Dr Catriona O’Toole

Dr. Catriona O’Toole has built her career around one guiding belief: that every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported in school. As a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology in Education at Maynooth University, she works at the intersection of wellbeing, trauma, and educational inclusion, carrying forward a deep commitment to helping schools become places where all children can thrive.

Siobhán Prendiville

Siobhán Prendiville is Course Leader for the MA in Creative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy at the Children’s Therapy Centre. CTC is the longest established and foremost provider of training in the field of play therapy, therapeutic play and creative child and adolescent psychotherapy in Ireland. Siobhán is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, play therapist, clinical supervisor, author, international presenter and trainer. Siobhán is passionate about the therapeutic powers of play and the pivotal role the curative powers of play and relationships hold in developmentally appropriate, trauma informed and responsive work with children, teenagers and families.

Dr Isabela Troya

Dr Isabela Troya is a Research Fellow at the National Suicide Research Foundation and University College Cork, where she has worked since 2019. Trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Ecuador, she has dedicated her career to advancing mental health research that informs policy and practice. Her work focuses on self-harm, suicide, and improving mental health responses in healthcare and community settings. Dr Troya has led national and international research on self-harm and suicide and is committed to translating evidence into compassionate trauma‑informed practice. Dr Troya received the UK’s Society for Academic Primary Care’s PhD of the Year award in 2020.

Mick Finnegan

Mick Finnegan is a child protection advocate, survivor of child sexual abuse, and campaigner who exposed systemic abuse within St John Ambulance Ireland. He has spent decades pushing for survivor-centred accountability and meaningful safeguarding reform, including advocating for an independent review into historical abuse. Mick is currently studying International Social Work at HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands and works as a Woonbegeleider with Leger des Heils in the Netherlands. His work centres on justice, equity, and trauma-informed practice.

Sandra Bryne:
In Sync

Sandra is Director of Therapeutic Services at In Sync and has a broad skill base having worked in the area of Social Care for over 18 years. She has a has a keen interest in civil rights and has worked in the area of domestic violence, and child protection and welfare. Sandra is part of In Sync’s senior management team and also a voluntary Board of Director to a local domestic violence service.

Sarah Rush:
Barnardos

Sarah Rush brings a wealth of experience to her work with children and families, drawing on a diverse background as an educator, Play Therapist, and Social Care Practitioner. For the past 19 years, she has worked for Barnardos in a range of roles across Family Support Services. In her current role as a Project Worker with the National Childhood Domestic Violence and Abuse (CDVA) Project, Sarah is guided by trauma-informed principles to support the participation of children and young people in the Empower Kids Project. This initiative aims to deepen understanding of the lived experience of childhood domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and to promote recognition of children as victims in their own right.

Marie Blaney & Deirdre McLaughlin:
Connected 4 Life UK

Connected for Life was established in 2016 by Marie Blaney and Deirdre McLaughlin after long careers in Youth Justice as Social Workers and Managers. Marie and Deirdre are psychology graduates, qualified social workers and systemic practitioners with many years of experience in a range of settings, including Youth Justice, in both practice and management roles. Marie is a part-time systemic practitioner in ASCERT, supporting children and families impacted by substance misuse. . Deirdre is a part-time lecturer in social work at Belfast Metropolitan College. Connected for Life aims to raise awareness of the far-reaching impact of trauma and adversity on individuals, families, organisations and communities and to support those impacted.

Carol Duffy:
Children’s Therapy Centre

Carol is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist Specialising in play therapy and a former Senior Play Therapist in Tusla In Mayo. She is a Core Trainer, Clinical Supervisor and Academic Registrar at the Children’s Therapy Centre. She has over 20 years’ experience working therapeutically with children and their families and surrounding network. Carol specialises in the areas of attachment, trauma, and play. She has significant experience of working with children in care and with children who have experienced attachment disruptions and developmental/relational/complex trauma.

Dr Eoin Galavan:
Kyrie Farm

Dr. Eoin Galavan is Clinical Director for Kyrie Therapeutic Farm. Eoin is a Senior Clinical and Counselling Psychologist in the HSE, North Dublin Adult Mental Health Services. Eoin is the Clinical Lead for the North Dublin Suicide Assessment and Treatment Service and former team leader for the Evolve Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program. Eoin is a clinical tutor and senior supervising Psychologist with the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Eoin serves as a member of the Policy and Advocacy working group with Mental Health Reform, and has previously served as board member with Kyire Farm. Eoin is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow with the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Kate McMorrow:
In Sync (Connect With)

Kate holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and Counsellor Education and brings over twenty years of experience supporting children, adolescents, families, and professionals. Kate’s work bridges evidence-informed practices with experiential wellness, creating workshops and training programmes that are accessible, and deeply engaging. She is passionate about empowering individuals and groups with practical tools that support nervous system regulation, resilience, and sustainable self-care.

