Board of Directors
Women's Collective Ireland is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors who are responsible for overseeing the running and operations of the organisation. The WCI Board holds legal responsibility for the organisation and is committed to ensuring a best-practice model of good governance and compliance. The Board of Directors role is entirely voluntary and in a not-for-profit context demands a considerable time commitment and also a deeply held commitment to achieve equality for women who experience disadvantage. In line with WCI's mission and vision, the Board oversees the work from a feminist and community development ethos.
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WCI's Board of Directors are strategically placed throughout the provinces of Ireland, which helps to keep us connected as all members of the Board have experience working with one of WCI's local community development projects.
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Photography credit: Sara Serpilli.
Maeve O'Grady
Chairperson
Maeve has been the Chairperson of WCI's Board of Directors since 2023, and is also a founding member of the Waterford Women’s Centre, serving on its voluntary management in various roles since the mid-1990s.
Maeve has acted as the intermediary between the WCI Waterford/Waterford Women’s Centre and Waterford Institute of Technology when developing its community education qualifications. She has represented the WCI Waterford/Waterford Women’s Centre in the National Women’s Council of Ireland and was a member of the Steering Group for AONTAS’s Community Education Network.
Brigid McGourty
Treasurer
Brigid serves as the Treasurer on WCI's Board of Directors. Her interest in serving on the Board came from her own skills and experience in supporting the community and voluntary sector.
Having worked with the Abbey National Building Society in London, and the HSE in Hospital and Community Management, Brigid possesses a wealth of expertise in the areas of finance, audits, HR, and recruitment.
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Brigid possesses an MBA in Professional Diploma in Management, and many work and skill-based courses.
Ann FitzGerald
Board Member
Ann is a dedicated member of WCI's Board of Directors, possessing a degree in Community Education and Development. She is a trained Community Education facilitator with a deep passion for women’s history, genealogy, and research.
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Previously serving as WCI’s Chairperson, Ann remains steadfast in her commitment to advancing women's empowerment and equality through her continued work as a Board Member.
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Ann brings invaluable first-hand experience to the board, having participated in the local community education system. This journey has enabled her to take on numerous leadership roles within her community, further strengthening her dedication to creating positive change.
Rita Sweeney
Board Member
Rita has served as a member of WCI's Board of Directors for a number of years and has over 33 years of working towards empowerment for grassroots women in both a voluntary and professional capacity.
She believes the pathway for empowerment, inclusion, and positive change for women - is through engagement and involvement in their local communities.
Outside of her commitments on WCI's Board of Directors, Rita has also been involved with WCI Ronanstown/Ronanstown Women’s Community Development for a number of years and is their acting Chairperson. Rita holds a Diploma in Community Workplace Management from the National College of Ireland.
Niamh Brown
Board Member
Niamh is a member of WCI's Board of Directors, having joined in October 2020, she also sits on the Advisory Group for WCI Limerick. Niamh's passion for feminism and community activism is vital in her role with WCI and is evident through her position as a visual art curator, researcher, and producer based in Limerick City. She works as Curator (Strategy & Development) at Ormston House, a visual arts organisation in Limerick, as well as in other independent projects.
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Selected curatorial projects include Strange Weather, a solo exhibition by Laura Fitzgerald; Other Ghosts, a group exhibition with Jennifer Trouton, Joy Gerrard, and Ursula Burke; and The Feminist Supermarket, co-curated with Mary Conlon. Additional projects include Mapping Wolfe Tone Street, a community-centred mapping project with the residents of Limerick’s Wolfe Tone Street and artist Mary Conroy and historian Sharon Slater. (Photography credit to Shane Vaughan.)
Freha Salem
Board Member
Freha works as a Tutor with the Galway & Roscommon ETB, whilst serving as a member of WCI Board of Directors.
She has been involved with WCI Roscommon for over 15 years, having previously availed of their support services to return to college. Freha firmly believes in the values and transformative work of women’s community-based organisations, having first-hand experience in how valuable this support has been for both her and her family. She joined the Board of Roscommon Women's Network in 2020 and is also a member of the RWN HR sub-committee.
Freha works in the area of community education and training and is passionate about supporting learners to engage and participate, whilst promoting and advocating for inclusivity and diversity in everything that she does.
Freha possesses a MSc in Computer Science.
Sub-committees of the Board
Audit & Finance
The Audit & Finance Sub-committee oversees all aspects of WCI's finances. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the sub-committee reviews all financial aspects of the organisation on an ongoing basis. Their role is to review annual financial statements and audited accounts. They monitor the financial management and performance of WCI.
Communications
The Communications Sub-committee oversees the internal and external communications strategy and works, in line with WCI's strategic plan. The sub-committee discusses areas of improvement, and opportunities to promote the work of WCI, and share recommendations.
Employment & HR
The Employment & HR Sub-committee oversees the employment and human resource aspects of WCI. This involves the recruitment and retention of staff, as well as day-to-day operational employee queries when they arise.
Risk Management & Governance
The Risk Management & Governance Sub-committee monitors the organisation's risk management, oversees regulatory and legislative compliance, and provides an assessment of risk processes and policies to the Board of Directors, to ensure accountability and ethical practice of the organisaiton.