About UsFor change. For better. For all.

Denise Charlton

Chief Executive

Denise is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming lives and communities. She is presently the Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland - the nation’s leading philanthropic hub. Her professional journey has seen her work with several philanthropic organisations, including Tomar Trust, Social Change Initiative and Unbound Philanthropy. She currently serves on the board of ‘CUAN’ - the state's first sexual and gender-based violence statutory agency and JADD Project CLG. Her exceptional track record includes her role as CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Women's Aid, where she championed vital causes. Denise also has expertise that spans a wide spectrum, from championing gender equality and combating gender-based violence to addressing the climate & housing crisis, children's, migrants', LGBTQ+ rights, as well as reproductive rights. Denise is not just a leader; she's a trailblazer. She was a founder for Marriage Equality and played a pivotal role on the advisory committee for the Together For Yes Campaign. Her influence extends to public service as a former member of the Press Council, a government appointee to the Crime Council, and a task force dedicated to ending violence against women.

Jackie Harrison

Director of Philanthropy

Jackie is passionate about philanthropy, donor care and growing the resources of the Foundation to meet our mission of equality for all in thriving communities. Jackie is a former Chief Executive of Philanthropy Ireland and previously held a number of senior roles in the Irish Business and Employers Confederation. She has been awarded an M. Litt by Trinity College for her research in relation to female philanthropists and also written several reports including “A Guide to Family and Personal Giving” and “How Entrepreneurs View Philanthropy in Ireland”.

Moninne Griffith

Director of Impacts, Grants and Donor Care

Moninne Griffith is a seasoned leader and social justice advocate with over two decades of experience driving transformative change across law, policy, and civil society. She formerly served as Chief Executive of Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland, Moninne is committed to building a society where all young people are equal, safe, and thriving. A qualified solicitor, Moninne began her career in legal practice before transitioning to advocacy, where she led the historic Marriage Equality campaign in Ireland, culminating in the successful referendum for same-sex marriage in 2015. Her strategic leadership and coalition-building have since positioned her as a trusted voice in national policy development and youth mental health. Moninne has held key governance roles, including Chairperson of the National Women’s Council of Ireland and board member of the Children’s Rights Alliance. She was appointed by Minister Mary Butler to the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s mental health policy framework. Her contributions span government-appointed groups such as the Gender Recognition Act Review Group, the LGBTI+ Youth Strategy oversight committee, and the Taskforce on Youth Mental Health. Driven by a deep commitment to equality, Moninne brings a collaborative, values-led approach to leadership. Her work continues to centre...

Sally Gaynor

Chief Financial Officer

Sally Gaynor is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), having trained in KPMG early in her career. She most recently worked as Head of Finance in Drivalia Lease Ireland and prior to that was Senior Vice President of Client Accounting in Maples Fiduciary Services. Sally also holds an MSc in International Politics from Trinity College Dublin.

Jerry O’Connor

Director of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs

A communications professional with experience at the highest levels of media, Government and civil society. Jerry is passionate about his work and dedicated to telling the story of the Foundation and community partners, as well as the motivation of our donors.

Roddy Rowan

Chair

Roddy is a business advisor, coach, mentor and Senior Partner at Genesis, the business advisory firm which he co-founded in 1995.  With a background in strategy and marketing, he has led and advised numerous start-ups from initial funding through to maturity and exit.  He has served on the Board of the Foundation since March 2014 and was appointed Chair in December 2022. At the 2025 AGM, he was reappointed as Board member and Chair for a further year.

Noeline Blackwell

Noeline Blackwell is a human rights lawyer and campaigner with extensive experience in victims' rights, domestic and gender-based violence, immigrants rights, children's rights and access to justice. She is an Adjunct Full Professor at the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin, and a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Press Council. She has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by University College Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Noeline chairs the Independent Patient Safety Council and the Child Law Project and is a director of Open Doors Initiative.