Pamela Sage:
The Yurt

Pamela is a yoga teacher, sound healing facilitator and founder of TheYurt, Kilmead, a wellness space offering therapeutic practices for children, teenagers and adults. Pamela also delivers classes to primary schools. Her training began in 2011 and is ongoing. In 2018 she began facilitating sound baths alongside her teacher Benedykt Grabowski. Sound has now weaved its way into all aspects of her work. Her heart is rooted in creating spaces where individuals can step out of the rush to take meaningful pause and connect back to their sense of being.

Niamh McDonald:
Hope & Courage Collective

Niamh has over 15 years of experience and a proven track record in leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management. With extensive experience working across sectors and communities, she is skilled at building trusted relationships and communicating complex ideas in accessible and compelling ways to diverse audiences. Niamh has consistently advocated for and with people from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds, bringing a values-driven approach to all aspects of her work. Her background also includes independent research, peer-reviewed publications, and in-depth policy analysis.

Grainne McKenna:
The Wave Belfast

Grainne McKenna, is a Trauma Education Officer with WAVE. She heads up the Citizen Education team and is passionate about the healing power of sharing stories. Having worked in the peace building and reconciliation sector for over 30 years, Grainne has extensive knowledge of local government, the community and voluntary sector, community relations issues and the out workings of unresolved trauma in individuals, families, young people and the wider community as a whole.

Dr. Sarah-Jane Elliffe:
HSE

Dr. Sarah-Jane Elliffe is a Senior Clinical Psychologist (PSI chartered member ) and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. She trained as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) at Queens University prior to this and is currently training in Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT). Sarah-Jane graduated from TCD 10 years ago and currently works in a HSE Adult Primary Care Service. She has particular experience working with trauma and completing neuroaffirmative assessments.

Dr. Aoife Moran:
HSE

Dr. Aoife Moran is a Senior Clinical Psychologist (PSI Chartered Member) with the Adult Primary Care Service in Dublin South City. She integrates Schema Therapy, EMDR, and Cognitive Analytic Therapy in her work. Since completing her doctorate, she has practiced in community, inpatient adult mental health and eating disorder services. She has a special interest in eating disorders and is passionate about supporting clients in a neuroaffirmative way.

Niamh Crudden:
HSE

Niamh has served as Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention in the HSE for 11 years, coordinating the implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy across Dublin South, Kildare, and West Wicklow. In this role, she leads local and national projects aimed at improving access to supports and services for anyone impacted by suicide. She has been project lead for Safe Harbour for a number of years.

Gina Cantillon:
Barnardos

Gina feels privileged to have worked with the Barnardos Children’s Bereavement Service for the past 18 years, learning about grief, trauma and healing from the hundreds of children and their families who have attended during that time. She manages teams in Cork and in Dublin, provides training and consultancy, and advocates for the needs of bereaved children whenever the opportunity arises.

Anna Edgeworth:
Safe Harbour workshop

Anna is the mother of Sophie and has lived experience of supporting her daughter following the death of her father by suicide when she was 4. She has generously contributed her insight throughout the development of Safe Harbour, co‑producing the work alongside others with lived experience and professionals working in this field.

Ann Marie Flanagan:

Seekly Safety Ireland

Ann Marie Flanagan is Seeking Safety Ireland Manager. Ann Marie brings over 30 years of professional leadership in community development and human rights in Ireland. She has a strong track record in leading co-produced, evidence-based initiatives that support empowerment, autonomy, recovery, and equality, working closely with women, families, and people experiencing marginalisation and socio-economic disadvantage, alongside policymakers and services, to influence both practice and policy. She holds an MSc in Partnership Studies, Applied Management and is completing an LLM in International and Comparative Human Rights and Equality Law. She is co-author and editor of We Are Human Too.

Shruthi Chacko:
Saol Project

Shruthi Chacko is a Seeking Safety Project Worker with the Saol Project in Dublin, where she supports women experiencing trauma, substance use, and complex social needs, including homelessness and involvement with the criminal justice system. She co-facilitates the Seeking Safety programme across community and prison settings, delivering trauma-informed, recovery-oriented interventions and supporting women to access healthcare, housing, and safety planning.