Latest News & Events

Care Alliance Board of Directors

last updated 08/01/10

Colum Conway - Chairperson

Colum Conway is Chief Executive of Extra Care a not for profit organisation working in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland supporting independent living through the provision of home care and a range of other care support services for all ages of people and their families. Colum completed a Masters in Social Work at Queens University Belfast and a Masters in Management at the Institute of Public Administration Dublin. He has significant experience in the not for profit sector, working with the Daughters of Charity Family and Child Care Service in Dublin, Banardos in Dublin, Waterford and Cork, and with The Early Years Organisation in Belfast. Along with Care Alliance Ireland Colum is also on the Board of Directors of the United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA) in London and the Independent Health & Care Providers (IHCP) in Belfast.

Marie Lynch - Treasurer

Following her career as an occupational therapist, Marie worked as Regional Director for 7 years with the Irish Wheelchair Association. She commenced employment with The Irish Hospice Foundation in January 2007 as Programme Development Manager. Her current brief seeks to develop initiatives relating to hospice and palliative care, which include (a) service responses to consider the palliative care needs of people with Heart Failure, Respiratory Conditions, Dementia, and life limiting conditions and their carers, (b) developing dedicated support services for carers of people who are near the end of life and (c) seeking to enhance primary care responses in the area of palliative care.

Dr. Geraldine Fennel

As research psychologist, Dr. Geraldine Fennel’s special topics are motivation and everyday human action. Due to many years caring for her aunt and uncle in Belfast and, before that, for her mother in Dublin, Geraldine became active in carers’ issues. She believes that far less attention than is due has been given to (1) making known the opportunity cost of caring (time devoted to caring is gone forever from the carer’s life) and (2) working towards equality between carers and non-carers in addressing the fact of nature that some people need help maintaining their life and quality of life. She believes that those not providing family care should contribute resources to ease the direct burden on carers.

Catherine Keogh

Catherine Keogh completed her BSc and MSc in Occupational Therapy from Trinity College in 1997 and 2006 respectively. Catherine has spent her career working in care of the elderly, specifically people with dementia in a number of settings including acute hospitals, community, day hospitals and residential homes. Catherine worked in the area of care practice and policy development in her role with the Alzheimer Society which she held until April 2010. Catherine now works as Senior Occupational Therapist in Bloomfield Care Centre, leading a team that provide for the occupational needs of the residents. Catherine has been a guest lecturer in Occupational Therapy and dementia to Trinity College, Dublin, University of Cork and the University of Limerick.

Frank Goodwin

Frank Goodwin is chairperson and a founder member of the Carers Association, which is twenty one years in existence this year. He is the Carers Association representative in the Community Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership and participates in the negotiations of the Agreement “Towards 2016” which secured commitment to the development of a National Carer’s Strategy. Frank formally was a social worker, initially in the psychiatric services and latterly with Dublin City Council as senior housing welfare officer. He was a board member of the National Council on Aging and Older People and represents the Carers Association on Eurocarers.

Dr. Paula Lane

Paula Lane graduated as a general nurse in 1983, having completed the 'traditional' nurse training pathway, going on to complete her midwifery training in 1986. Having worked in a variety of clinical settings, in different countries and cultures, she decided to specialise in intensive coronary care nursing. As a full time nurse engaged in clinical practice, she was very aware of the importance of education as a means of informing the quality of nursing practice provided to patients and their families, so she undertook an academic journey during which she gained several qualifications, including a first-class honours degree and a PhD in nursing, which explored the needs and experiences of family carers of older people, and an LLM in legal aspects of medical practice. Until recently, Paula led the development and implementation of postgraduate specialist nurse education programmes, a WIT/ HSE SE partnership. Her academic career has been an empowering and motivating journey that has enabled her to become highly self-directed. Now working as a lecturer in nursing in WIT she is motivated particularly by being part of a dynamic team that facilitates education and life long learning.

Jean Day

Jean Day, founder member of Care Alliance Ireland ( Chair 2005-2008), retired nurse/teacher/family carer/Director of Training United Care Ltd. Main Interests - to see more members of Care Alliance Ireland influence policies to improve Family Carers' rights. Also Interested in reducing the hours worked of paid carers and Family Carers and increasing the input of trained carers. She firmly believes that a carers' life should not be a sacrifice for another.

Robin Webster

Robin Webster was one of the founders of Care Alliance Ireland in 1995 and its Honorary Secretary for many years. He has been the Chief Executive of Age Action Ireland since its establishment in 1992 as the independent national network on ageing and older people. Its main aim is to improve the quality of life of all older people, especially those who are most frail and vulnerable, by combating discrimination and promoting equality and diversity. He is a social science graduate, with a post graduate qualifications in education, social work and gerontology. He has wide experience of adult education, community development, social planning and social work through his professional and voluntary work. For over 25 years, his main interests have been ageing and older people with a particular interest in social policy. His previous positions include Director of AONTAS, the National Association of Adult Education in Ireland, Director of Age Concern Scotland, National Development Officer, Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ireland, Lecturer in Social Work, Trinity College, Dublin, Lecturer in Gerontology, the Open University in Ireland and HM Inspector of Schools (Further Education) in the Scottish Education Department.

Geraldine Clarke

Geraldine works for Cavan Monaghan Carers

Ann Kavanagh

Ann is from Raphoe, Co. Donegal and while she was caring for her daughter Caoimh who was ill, came to realise that there was no support for her as a carer. Following the death of Caoimh she called a meeting of like minded people and together they started Donegal Carers. Ann also helped set up a literacy group for her community and later became the literacy organiser. Ann has little confidence in the HSE's commitment to Family Carers and although she feels at times that she could take a back seat and retire to her garden she also feels the need to stay involved with the carers as she is well aware that she may be the one who will need the support of a carers group at some stage in the future.