Meet the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation.
Secretary General: Donal Forde
Donal Forde is a native of Newmarket, Co Cork and is a Masters graduate of Dublin City University. Donal lives in Blackrock, Co Dublin with his wife and children. During a long career with AIB, Donal held a variety of Senior Executive roles within their Capital markets and Retail businesses. He is an ex-Director of AIB Group, Aviva Ireland, Financial Services Ireland, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland and a current Director of the University of Limerick Foundation. He has represented the Banking industry as President of the Irish Bankers Federation and President of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland and is well-known in business, civil, cultural and sporting circles.
Head of National Services: Fintan Breen
Fintan, from Limerick, joined the Irish Red Cross as a volunteer in 1996, and has held various voluntary posts, both in a local leadership capacity within Limerick and on a number of national groups, including the Youth Working Group, the Training Working Group, and co-chairing the FACE 2007 Steering Group. He continues to volunteer with the Irish Red Cross in Limerick, and qualified as an Emergency Medical Technician in 2010.
Fintan joined the organisations’ Commercial Department in late 2007 and was then appointed to head the department as the National Commercial Manager in January 2009. In 2010, he was appointed as the Head of National Services, with overall responsibility for managing the support for our non-commercial and commercial services within Ireland.
After attending St. Clement’s College in Limerick, Fintan gained a BSc in Computer Systems at the University of Limerick, before working at the University for two years within the UL Students’ Union. He then worked with Elsevier Ireland as the Head of Information Support and Systems, prior to setting up his own management consultancy business. On a part time basis, Fintan has returned to UL to study a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), where he hopes to graduate in 2012.
Fintan is an avid Munster (and Irish) Rugby supporter and also plays the clarinet, although not as much as he would like these days!
Head of International Department: Colm Byrne
From Dublin, Colm initially began his career in Accountancy before seeking an alternative career path in the Civil Society Sector in Ireland with the Simon Community where he developed an interest in Horticultural Therapy. Such interest subsequently led to a degree in Horticultural Science and a Masters in Humanitarian Assistance including research on food security in Southern Sudan where he worked for Concern.
Colm returned to the horticultural sector thereafter but was forever drawn back to the humanitarian sector and joined Irish Red Cross in 2005 where he has worked as Asia and Middle East Desk Officer (2005-2009) as well as Policy and Donor Liaison Officer (2009-2011) before taking up his present role in 2011.
Head of Youth Services: Sandra Stanley
Sandra’s Irish Red Cross career spans and impressive 25 years. During this time Sandra has gained extensive experience and an in-depth knowledge of all components within the movement, both nationally and internationally.
Sandra is now Head of the Youth Department and also holds the position of National Child Protection Officer, two roles in which she gains great satisfaction both personally and professionally.
Sandra is married to Martin and has 2 boys and by default is also a keen GAA fan.
Head of Finance: Breda Hawkshaw
Breda is originally from the West of Ireland, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. She is a qualified Accountant graduating from Griffith College, Dublin and is a full member of IATI and CPA. Breda also studied Marketing at Hi- Sales Training Dublin, Front Office Management at the College of Catering, Cathal Brugha Street and Secretarial Studies at Irish Times Training.
Breda worked in Galway for many years as Financial Controller of an Irish chain of Music stores, she moved to Dublin in 1999 Breda worked in the positions of Senior Finance Specialist of AOL Time Warner, Conference and Event Management Executive for ICI and Financial Controller for Roland Music Ireland for 5 years. She joined the Irish Red Cross in November 2008 and now manages the dedicated finance team at Merrion Square.
Breda is fortunate to have volunteers who have given up their free time to assist the finance team and Breda and the team are very grateful.
Breda is married to Richard and has two step children Rachel and Christopher who keep her busy between Irish dancing, Soccer, Drum Lessons and making Rice Krispie buns. When she has free time Breda likes to play badminton, do pilates, go to art classes and catch up with her friends and her family in Roscommon.
Head of Fundraising and Communications: Ronan Ryan
Ronan graduated from UCD in 1996 with a 1st in International Commerce. Three months in India volunteering with Save the Children that summer were followed by a number of years in the UK with Barclays Bank. Returning home to do a Masters, again in UCD, Ronan then went on to manage the Dublin Buddhist Centre for seven years, responsible for all fundraising and culminating in the role of CEO. Over three years with Oxfam Ireland in a number of fundraising roles further developed his expertise, particularly in the areas of Individual Giving, Corporate, Major Donor and Trust fundraising. Married with one daughter, Ronan lives in Dublin and works in our head office on Merrion Square.