Misean Cara Welcomes New Board Leadership

Misean Cara is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip O’Brien as Chairperson and Elizabeth Bolger as Vice-Chairperson of its Board of Directors, following confirmations made at our AGM held in Dublin on 25th June. Their appointments follow on the recent completion of the six-year terms of office of previous Board Chairperson, Kevin Carroll and Vice-Chairperson, Sr. Josephine McCarthy.

In addition to these leadership roles, Misean Cara also welcomes former Irish Ambassador William J. Carlos as a new Director to the Board.

“We are delighted to welcome Philip, Elizabeth, and William to these important roles on our Board. They each bring outstanding credentials, a deep commitment to international development, and decades of experience in humanitarian work. Their appointments reinforce the Board’s capacity to support and guide Misean Cara’s mission, as we work towards achieving our strategic goals and promoting long-term opportunity and equality around the world.” -John Moffett, CEO Misean Cara

About the Appointees

Philip O’Brien

Chairperson

Philip O’Brien brings over 40 years of international development experience, having held senior leadership roles with UNICEF across Central and Eastern Europe, New York, Kenya, Sudan, and Bangladesh. He also served with Concern Worldwide in Yemen, Tanzania, and Bangladesh, and held a global leadership role with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. His areas of expertise include health and education strategy, organisational change, child rights, public policy, and fundraising. Mr O’Brien joined the Misean Cara Board in 2023 and currently serves as President Emeritus of the Board of Association Montessori Internationale. He holds a master’s degree in Economic Science and a Diploma in Social Policy and Administration.

Elizabeth Bolger

Vice-Chairperson

Elizabeth Bolger has over 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, both in Ireland and internationally. She previously served as Director of People, Programmes & Strategic HR at The Wheel, supporting over 2,300 members across the Irish community and voluntary sector. Her background also includes three years working on an agricultural development project in rural Uganda, and service on the Board of Comhlámh. In May 2024, she took the role of Programme Manager at Common Purpose Ireland. Ms Bolger joined the Misean Cara Board in December 2023.

William J. Carlos

Director

William J. Carlos retired in 2024 following a distinguished career with Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs. He served as Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, Botswana, the Philippines, and Palau, and was formerly Head of Development/Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania. He also served as Director of the Evaluation and Audit Unit at Irish Aid. Earlier in his career, Mr Carlos worked with Concern Worldwide and the International Rescue Committee across Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.