Meet our team and board

CEO

An independent consultant for over 20 years, Sheena has worked with a broad range of not-for-profit, governmental and commercial organisations in both Ireland and the UK, including Failte Ireland, Insolvency Services Ireland, Dept. of Transport, Aldi and more recently the Camogie Association where she was responsible for the #GoTogether campaign and commercial partnerships.

Sheena founded and ran the top 100 UK PR agency Eulogy! In London, and on returning to Ireland established her CSR and advocacy specialism through her professional and voluntary work.  Her application of pragmatism, analysis and creativity to organisational and social challenges has resulted in the delivery of successful CSR and educational campaigns and programmes that includes Ireland’s first media literacy programme for primary schools MediaWise (SafeFood) launched in 2017, Focus Ireland and 3 Mobile’s “Tackling Homelessness” campaign, Kellogg’s Food Poverty Report, and MoneySense for Home and Schools and Young Social Innovators.

Sheena served on the Board of The Wheel for five years, and is currently on the Board of the autism advocacy charity AsIAm.  Her journalist credentials include: co-producer and presenter of the radio documentary “Is Childhood Shrinking?” (Newstalk); co-producer of the 23-part series “Meet The Grandparents” (RTE Junior); regular contributor on national radio and TV; and columnist with IMJ (Irish Marketing Journal).  She is on the Advisory Group of the Internet Commission, a committee member of the Media Literacy Network, and member of Dublin Camogie’s Development Board.

Sheena has an MBA from Henley Business School, is a member of her local school’s Parents Council, and is an under-16s and under-12s camogie coach at Kilmacud Crokes.

CEO

Dearbhla has recently taken over as CEO of Drinkaware. Dearbhla officially joined in September 2023 following a career in the private sector where she was CEO of Usit and there for almost 20 years and started her own travel business and has worked across various industries from manufacturing, telecoms, airlines to semi state. Dearbhla says “It is already incredibly rewarding to be part of an organisation that is uniquely serving the Irish Public in the prevention of harm from alcohol space”.

Education Programme Manager

Martha is a Mater Dei graduate, taught for many years in Post Primary education. She was seconded in 1994-1995 as a national trainer for Relationships and Sexuality Education and was also a facilitator for the Department of Education of the fifty hour training course for teachers and principals on the Substance Abuse Prevention Programme (SAPP).

Martha was seconded by the Department of Education in 2000 to the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Support Service and more recently the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) where she worked as Regional Manager delivering in-service to teachers, school management and staffs. She has presented at and organised various conferences and represented the Department of Education and SPHE Support Service at conferences nationally and internationally. She has a post graduate Diploma in Guidance Counselling and has lectured extensively for the University of Limerick. She has also lectured for St Angela’s College, Sligo, Dublin City University and Hibernia College. She has a Masters from NUI Galway in Health Promotion and a Certificate in Addiction Studies from NUI Maynooth. More recently she qualified with distinction as a life and business coach. She was editor of the SPHE Journal and has been involved in the writing of lessons for the Department of Education and Skills.

As Drinkaware’s Education Programme Manager, Martha welcomes the opportunity to bring her experience, expertise and skills to a newly reconfigured organisation which aims to create longterm cultural and behavioural change to alcohol consumption in Ireland. Martha is very aware of the important role education will play in this.

Research & Impacts Manager

Ann has joined us from Maynooth Universtity where she worked as Postdoctoral Researcher with the ENRICH research programme in the Centre for Mental Health and Community Research on two concurrent HRB funded evaluations of interventions to promote child health and family wellbeing. She was awarded her PhD by Trinity College in 2015 for her thesis exploring the experiences of men who provide care in the context of dementia. She also holds a BA in Social Science and an MA in Social Policy from University College Dublin.

Ann has a vast project management experience, working for the past thirteen years on a range of health and social research and policy projects across the NGO, Academic and Public Sectors both on national and EU level, including with Care Alliance Ireland, Eurocarers, Trinity College Dublin, the Institutes of Technology of Ireland, the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, University College Dublin and Combat Poverty Agency. She is also an executive member of the Irish Social Policy Association where she holds the position of Newsletter Officer. In each case, she has been centrally involved in conducting evidence-based campaigns into various complex areas in order to impact policy and improve outcomes.

Ann’s strong academic and the project expertise and knowledge across various social policy areas that she has worked on to date demonstrates her curiosity and appetite for impact measurement. As Research and Impacts Manager, she is thoroughly looking forward to the pivotal role that she will play in Drinkaware to evolve the research role in the organisation and embed an ‘impact culture’ throughout all Drinkaware programme areas.

