Organisational Governance

Active Disability Ireland is overseen by a Board of Directors made up of 9 members. The role of the Board as detailed within our company Constitution is to provide strategic direction and oversight.

Our Board of Directors / Trustees

A native of Knockainey, Co. Limerick, Brian is a highly motivated professional with a 25-year track record of profitable small business ownership, boasting outstanding interpersonal, communication, organisational, negotiation and mediation skills, as well as business expertise in all areas ranging from sales and marketing, business administration and recruiting and training staff.

Brian’s entrepreneurial journey began when he ran his own bar in Hospital, Co. Limerick which saw him recognised by customers and colleagues alike as a consummate professional with a high degree of personal integrity. After a brief spell working in Air Traffic Control with the Irish Aviation Authority, Brian returned to his entrepreneurial calling, and founded EcoStraws Ltd, offering the largest range of biodegradable and reusable straws, and associated eco-friendly products in the world from its warehouse in Co. Limerick. This brought him recognition and awards from the All-Ireland Business Foundation and Enterprise Ireland National Startup Awards. Brian also introduced the world’s first plastic-free PPE shields to Ireland during Covid 19 which saw him recognised as a ‘Global Shaker’ for his fight on single use plastics.

During Covid, Brian also returned to college and graduated with top class honours in Business Management Applications from I.T. Sligo. Brian is currently part of the management team at Duggan Veterinary Supplies Ireland and UK, directly responsible for the expanding Marketing and Communications team, promoting products and services resulting in improvements in animal health and enhanced productivity within the veterinary industry.

Brian has spent many years volunteering for organisations promoting inclusion and diversity in sport and has held Management positions for Special Olympics Ireland at World Games in Los Angeles 2015, Abu Dhabi 2019, and Berlin 2023. Brian was also on the Games Organising Committee for Irish Games in Limerick 2014 and Dublin 2018.

In his spare time, Brian regularly guest lectures in universities across the country, as well as regularly appearing on local and national radio speaking on a variety of topics. He is also known as producer of his son’s Motivational Podcast – ‘The Paudcast’ which garnered worldwide acclaim promoting the mantra that ‘disability does not mean inability’, and both are huge advocates of promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

Sinéad White is a senior manager with over 20 years’ experience working in the Finance, Technology and Insurance industries. She is experienced in leading major programmes of change and specialises in project and process management. She graduated from UCD with a Masters in Economics and is currently working towards a Masters in Supply Chain Management. Sinéad is Head of Central Shared Services in VHI Healthcare.

She is a proud Laois woman and an avid sports fan from the couch to the side lines and in the thick of it. Running and fitness are keen interests and she has completed 2 Dublin City Marathons.

Bébhinn Murphy is a Barrister at Law, educated at The Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Dublin. Her practice as a barrister includes the areas of regulatory law and sports law. She is dedicated to civic, equality and environmental responsibility, also serving on boards of social enterprise and educational organisations, and a public partnership committee with her local government.

Teri Kelly is the Founder and CEO of Total Reputation, a strategic communications and technology business that helps organisations protect and enhance their reputations through evidence-based audits and advisory. She brings more than 25 years’ experience in communications, brand, and marketing across the legal, finance, technology, and energy sectors.

Previously Director of Representation and Member Services at the Law Society of Ireland, Teri led the organisation’s work on reputation strategy and member services and engagement. She established the Law Society’s Psychological Services and Women in Leadership mentoring programme, contributing to key initiatives in mental health and gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

Teri holds a Master’s in Political Science and is a graduate of the Institute of Directors’ Chartered Director Programme. Teri is a member of the National Council of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. She regularly advises boards and leadership teams on reputation risk, communications governance, and stakeholder strategy.

As a board member of Active Disability Ireland, Teri brings a strategic communications lens and a strong personal commitment to equality, inclusion, and access. She is passionate about creating a society where people with disabilities can fully and confidently participate in sport and physical activity.

Lisa Lowry is a senior HR leader with over 20 years’ experience working in HR roles in Ireland and the UK. She has held international HR roles in Technology and FMCG industries with Adobe, Hewlett Packard, TWE (formerly Fosters) and Diageo. She holds a Degree in Business Studies from South East Technological Institute and CIPD Diploma in HR Management and speaks fluent French.

Lisa is currently People & Culture Director at World Rugby the international federation for the sport of rugby union based in Dublin.

She is an avid sports fan with a passion for playing tennis, watching rugby and sea swimming when weather permits. Lisa likes to keep active and has previously competed in half marathon and triathlons.