Paul Rogers

Paul Rogers is the CEO of Northside Partnership. He has extensive experience of working within the community and voluntary sector in the areas of local and community development, charities governance, strategic planning, organisational development, communications, project management and IT. In leading Northside Partnership, Paul has overseen the implementation of an Advantaged Thinking practice framework that seeks to counter the narrative of disadvantage and works with people in building upon their capabilities. A native of Coolock, he previously spent 14 years working with the Dublin North-West Area Partnership in a number of senior roles including that of Local and Community Development Programme Manager. Prior to that Paul worked in the clothing industry before returning to college as a mature student.  Paul has also worked as an instructional designer in the IT sector before moving into the community and voluntary sector in 2001. An advocate of partnership and interagency collaboration, Paul is fully aware of the challenges faced by community and voluntary organisations in carrying out their social purpose having served on the governance structures of a number of organisations working to address a range of issues including health inequalities, long term unemployment, impact of criminal networks, suicide prevention and voter education....

Peter Law

Peter Law is a solicitor and a Consultant with A&L Goodbody, having been a partner of the firm from 1983 to 2020, the last seven years serving as Risk and Compliance Partner. He holds a B.A. in Business Studies from Trinity College Dublin and served for 15 years as legal advisor to the Standards in Public Office Commission. Peter is a former Board member of Peamount Healthcare and a current member of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. 

Faye Walsh Drouillard

Faye Walsh Drouillard is a social entrepreneur and experienced board leader with deep expertise in impact investing, governance and mission-driven strategy. She is founder and General Partner of WakeUp Capital, a Dublin-based impact venture capital firm investing in high-purpose founders across the EU and beyond, with a focus on climate resilience, sustainable value chains and health equity. She is also Founder and Board Chair of The Giving Circles in Amsterdam and Ireland, promoting effective, collaborative philanthropy. Her career includes senior executive and board roles in international non-profits, including Executive Director of the Freedom Writers Foundation. She brings a rigorous, values-led approach to oversight, capital allocation and long-term impact.

Catherine Mullarkey

Catherine Mullarkey has over 30 years of experience across banking, property and finance including senior roles at KBC and Anglo-Irish Bank. She is currently chair of St James Hospital, Dublin's largest acute teaching hospital and was previously a non-executive Director of Pentathlon Ireland. She holds a B Comm from UCD, is a qualified ACCA, holds the Diploma in Company Direction with the Institute of Directors, and has recently completed a higher diploma in Psychology.

Barbara Fitzgerald

Barbara FitzGerald has been involved with the Foundation since 2007 and joined the Board in December 2018. She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and she is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, with a career spanning business development, corporate finance, aircraft leasing and financing. She is currently SVP Portfolio Management and the Origination at High Ridge Aviation, responsible for trading, pricing and origination of new assets.

Dr Gráinne Healy

Dr Gráinne Healy has worked and volunteered in the community and voluntary sector for three decades. Founder and Chairwoman of Marriage Equality and Co-Director of the Yes Equality campaign in 2015, she is a published author, trainer, and facilitator who has developed strategic plans for many leading Irish NGOs. A graduate of UCD, she completed her PhD at DCU in 2015 and founded Social Intelligence Associates,, which delivers leadership training to NGO leaders. She is a former Chair of the National Women’s Council of Ireland and a former Chair of the European Women's Lobby Observatory on Violence Against Women.

Rose Wall

Rose Wall is a solicitor specialising in environmental justice, with senior leadership experience across the NGO and legal sectors. She is also a Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Rose is the former CEO of Community Law & Mediation (CLM), where she founded Ireland's Centre for Environmental Justice, and previously served as Managing Solicitor at Mercy Law Resource Centre.  She holds an LL.B. and LL.M. from Trinity College Dublin and a Diploma in Environmental Law from the Law Society of Ireland and is a regular speaker on environmental and social justice issues.

Tim Murphy

Tim Murphy has been a director of Flow Technology since 1999, a Cork-based, family-owned, process engineering company serving the beverage, food, and life science sectors in Ireland and Europe. He studied mechanical engineering at UCD, is a chartered member of Engineers Ireland, and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. In recent years, Tim and his family have engaged in structured philanthropy through the Foundation to support community initiatives.

Paul Morris

Paul Morris is a Tax Partner and member of PwC Private team with over 20 years’ experience advising private clients on domestic and international tax structuring and transactions. He previously held senior tax roles at KPMG and Twomey Moran and is an AITI Chartered Tax Advisor and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Paul chairs the Foundation's Audit and Risk Committee.