Director of Communications

Chris is a highly creative, insight-driven communications professional with considerable experience across multiple sectors and regions. His long career in PR and marketing spans across global brands as well as leading names in the not-for-profit, governmental, and supranational sector.

Chris has worked on a huge range of both global and local communications activities, including developing and executing major projects for leading global brands such as IKEA, Stella McCartney, or Adidas. He also has extensive experience in the field of sustainability. Chris has led the delivery of award-winning multi-year campaigns such as Threshold and the Department of Housing’s “Own Your Rights” as well as working for a diverse range of organisations in the not-for-profit and public sector including government departments, higher education institutions, youth mental health charities, international human rights organisations, LGBTQ+ rights and disability advocacy groups, local authorities, and European institutions.

A graduate of Trinity College where he received a BA in European studies, Chris is fluent in French and Irish. Apart from his love of languages, Chris is passionate about literature, culture and sustainability and is also a Director on the Board of Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride.

As Drinkaware’s Communications Director, Chris spearheads our efforts to deliver accurate, useful, and timely information that raises public awareness about alcohol and ultimately achieves our mission of preventing and reducing the misuse of alcohol in Ireland.

Finance and Office Manager

Jennifer joined the Drinkaware team in March 2023 as the Finance & Office Manager after previously working in management in BNY Mellon in Dublin’s Financial Sector. Jennifer obtained her MBA in 2017, which focused on Human Resources and Corporate Financial Management. This fuelled Jennifer’s interest in working in human resources and finance.

Jennifer is passionate about people and being a highly organised, self-sufficient individual, she is looking forward to ensuring Drinkaware’s finances are always kept on top of. She is also keen in supporting the company’s mission in informing the public about facts about alcohol and alcohol misuse/harms.

Healthcare Consultant
PwC Ireland

MB, BCh, BAO(NUI), LRSI, MRCPI, FRCPCH, DRCOG, DCH, MMedSc, MD (Medical Education), MBA.

Dr Michelle Mary McEvoy is a Healthcare Consultant with over 15 years’ experience working in healthcare leadership roles and advising on national healthcare transformation programs. Her background as a Paediatric Consultant in Great Ormond Street Hospital positions her to uniquely understand and provide insight into healthcare challenges, market trends and solutions. She leveraged this knowledge and experience to co-found and act as COO of a medical analytics company which provides industry insight and healthcare innovation solutions.

In addition to a first-class MBA from Smurfit Business School in Dublin, Michelle also has an MD research degree and a Masters in the application of technology to medical education and training. She is a published author and has written a textbook to help ensure evidence based decision making in paediatrics. Michelle is passionate about delivering safe, effective and innovative care to transform lives and improve health.

Communications and Public Affairs Expert

Garrett Harte is a communications and public affairs expert with over 20 years’ experience working with clients in Ireland and overseas. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Newstalk, he has shaped the national current affairs debate over many years. Garrett is Managing Director of Harte Media, a strategic communications agency working on media relations, reputation management, public affairs and corporate communications. He is a Senior Industry Advisor with the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development and visiting Lecturer at the School of Communications with Dublin City University. Garrett delivers mentoring and coaching programmes with Skillnet Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.

Non-Executive Director and Executive & Team Coach

Sean is Chartered Accountant with extensive experience at senior management level in the Courts Service and Trinity College. In the Courts Service he was Director of Finance and also held the role of Accountant of the Courts of Justice with responsibility for management and investment of €2bn of funds held in trust by the courts on behalf of 23,000 beneficiaries. Completely restructured the governance and management of court funds and has significant expertise as an investment trustee.

He holds a professional diploma in corporate governance from Smurfit Business School, together with extensive experience as a practitioner in corporate governance and risk management. Has extensive non-executive experience including being a member of the Courts Service Investment Committee, as well as being a member of the Audit Committees in Tallaght University Hospital and the National College of Art and Design. He has also been a board member of the Corporate Governance Association.

Sean has a Masters in Organisational Behaviour from Trinity College and has significant expertise in strategy development, change management; people & performance management; learning and development and procurement.

He is also an experienced coach with a Masters in Executive and Team Coaching from Smurfit Business School.

Director of Communications

With a background in the international not for profit sector working in communications, education and public engagement, Jennifer joined us from Sightsavers Ireland where she worked in Communications and Public Engagement with oversight of the Irish Aid public engagement programme.  

Jennifer has vast experience in both national and international organisations, working in homelessness and addiction services in Ireland and humanitarian aid and health care internationally. Jennifer holds a BA (Hons) degree from The Technological University of Dublin (TUD) in Social and Community Development, with a focus on addiction and holds an MA in Media and International Conflict from The Clinton Institute, University College Dublin (UCD).  

Jennifer has vast experience in digital communications including website development, content collection and creation, development education and public engagement, working with Amnesty International as part of the Activism Team and The Active Citizenship team within Concern Worldwide. Her strong beliefs in human rights, harm reduction and empowerment serve as the foundation for her work and will be central to her work within the Drinkaware Team.  

As Director of Communications, Jennifer is looking forward to bringing the Irish public on a journey to understanding better their behaviours and attitudes towards alcohol, providing factual and pragmatic information on alcohol use. Through utilising her expertise in communications and public engagement Jennifer hopes to increase awareness regarding alcohol misuse in Ireland and in turn help in achieving a positive cultural, societal and personal shift in behaviours and attitudes towards alcohol use.  

Principal Behavioral Scientist

S3 Connected Health

Sean is a Principal Beahvioral Scientist at S3 Connected Health, applying a behavioral and evidence-based lens to healthcare challenges. He is driven by why we do what we do, and how we can leverage the science of human behavior to design products and solutions that enable patients and healthcare teams to live healthier, happier and longer lives.

Sean established the first behavioral team at S3 Connected Health and created and codified a process for tackling behavioral challenges called the Behavior Change Compass framework. This builds upon many different frameworks including: COM-B, TDF, B=MAT, EAST, MINDSPACE, design thinking, jobs to be done, etc.

Previously, Sean was the Chief Product Officer of First Circle in the Philippines, where he applied a behavioral lens to SME financing and incorporated behavior insights across the business. He was a behavioural researcher at Warwick Business School in the UK and the Centre for Behavioral Science in Stirling University in Scotland, where he specialized in improving decision-making in healthcare. Sean also co-founded the Irish Behavioural Science and Policy Network (IBSPN), which brings together the thinkers and doers of behavioural science in Ireland.

Sean’s passion for behavioral science in healthcare was triggered by the diagnosis of a chronic condition over a decade ago and the need to change every aspect of his life to manage it effectively.

Managing Director

Hume Brophy

Maria Cryan is a communications and advocacy expert. She has nearly 20 years’ experience of government, international relations, public affairs, and strategic communications.

She is the Managing Director of Hume Brophy Communications in Ireland, and her expertise lies in managing campaigns for brands and organisations across the firm’s full range of sectors – Financial Services; Technology; Energy; Transport; Healthcare; Food and Drink.

She has worked in consultancy and in-house; and spent several years as an Analyst for the OECD and as a Diplomat with the Irish government, in London, Paris and Dublin.

Digital Media & Communications Officer

Alex joined the Drinkaware team in October 2022 as the Digital Media & Communications Officer. Since graduating from Technological University Dublin in 2018 with a BA in Creative & Cultural Industries, Alex went on to work in the IT sector in Canada Life then to a not-for-profit charity, Nutgrove Enterprise Park where she worked as a Marketing & Administrative Assistant.

During lockdown 2020 Alex completed a course in Digital Marketing to complement her degree and as of June 2022, she holds a level 6 in Event Management from the College of Management & IT.

During her time in Nutgrove Enterprise Park, Alex planned, organised and marketed networking events for the Enterprising Women’s Network and the Link Network which are supported by the Local Enterprise Office, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.

Alex has a passion for people and their wellbeing. As the Digital Media & Communications Officer, she is looking forward to increasing public awareness about alcohol through factual information on alcohol use through social media, newsletter, articles and other media.

Barrister-at-Law

Chartered Engineer FIEI, FCIArb, Arbitrator, CEDR Accredited Mediator.

A Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Practicing Barrister (BL) at the Bar of Ireland, Peter is operating in the areas of General Practice, PI, Data Protection Law, Public procurement Law, Planning, Environmental and Climate Law, Regulatory Law, Company Law, and Judicial review.
As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Peter practices in Arbitration. he is a CEDR Accredited Mediator and practices in Mediation and on General Dispute Resolution Fora.

Peter is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland (FIEI), and has more than 30 years experience as a Senior Manager operating at Board Level in both the Public, Private and International sectors within the Technology, Services, Regulatory and International Standards industries. He has served on Boards and Committees in Ireland the USA and Switzerland.