Board of Directors

Noeline has been the Director General of FLAC since 2005.  Before that, she worked in general practice as a solicitor, with a particular interest in family law and in human rights law in general, refugee and immigration law in particular. She sits on the Law Society's Human Rights Committee and its Family Law and Civil Legal Aid Committee. She is a former chairperson of the Irish section of Amnesty International and is a trustee of Front Line, the Dublin-based international foundation for human rights defenders at risk.

John has been a director of Social Innovations Ireland since 2001. Most recently, John co-founded and is a director and shareholder of Rossbank, a new lender in the British and Irish market lending for the purpose of overseas property. John is also the co-chair of the KPMG Financial Services Awards.  He is a masters graduate from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD.

For more than 50 years, Sr Stan Kennedy has pioneered, campaigned, explored and developed a range of inspiring social innovations to benefit thousands of people.  In the 1960s, she worked alongside Bishop Peter Birch to develop Kilkenny Social Services into a blue-print for the rest of Ireland.  In 1974, Sr Stan was appointed the first chair of Combat Poverty and in 1985, she established Focus Ireland – the country’s biggest NGO dealing with homelessness.  In 2000, Sr Stan founded The Sanctuary, a meditation and spirituality centre in the heart of Dublin City and in 2001, she established Social Innovations Ireland, parent organisation of the ICI and Young Social Innovators.  Sr Stan has received many awards and tributes including:  Kerry Person of the Year (1981); Honorary Doctorate in Law from Trinity College Dublin (1982); University of New York Special Honour for commitment to the disadvantaged in Ireland (1993); The Lord Mayor of Dublin’s Award (1996), Honorary Doctorate in Law from NUI (2003); Meteor Awards Humanitarian of the Year (2004); and Honorary Degree of Doctor of the Open University.

Stewart was Chief Executive of Paddy Power plc for 14 years.  He is on the board of a number of organisations, including Paddy Power plc and the Dublin Simon Community.  He is currently in practice as a psychotherapist.

Lawrence came to Ireland in 1986 as an undergraduate student.  After completing his PhD, Lawrence set up a consultancy business in 1995 and then worked for Ericsson in Athlone.  Later, he set up his own pharmaceutical R&D businesses in Dublin.  Lawrence is active in the migrant community in Ireland.

Derek has been a practicising solicitor in the areas of immigration and asylum law since 1993.  As one of the few legal practitioners in Ireland trained by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Derek joined the newly emerging council of the Irish Refugee Council and became its chair from 1999 to 2001.  During this time, he negotiated legal representation for the Council and as active in securing a system of legal representation for asylum seekers in Ireland.  Derek has been a lecturer for the Law Society of Ireland and a guest speaker for other organisations active in pursuing the rights of migrants.

Breege Timoney is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA).  She qualified as an accountant in 1993 and has held a number of senior finance roles, predominantly in the financial service industry.  In addition to her involvement in the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Breege is also a member of the board of Young Social Innovators Ireland Limited.

Larry is a representative of Social Innovations Ireland on the Board of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.  He was formerly President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Dublin and is currently on the World Council of that organisation.  Larry is a non-executive Director of a number of voluntary agencies concerned with homelessness, community development and social justice and has been a member of Government advisory bodies on social issues.