Copy of Our team – Misean Cara

Our Team

The Misean Cara team combines a commitment to supporting those furthest behind with deep professionalism and long experience in international development. Meet the individuals who work with our members that seek to empower the most marginalised people achieve a better quality of life:

Management team

John Moffett

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

John was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Misean Cara in April 2020. He has worked in international development for over 25 years most recently as CEO of TREE AID, where he developed and led a 5 year strategy delivering organisational growth and deepening impact. John was previously Programme Director with Self Help Africa where he led the implementation of programme strategy targeting smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. John brings a strong track record in leading geographically dispersed teams to design and implement impactful programmes and growing institutional funding.

Séamus O'Leary

Project Funding Manager

Séamus has been involved in overseas development for many years. He previously worked in Romania and Albania with a Wexford-based charity providing support to Missionaries of Charity care centres in Eastern Europe. Séamus spent three years with the Columban Lay Mission Programme in Lahore, Pakistan. He has worked on programmes in India and the Philippines with Trócaire as Asia Programme Officer and the Integration Centre on cultural diversity in Ireland. Seamus has a Diploma in Development Studies from Kimmage DSC, a Master’s Degree in Rural Development from UCD and a Degree in Non-Profit Sector Management through the Open Training College. He is married to Geraldine and they have four children.

Marie Therese Fanning

Office & HR Manager

Marie Therese is the Office and HR Manager at Misean Cara. She has worked for over ten years in NGOs in Ireland and overseas, including UNHCR in Geneva and Trocaire in Rwanda. Marie Therese was part of the Executive Management team at Comhlámh where her work involved both programme and team management. She has also run her own coaching and debriefing service. Marie Therese holds a Masters in Management and Organisation Systems specialising in change management from UCD, a BA (Hons) in Business Studies, a Diploma in Personnel Management and Certificate in Psychological Testing.

Eamon O'Connor

Financial Controller

Eamon joined Misean Cara as Financial Controller in October 2017. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (A.C.M.A.) and holds an MBA from the Open University. He has over 25 years’ experience in Financial Controller roles across a range of sectors, including FMCG, Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical and Construction industries where he worked in organisations ranging in size from large multi-nationals to small & medium local enterprises. He has worked more recently in the Public Sector with Teagasc where he was Interim Financial Operations Manager with responsibility for the Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll and Fixed Assets functions amongst others. Eamon provides financial expertise in the effective management of Misean Cara’s resources under the direction of the CEO and the Board of Directors.

Seamus Collins

Learning & Development Manager

Seamus joined the Misean Cara team in March 2017. He holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies, and has been working in the international development arena since 1987. He has lived and worked in Sudan, Lesotho and Mozambique. Prior to coming to Misean Cara, Seamus spent 17 years with the Irish agency Trócaire. In Misean Cara, as part of the Learning and Development team, he has produced a series of Learning Briefs based on Misean Cara project evaluations. Other responsibilities include managing project evaluations and making monitoring visits to Misean Cara projects.

Jennifer Donovan

Donor Engagement Manager

Jennifer Donovan recently joined the Misean Cara Team as interim Donor Engagement Manager. She has worked in the non-profit fundraising sector for almost 20 years, with over 10 years’ experience at a senior executive level and as a fundraising consultant for 5 years. Some of her previous posts included fundraising for Dublin Simon Community, Coolmine Therapeutic Community, The Model Arts Gallery, Suas Educational Development and Aiséirí. Her work includes all aspects of fundraising with a strong focus on strategic development through relationship building. Jennifer holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management for the Community and Public Sector and guest lectures on Fundraising and Philanthropy. When not working Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family in the West of Ireland where she lives.

Safeguarding

Valerie Philpott

Safeguarding Advisor

Valerie is a qualified Social Worker and holds membership with the Social Work Registration Board of Ireland (CORU). She has extensive experience working with many marginalised groups within the non-profit and statutory sectors. Valerie is passionate about child welfare and children’s rights. Prior to taking up the position of Safeguarding Advisor here at Misean Cara, she spent 6 years in Australia working in Child Protection. She has also worked as a Social Worker in Ireland in the area of fostering. Valerie has qualifications in Anthropology and Social Policy and she holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from University College Cork.

Project funding team

Don’s focus is on Income generation activities and livelihoods (jobs) projects. Don is also involved in the members’ Sector Interest Groups. He supports member organisations by assessing funding applications, liaising with Development Mentors, and taking part in monitoring field visits. Don has a Degree in Civil Engineering from Dublin Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Charity Management from Dublin College University (DCU). After completing his Master’s Degree Don started the Carmichael Centre Ethiopia to build capacity of local charities in Ethiopia.

