Our board is voluntary and elected by members to serve a four year term under our Constitution.
Cathy Grieve (Chairperson)
Cathy joined the Board of Directors in 2014 and was elected as Company Secretary in 2016. She is also a member of the Remuneration and Governance & Nominations sub-committees. Cathy has had epilepsy since 2008. Her background is in journalism and having spent 19 years with BBC News, she set up her own media production company in 2009. Cathy was elected as Chairperson in December 2019.
Clare O'Dea (Secretary)
Clare joined the Board of Epilepsy Ireland in 2017. Her interest in the work of Epilepsy Ireland emerged when her son was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy. She brings a wealth of experience gained in corporate strategy, finance, investments, marketing and fundraising. Clare is a director of Select Strategies, a management consultancy. She holds an MBA from the UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School and a Higher Diploma in Psychology from UCD.
Paul Kehoe (Treasurer)
Paul joined the Epilepsy Ireland Finance & Audit sub-committee in 2017 and was elected to the Board in 2018. He currently serves as Treasurer. He is an experienced accounting and finance professional who has worked for over 40 years in the Financial Services sector including many years at AIB Global Treasury.
Helen Behan
Helen brings a wide range of knowledge and expertise from her work in the Charity sector. She was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 2015 and having joined the Board in 2021, is passionate about contributing to the mission of our organisation in achieving a society where no life is limited by Epilepsy
Paul Fahey
Paul Fahey is a Chartered Director and member of the Institute of Directors Ireland. Paul is a Director of Glenough Consulting Limited which provides consultancy services to the health sector. Paul is a pharmacist previously owned and operated a pharmacy business for over 25 years. He served as the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland from 2011-2013. Paul is actively involved in the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and is a member of its Technology Forum and ONE FIP Data & Intelligence Commission
Mary Fitzsimons
Mary Fitzsimons is a former funded Investigator with the FutureNeuro centre at RCSI and is the Director of the eHealth Ireland Epilepsy Lighthouse Project. She was previously Principal Physicist at the Department of Neurophysics at Beaumont Hospital, where she was responsible for the development of the Epilepsy Electronic Patient Record. She has a long history in the field of epilepsy research and joined the Board of Epilepsy Ireland in 2018.
Ambrose Kealy 
Ambrose joined the board of Epilepsy Ireland in 2018. An accountant and qualified compliance professional, he recently retired from the role of Chief Compliance Officer with VHI Group. He holds professional memberships of the Institute of Directors, CIMA and the Association of Compliance officers and brings valuable skills to the charity in areas such as risk management, compliance, corporate governance and strategy.
Dr Anne Kilroy
Anne joined the Board in 2021. She has a keen interest in management and living with the condition as her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2017. Her professional background is in science and she has a Master’s degree in Microbial Genetics and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. She worked in the pharmaceutical industry both in Ireland and the USA and as a consultant in an Engineering Company. She has volunteered with a number of charities and schools both in Ireland and the USA in the areas of education, special needs and healthy parenting .
Prof Mary King
Prof. King is a recently retired Consultant Paediatric Neurologist from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple St., Rotunda Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. She is a Professor in Paediatrics at University College Dublin, School of Medicine & Medical Science and has many publications in the field of Paediatric Neurology including “A Handbook of Neurological Investigations in Children”. Professor King has collaborated in several Genomic projects which have led to definite diagnoses, genetic counselling and personalised treatments for many Irish families.
Nicola Saarsteiner
Nicola joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2003 and subsequently volunteered for Epilepsy Ireland as a media volunteer, speaking at a number of conferences and events. She became a barrister in 2012 and practices in a number of areas in civil litigation, including personal injury, professional negligence and employment law.
Mark Curran
Mark joined the Board of Directors in 2023. He is a practising barrister and accredited mediator engaged in civil litigation with a particular focus on financial services & pensions law, regulatory law, judicial review, personal injuries law and employment law. Mark is a member of the Bar of Ireland and the New York State Bar and holds degrees from University College Dublin and the University of Cambridge.
Aaron Chalke
Aaron is the founder and Managing Director of Foe, a film production and advertising creative studio. He has worked in the marketing and advertising sector since 2010, developing a number of award-winning campaigns with a range of international and domestic brands. Alongside the advertising services, Aaron also produces films. He is a graduate of Dublin City University and is currently studying a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Producing for Film and TV in TUD with Screen Ireland.
Nicola Nagle
Nicola joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She has a BSc in Accounting from UCC and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. She is a Director in KPMG’s technical accounting department with over 13 years’ experience working with listed companies, private Irish family-owned business as was all not-for-profit organisations. She brings invaluable experience to the charity in financial reporting, legal and corporate governance requirements.
Anne Maguire
Anne joined the board of Epilepsy Ireland in 2023. She holds an MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine, a BSc in Pharmacology and is a member of the Project Management Institute. Working in the pharmaceutical industry, focused on clinical trials, Anne has a keen interest in the research and development of medicines. Having recently been diagnosed with epilepsy in 2021, Anne is passionate about supporting the work of Epilepsy Ireland.
Finance & Audit sub-committee
The sub-committee assists and advise the Board on the organisation’s finances, business activities and strategic direction.
Board Members: Cathy Grieve; Paul Kehoe; Paul Fahey;
Independent Members: Owen McCarthy; Allan Barrett; Caoimhe Neary; Liam Woulfe.
Staff: CEO & Finance Manager
Nominations & Governance sub-committee
The sub-committee advises the Board on all matters of governance including on the composition of the board and board recruitment.
Board Members: Helen Behan; Clare O'Dea; Cathy Grieve; Mark Curran
Staff: CEO
Remuneration sub-committee
The sub-committee sets the CEO’s objectives, appraises and reports to the Board on performance and sets policy on management remuneration.
Board Members: Cathy Grieve; Paul Kehoe; Clare O'Dea
Quality & Safety sub-committee
The sub-committee oversees accountability for quality, safety and risk management in our services and across the organisation.
Board Members: Ann Kilroy; Ambrose Kealy; Mary Fitzsimons;
Staff: CEO & Director of Services
Communications & Fundraising sub-committee
The sub-committee assists, supports and advises the Board on strategies relating to income generation, communications, awareness-raising and advocacy.
Board Members: Aaron Chalke; Nicola Saarsteiner;
Independent Members: Tony Caravousanos
Staff: CEO; Fundraising Manager; Advocacy & Comms Manager
Research sub-committee
The sub-committee assists, supports and advises the Board on research funding priorities, EI's research investments and how our strategic objectives in this area can be best met.
Board Members: Mary King; Mary Fitzsimons; Paul Kehoe; Anne Maguire.
Staff: CEO
Epilepsy Ireland Management Team
Chief Executive, Peter Murphy
Director of Services, Tara Smith
Finance Manager, Deirdre Noyes
Fundraising & Development Manager, Cian Dikker
Training & Quality Manager, Edel Curran
Advocacy & Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan