Meet the Team

A nurse by trade, Peter has worked in senior management roles for a variety of INGO’s, including Médecin Sans Frontières, the International Federation of the Red Cross, UNHCR, and Save the Children. He’s used to working in complex environments such as South Sudan and DRC and has experience of conflict countries like Burundi and Somalia. Most recently he has been Country Director for Blue Ventures in Madagascar for 4 years after previously serving as Country Representative for The Mentor Initiative in Liberia, Country Director for BBC Media Action in South Sudan and for the Malaria Consortium, also South Sudan.

Peter brings to BMI a wealth of experience in the third sector, and extensive clinical experience of working with brain injuries as a nurse in ICU. He considers himself now to be a skilled and passionate general manager.

Peter remains a Registered Nurse and has a Masters in The Control of Infectious Disease in addition to his PGDip in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology.

Paula is a senior executive in the global customer management corporation Concentrix. She manages a $150m annual portfolio across the globe and was awarded IOD NI Global Business director of the Year 2018 and the GSA UK Strategic Leader of the Year 2018. She joined the board in 2018 and has a particular interest in championing diversity and inclusion.

Vicky is a director of PR at ASG & Partners. A law graduate and PR professional for almost 20 years, she is an accredited CIPR member, visiting university lecturer and PRide winner. She joined the Board in 2017.

Graeme joined the board in 2017 and is a director in Barclay's bank with responsibility for a portfolio of corporate business clients. He manages financing and investment requirements for some of Northern Ireland's largest companies and has significant experience in corporate governance and risk management. Graeme also chairs the charity's Corporate fundraising committee.

Colette is a chartered accountant and became Treasurer in 2015. She is a director in the NI Audit office and has a particular interest in corporate governance. Colette also served on the board of governors of a local integrated primary school.

Clodagh joined the Board in 2022. She graduated from University of Ulster with a degree in Physiotherapy and worked for 12 years within the Health Service specialising in ergonomics, occupational health and musculoskeletal physiotherapy. For the last 12 years she has held senior manager posts both in Trusts and the Health and Social Care Board within Cancer Services and Stroke Services. She is currently a senior manager within the Belfast Trust and has responsibility for the Trust domiciliary care service.

Stuart joined the Board in 2023 and has over 6 years experience in the Technology industry. Stuart manages clients across the world utilising his HR background and IT systems analyst experience to ensure customers HR and Financial systems are secure and appropriate IT system controls are in place.

Claire has worked in public policy for over 20 years and is Head of Policy with the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) in Northern Ireland. She is a University College Dublin alumna with an MBA from Ulster University. Claire joined the Board in 2019, taking the Chair in 2021.

Tara joined the Board in 2019 and has over 20 years experience in the Web and Digital Marketing Industry. Past experience includes working with The Belfast Telegraph and the BBC. Tara also ran her own Agency for 10 years.

Mary qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and after 1 year in private practice joined the Fair Employment Commission (FEC) in 1993. With the creation of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Mary joined their legal team where she continues to work as a Senior Legal Officer.

Mary is a member of the Employment Lawyers Group Committee, representing the interests of employment lawyers in NI and the Equality & Human Rights Group of the Law Society Northern Ireland and is a member of the Northern Ireland Advisory Group for Barnardos.

Sarah has been working in the NI Further Education sector for 10 years including a recent 3 year secondment for a sector transformation project. She is an alumna of both Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast holding an LLB and MSSc respectively. Sarah has a range of experience across both public and community sector in NI and is a keen writer of both short stories and articles. Sarah is the parent of a child living with an ABI and is committed to advocating the issues faced by families and making recommendations for change within regional and local services.

Deborah joined the board in 2022. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, working as Financial Controller with Dale Farm Cooperative Limited. Deborah has responsibility for consolidation of the group accounts, taxation, payroll and has a particular interest in strategy development.

Orlaith is an Independent Social Worker and Director of McGibbon Consultancy and Safeguarding Services. She is the Chair of the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers and a governor with St Ronan’s College Lurgan. She joined the Board in 2023.

Ciara joined the Brain Injury Matters team in November 2019. Ciara has a BA (Hons) Fine Art, (Sheffield Hallam University), P.G.C.E in Visual Arts with subsidiary in Craft, Design Technology, (Leeds University) and an MA (Dist) Art in Public, (University of Ulster).

Over the last 20 years, Ciara has worked as an artist, artist-in residence, arts facilitator, lead artist, arts coordinator and arts manager initiating, developing and managing a wide range of arts projects with people of ages, abilities and disabilities throughout England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, Berlin, Australia, Iceland and in her home, Northern Ireland.

Meg joined the Brain Injury Matters team as Family First Practitioner in August 2017. Meg has had many roles in her professional career covering over 35 years working with children and families including working as a cardiographer, nurse, teacher, lecturer and assessor. Meg works independently as a Play Therapist facilitating Therapeutic and Filial-based play skills alongside parents and carers in a variety of settings with the aim to empower, equip and enable children and families. Meg has delivered an extensive range of training throughout her career including first-aid, ante and post-natal care for parents, ASD awareness, child development, behavioural management, sensory awareness, creative and sensory play for parents and professionals and baby and toddler yoga with parents.

Jonnie graduated from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh with a BSc (Hons) and then a PhD in Physiotherapy. He has worked in a range of clinical settings in Scotland and Northern Ireland. He first worked with neurological patients as a student and since 2002 has managed patients with neurological conditions in the inpatient, outpatient and domiciliary setting. For over 5 years he worked in the University of Glasgow as an advanced health research analyst in the field of neurology, assimilating, analysing, disseminating and educating clinicians in an evidence based practice approach to patient care.

Fiona joined the Brain Injury Matters team in April 2008 coming from a successful career in the private sector. Fiona is an integral part of the team responible for managing the day to day operation of the business with a key factor on finance.

Mary-Elaine graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a first class honours degree in Psychology in 2010. She continued on to study Applied Psychology (ClinicalSpecialism). Most recently, she is about to complete stage 2 of her systemic practice/family therapy training and her research PhD examining sleep in Cerebral Palsy. Mary-Elaine has worked in a range of clinical settings across the life span, supporting both adults in primary care and children and young people with ASD.

She joined Brain Injury Matters as a volunteer with the Children and Youth Service in October 2021. Now as Research and Policy officer, Mary-Elaine hopes to shape policies and guidance in order to support Brain Injury Matters staff to deliver high quality, person centred care for those living with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

Suzi joined Brain Injury Matters as a volunteer while studying English at QUB and credits the charity with inspiring her career choice. Suzi graduated top of her year at the University of Sheffield in 2016 with a First Class BMedSci Honours in Speech Science and later undertook additional training in therapeutic techniques, motivational interviewing and is a qualified mediator. Suzi also works independently as a Speech and Language Therapist and consults regularly with schools and organisations on communication, social skills and conflict resolution.

Suzi is a well-known member of the team at Brain Injury Matters, taking up her first role in 2018 as a practitioner on the Youth Matters service and later launching the Advocacy Service in January 2023 before moving into a Senior Management position in October 2023.

Eilish graduated from Queens University in 2020 with a BSc in English (1:1) Eilish has worked in a variety of health communication roles across NI and England and is looking forward to developing the profile of Brain Injury Matters as an organisation dedicated to awareness, education, and knowledge of living beyond acquired brain injury.

Tara graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Psychology in 2018 and qualified with an MSc with distinction in Childhood Adversity the following year. Her work has been published in by the Journal of Family Violence. Tara has experience supporting young people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments and their families, to equip them for their transition to young adulthood. She is excited to explore new ways to help empower people in all areas of life at Brain Injury Matters.

Aoife graduated in June 2023 with a First Class Honours in Psychology, specialising in Clinical Health, from the University of Glasgow. Aoife has substantial experience in the voluntary sector. Her passionate commitment to inclusion and supporting others drives her excitement for joining Brain Injury Matters, focusing on providing personalised support to young people and their families.