Mary O'Connell

Senior Project Officer - Member Capacity Development

Mary joined Misean Cara in April 2017 to manage the Members Capacity Development scheme. Mary has a BSc (Hons) in Science, Technology and Society from Middlesex University that included a year with the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe undertaking research on capacity development within the function of District Medical Officers. Mary has since worked in international development for over twenty years including eight years as the Policy Officer for Capacity Development in the advocacy team at WaterAid in the UK. She has travelled extensively in Africa and South Asia. Mary returned home to Ireland from London in 2012 keenly interested to bring her skills and experience to the development sector and now to Misean Cara.

Niamh Caffrey

Project Officer - Health

Niamh’s focus is on Misean Cara Health projects across the world, in which she supports members to access funding opportunities, monitors the progression of projects, evaluates completed projects and takes part in monitoring field visits. Niamh has lived and worked in Kolkata, India for approximately four years. In India, she worked with The Hope Foundation, an organisation focused on providing emergency care, healthcare, education and protection to vulnerable children and communities living in Kolkata’s streets and slum areas. Niamh has a Degree in International Development and Food Policy from University College Cork and a Master’s Degree in Nutrition for Global Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Orla Duke

Project Officer - Education

Orla is the Education Project Officer with Misean Cara, working with members on projects that uphold the right to quality education. Orla has considerable experience in the International Development sector working previously for Scholars at Risk Europe at Maynooth University on an EU-funded project aimed at supporting academics and scholars under threat, and with Trócaire to provide programmatic and organisational advice and support to missionary and local partner organisations working on humanitarian, human rights and livelihoods programmes across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central America. She has also worked with Sightsavers International, Irish Aid and the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations office (ECHO) in Brussels. Orla holds a MSc in Humanitarian Action from the University College Dublin and a BA in Public Administration from the University of Limerick.

Learning & development team

Seamus Collins

Learning & Development Manager

Colette Nkunda

Learning & Development Officer

Colette works to develop the skills and capacities of members. Born in Rwanda, Colette has an Economics/Accounting Degree from the Rwandan National University and a Master’s Degree in Social Science from the Free University of Brussels. Colette previously worked at the World Bank in Kigali where she was responsible for the co-ordination of aid. In 1994, Colette moved to Ireland. She worked at Trócaire for a number of years and then at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, designing programmes for communities in conflict. Colette is Vice-Chair of the Dóchas HIV and AIDS working group. In 2016, Colette was recognised as the Dóchas Global Citizen of the Year for her contribution to international development.

Jenny Ackermann

Learning & Development Officer

Seán Ferry

Monitoring and Results Measurement Officer

Seán Ferry is the Monitoring and Results Measurement Officer in Misean Cara, contributing to the improvement and implementation of the organisation’s monitoring and evaluations policy, designing the organisational results framework, and conducting data analysis across project-related reports. Seán has been working in the not for profit sector for 5 years, mainly in a project coordination, impact assessment, and research design capacity, and has over a decade of volunteering experience in Ireland and abroad. Seán holds a M.Sc in International Development from University College Dublin, and is also a registered PRINCE2 Practitioner in Project Management.

Development mentors

Michael Osei Nkumrah

Development Mentor, West Africa

Michael is bilingual (English and French), a trainer consultant by profession and has worked with several development organisations including MDF Training and Consultancy West Africa. Michael’s thematic areas include results based management, project management, monitoring, evaluation and learning and institutional development and organizational strengthening. As Misean Cara Mentor for West Africa, Michael works with member organisations at project level, helping project plan, implement and reflect on their development projects and outcomes. He also intervenes in reporting and member capacity development through 2 – 3 day training programs and on-the-job mentoring/coaching. Michael is originally trained in business having completed an MBA program, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Business Administration and several post graduate diplomas in development studies.

Paul Njeru Gichuki

Development Mentor, Eastern Africa

Paul joined Misean Cara in May 2014, as Eastern Africa Development Mentor. He develops the capacity (Institutional, Organisation and Human Resource) of Misean Cara member organisations and their local partners in enhancing quality of planning, monitoring, learning and reinforcing sustainability. Paul accompanies project personnel in their journey of transforming the lives of communities through greater project cycle management understanding and development of skills. Paul has a Master’s Degree in Governance and Development from the Institute of Development Studies (Sussex) and has been working in international development since 1997. Prior to Misean Cara, Paul spent 8 years with the Irish agency Trócaire, as East Africa Programme Officer. He is particularly interested in Human Rights, citizen participation and governance.

Finbar O'Brien

Development Mentor, Southern Africa

Finbar joined Misean Cara in August 2020. He accompanies project personnel in the Southern Africa region to develop their capacity in project cycle management, results-based management, and to assist in organizational strengthening. He also facilitates reflection and learning within and between projects. Finbar has worked in West, Central, East and Southern Africa with civil society, bilateral and multilateral organisations. He holds Master’s Degrees in International Development from University College Cork and Development Management from Open University. Much of his career was spent with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs where he was a senior manager with Irish Aid and he also served as Irish Ambassador to Zambia and Uganda.

