the board of VLM in April 2019.
VLM Staff
Madeleine Frissung – Coordinator
Madeleine has worked with VLM since September 2021. She has an undergraduate honours degree in geography and a post-graduate certificate in community education from the University of Edinburgh and has recently completed a masters in international development through UCD. Madeleine has professional work experience in the fields of youth work, community development and mental health and was Volunteer Outreach Coordinator with World Meeting of Families 2018 in Dublin.
Finance Committee
Hugh Campbell
Semi-retired (ex PwC) tax & business advisor with 30+ years experience advising businesses in Ireland & abroad. Currently working on a part-time basis with a number of companies as a trusted business advisor. Also involved with sports bodies & a Men’s Shed in the South County Dublin area.
Ian Garrigan
Ian is a chartered accountant based in Dublin. He is a past man of Castleknock College and is currently treasurer of Castleknock College Union. Ian has volunteered with VLM in Ethiopia and joined the board of VLM in April 2019. He is chair of the finance committee.
Eileen McDevitt
Eileen is a retiree living in Dublin. Prior to her retirement she was employed by St.Patrick’s College Drumcondra as Assistant Bursar where she dealt with all the Accounts and financial activities of the College. She is a member of the Finance Committee.
Governance and Compliance Committee
Rita Coyle
Rita is a graduate of Maynooth University. Her early working career was in International Telecommunications followed by a period in Industrial Relations. She joined the administrative staff at Castleknock College in 1998. In 2012 Rita travelled to Ethiopia to volunteer at the Vincentian projects in Ambo. This visit had a profound effect on her and on her return she became involved in the VLM organisation in a voluntary capacity. In November 2018, Rita assumed the role of Project Coordinator of VLM which she enjoyed until her retirement in June 2021.
Anthony Tyrrell
Anthony Tyrrell has over 30 years experience working with the United Nations World Food Programme. His areas of expertise include accounting, auditing, internal controls, risk management and governance issues. Anthony has worked in countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East in a variety of roles conducting financial compliance audits and evaluating internal control systems.
Edward Donelan
Edward Donelan Ph.D., M.A., Barrister -at – Law (Kings Inns, Middle Temple), Dip. Eur. Law, Dip. Arb. Edward was a senior civil servant in Ireland (1980 – 2004) and worked for the OECD in Paris (2004-2014). Since 2014 he has worked as an independent consultant for many international organisations and the Law Society of Ireland. During his career he has defended criminals, drafted legislation, and worked on projects in 35 countries. The projects focused on assessing and advising on how to build capacities in regulatory management (policymaking, legislative drafting and managing stocks of legislation in 30 countries. He is a published author, lecturer, and speaker at conferences, seminars, and master classes in 50 countries on public administration reform and regulatory management. He was involved in the introduction of the Strategic Management Initiative for the Government of Ireland and played a major role in the modernisation of the Office of the Attorney General (Ireland).
Ethiopia Deaf Project Committee
Patrick O’Reagan
Patrick works as a general operative with Smurfit Kappa, based in Cork. He is also a coach with Togher AC, “Little Athletics”, and Greenwood FC under 12’s. He is the treasurer of the EDP committee. Patrick and his wife Miriam are parents of 2 children, both adopted from Ethiopia, one of whom is deaf. Their deep desire to assist deaf children in Ambo access appropriate education led to the establishment of the EDP committee.
Olivia Flynn
Olivia is a Marketing and Multimedia Executive. Olivia helps the EDP committee to ensure all online donation systems are working and secure. She has been a member of the committee since 2018.
