About us Who we are Our team Our team Gráinne O’Leary Chief executive Gráinne O’Leary is chief executive of Arthritis Ireland, where she is leading the strategy of the charity to be one of the leading patient centric health charities in Ireland. Prior her appointment as chief executive in 2018, she was head of services with the organisation since 2004 and has worked as a senior manager in the non-profit and healthcare sector for over 20 years. Gráinne developed and implemented Arthritis Ireland’s suite of patient support services, including the innovative Stanford University self-management programme, a national helpline and a national physical activity programme in partnership with the Irish Society for Chartered Physiotherapists. She serves as a board member of the Disability Federation of Ireland and IPPOSI. Contact: 01 647 0201; [email protected] Nathalie Peyret PA to CEO and office manager Nathalie has been with Arthritis Ireland since 2009 and is responsible for the efficient running of the office, central administration, membership, amongst other duties. Contact: 01 661 8188; [email protected] Bronwen Maher Services manager Bronwen is responsible for the development and delivery of education and training programmes, as well as all the organisation's support services including Arthritis Ireland's branch and volunteer network. Bronwen first joined Arthritis Ireland in 2017 as Community Support officer, and prior to this date she worked and volunteered for over twenty five years with not for profit and political organisations. Contact: 01 647 0205; [email protected] Svetlana Kushnirenko Programme Coordinator & Data Management Svetlana has worked in Arthritis Ireland since 2008 and is responsible for the overall coordination and administration of Arthritis Ireland chronic disease self-management programmes (CDSMP). Her role also includes responsibility for Arthritis Ireland’s database - managing the organisations data to support fundraising, financial management, and community services. Svetlana is also Arthritis Ireland's Data Protection Officer (DPO) Contact: 01 647 0206; [email protected] Eleanor Uí Fhiannachta Community support officer Eleanor joined Arthritis Ireland in 2016 as a community support officer. A graduate of UCD and a postgraduate of DCU, Eleanor worked supporting disability advocates in DFI for six years, having previously worked in the Rotunda Hospital. In her role in Arthritis Ireland she supports the volunteer branch network and walking groups in their activities, and coordinates physical activity courses funded through National Lottery grants. In addition, Eleanor coordinates the national conference and other events run by the organisation. Contact: 01 647 0204; [email protected] Denis Ryan Community support officer Denis joined Arthritis Ireland in 2019 and works in supporting and developing our community-based volunteer network and developing stronger programmes to reach out to more people with arthritis. Contact: 01 647 0208; [email protected] Peter Boyd Services support officer Peter works with the services team in ensuring the delivery of Arthritis Ireland’s services and programmes, with particular emphasis on managing the Arthritis Ireland helpline and peer-to-peer network. Having held many voluntary positions within the organisation, including serving as a board member for six years, Peter joined the Arthritis Ireland team in 2019. Peter combines his role with on-going voluntary work for EULAR PARE (a European coalition of national organisations for People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe), for whom he advocates on behalf of those living with arthritis across Europe at numerous conferences and events. Contact: 01 647 0202; [email protected] Brian Lynch Head of communications and advocacy Brian is responsible for achieving greater public awareness and understanding of arthritis, as well as of the work of Arthritis Ireland in service provision, research and advocacy. He develops and manages the organisation's public health and health promotion campaign, and is the media contact point and organisation spokesperson. He is the patient advocate on the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology, and also chairs the advocacy and communications committee of Health Research Charities Ireland and is on the executive of the Health Reform Alliance. He joined Arthritis Ireland in 2017. Contact: 01 647 0203; 087 122 0361; [email protected] Áine McKenna Fundraising executive Áine is responsible for developing and organising activities to raise necessary funds to realise the ambitions and long-term goals of Arthritis Ireland. Áine works in the areas of community giving, individual giving, corporate sponsorships, events and trusts . Áine joined the team in 2019. Contact: 01 647 0209; 086 816 3772; [email protected]