Patricia Ynoñan Garcia

Development Mentor, Latin America

Patricia is bilingual (Spanish and English) and has worked with several development organisations including CARE Peru, World Vision and Instituto Salud y Trabajo. Patricia’s thematic areas include results based management, project management, monitoring, evaluation and learning and institutional development and organisational strengthening. As Misean Cara Mentor for Latin America, Patricia works with member organisations at project level, helping project plan, implement and reflect on their development projects and outcomes. She also supports in reporting and member capacity development through 2 – 3 day training programs and on-the-job mentoring/coaching. Patricia has a bachelors degree in sociology, masters degree in social management and diploma in gender studies. In her spare time, Patricia is a foodie who loves to visit new restaurants and read books.

Finance team

Eamon O'Connor

Financial Controller

Seth Wheeler

IT Development and Data Analytics Officer

Seth supports the various teams and members in Misean Cara; helping to manage and develop the funding application system and database (MissionLinks). Seth has worked in administration for a number of years, and also the charity sector; previously working in brain injury rehabilitation, and has a Masters in Development from Dublin City University. From England, Seth returns to his home country regularly to walk trails and hills.

Mukhtar Muhammadi

Finance Officer

Mukhtar joined Misean Cara as Finance Officer in 2022. His primary areas of expertise include Financial Management and Strategic Budget Planning, Financial Reporting, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), External Audits and International Accounting Standards (ISAs).

His professional roles have included Deputy Director of Finance with Roots of Peace, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to salvaging and replanting minefields as farmland in war torn areas. He has also served as Senior Capacity Building Officer of Finance and Procurement at The Asia Foundation, and as Assistant to Head of Program Support Services for the Afghanistan Rural Rehabilitation Development Program of the World Bank. As an employee of Deloitte, Mukhtar conducted external audits for banks, insurance companies, telecom companies, manufacturing companies and NGOs. Mukhtar is a Certified Public Account (CPA) and is in the finalist stage for professional candidacy with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Donor engagement & communications team

Anne Carthy

Donor Partner & Communications Manager

Anne returned to live in Dublin following a number of years working in International Development outside Ireland. She manages a new initiative to diversify and improve Misean Cara’s global donor engagement, funding and communications. Previously Anne spent six years working in Africa, Europe and the US, engaging new support and raising funds for the faith-based network Solidarity with South Sudan, which focuses on capacity and infrastructure development in education and health services. Anne has a background in law, corporate finance and multi-national business development. When not travelling for work, Anne enjoys the visual arts and spending time with family.

Clare Matthias

Marketing and Communications Officer

Originally from the United States, Clare’s 20-year career in communications and marketing has spanned sectors such as global affairs programming, biomedical and consumer product manufacturing, branding & design, and the contemporary arts, and has included roles at the American Red Cross and the World Affairs Council of Oregon. Her professional background includes an extensive business communications portfolio and credentials and experience in digital marketing, public relations, and project management. She has also worked as a freelance journalist and copy-editor. Clare holds a Master's Degree in the History of Art and Professional Certificates in Project Management and Digital Marketing, and is a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. She joined Misean Cara in 2020.

Jennifer Donovan

Donor Engagement Manager

Admin team

Marie Therese Fanning

Office & HR Manager

Ciara Bevan

Administrator

As part of the Admin team Ciara works closely with our members on MissionLinks, our IT system. She provides support to the other teams within Misean Cara, particularly in the areas of event management, health and safety, in-house training, accounts and general administration and IT. With qualifications in Marketing, Administrative Management and Accounting, Ciara’s career has primarily been in the private sector, in particular spending a number of years with both IBM and CIPD. Ciara loves to travel and getting to know a bit about other cultures and ways of life. She has wide tastes in music, theatre and cinema, and is a big sports fan.

Meaghan Higgins-Coyne

Admin Assistant

As part of the Admin team Meaghan works closely with our members in a variety of ways; in person, over the phone and through MissionLinks, our IT system. She provides support to the other teams within Misean Cara. She is currently a final year undergrad student in Trinity College studying Catholic Theology. Through a number of other administrative jobs she has extensive experience in member engagement, event management, and health and safety. Meaghan is an intrepid traveller, an avid film and book lover and has a varied taste and love for music and art.

Our Team

Management team

John Moffett

Séamus O'Leary

Marie Therese Fanning

Eamon O'Connor

Seamus Collins

Jennifer Donovan

Safeguarding

Valerie Philpott

Project funding team

Séamus O'Leary

Éamonn Casey

Don Lucey

Mary O'Connell

Niamh Caffrey

Orla Duke

Learning & development team

Seamus Collins

Colette Nkunda

Jenny Ackermann

Seán Ferry

Development mentors

Michael Osei Nkumrah

Paul Njeru Gichuki

Finbar O'Brien

Patricia Ynoñan Garcia

Finance team

Eamon O'Connor

Seth Wheeler

Mukhtar Muhammadi

Donor engagement & communications team

Anne Carthy

Clare Matthias

Jennifer Donovan

Admin team

Marie Therese Fanning

Ciara Bevan

Meaghan Higgins-Coyne