Nora Peters is a senior leader in the not-for-profit sector with extensive experience in organisational governance, stakeholder engagement, and strategic operations. She currently serves as General Manager and Company Secretary of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN), where she oversees daily operations, governance compliance, and the delivery of key supports and services for education leaders across Ireland. Nora has previously held senior roles with Agri Aware and Macra na Feirme, delivering large-scale public engagement campaigns, EU-funded projects, and impactful educational initiatives. She holds a Professional Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership from UCD and a Certificate in Charity Law, Trusteeship and Governance with the Law Society of Ireland. Passionate about social impact, Nora brings a deep commitment to good governance in the charitable sector.

Peter brings a strong accounting and sporting background to his role as Finance Director of Active Disability Ireland. He is Head of Participation & Activation in Swim Ireland with a key focus on ensuring swimming is inclusive, accessible, and meet the needs of diverse communities including creating swimming programmes to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunity to be physically active. He holds a Master in Sports Directorship and extensive experience across public sector sporting bodies and deep understanding of developing inclusive sporting opportunities.

Prior to his work in sport, Peter spent 15 years in accounting and auditing roles. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and member of Chartered Accountants Ireland with in-depth knowledge of the Charities Code for financial reporting and Governance Code for Charities.

Sarah brings a strong commitment to inclusion, health, education, and advocacy to her role on the Board of Active Disability Ireland. As Sport & Leisure Services Manager at St. Michael’s House, she leads strategic development of accessible programmes including a fully accessible leisure centre, community sports department, and an innovative co-designed online platform. Her work prioritises health promotion, education, and digital inclusion, ensuring equitable access for all.

An experienced tutor with Active Disability Ireland and advisory board member of the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership, Sarah supports sector-wide inclusive practices, helping to break down barriers to participation. With over two decades of leadership experience, she is skilled in partnership-building, staff development, and programme design. She holds an MSc in Education & Training Management from DCU and specialist qualifications in Human Rights & Equality and Project Management.

On the Board, Sarah is committed to amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and ensuring lived experience guides policy.

Lizzy is currently the Technical Development and Participation Manager with the Camogie Association. As a senior manager she has over 18 years’ experience working in the Sports industry including 12 years in the disability sport sector.

Lizzy has extensive experience in sport development and coach education and is experienced in leading major sporting events and projects. She brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning and policy development

Lizzy brings a strong personal commitment to equality and inclusion of people with disabilities in sport

Additional Subcommittee Representatives

Leslee O’Loughlin joined Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Graduate Training Programme in the United States in 1997. After successfully completing the training programme, Leslee received a series of internal promotions which afforded her the opportunity to assume key roles within the organisation in both a managerial and marketing capacity.

In 2004, Leslee was promoted to Group Recruiting Manager and was responsible for developing strategic partnerships with key universities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 2007, Leslee was promoted to Group Human Resources Manager for Enterprise in the Republic of Ireland. Since 2007 Enterprise has been the proud recipient of several awards including a Gradireland Employability Award in 2009, an AHECS Engagement Award in 2012 and 2013, the Gradireland Diversity Recruitment award in 2013, 2014, 2015 (silver), 2016 and 2017 (silver), the Chambers Ireland Workplace Award in 2014, Top 10 Employer 2016 and Best SME 2016 in Glen’s Workplace Equality Index. Enterprise in Ireland is #89 on Gradireland’s Top 100 Employers list for 2017.

Irish Paralympic archer who has represented Ireland at 5 European Championships, 4 World Championships, the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games where she finished 9th and 17th. The only competitive archer in Ireland who is in a wheelchair and yet has been the Open National Champion for the past 4 out of years, where she competed against archers of all abilities. Archery is a great leveller and she would love people to understand that with her results, the standard of para archery is so high in Ireland that it becomes one of the most inclusive sports on the island. Growing up on a farm means she has been very adaptive and loves to face challenges head on. Professionally has worked with global tech multinational, working in analytics and sales, on top of which she works closely with government bodies and organisations to raise the awareness of farm safety and raise the profile of para sport.

The Governance Code for Sport (the Code)

The Board of Active Disability Ireland is committed to achieving compliance with Governance Code for Sport which is overseen by Sport Ireland.

The Governance Code for Sport (the Code) is a voluntary code of practice for good governance of sport organisations in Ireland. The Code identifies 5 principles on which good governance is based. Under each principle, the Code provides a set of core standards that all charities are expected to apply

The five principles of the Governance Code for Sport are:

Leading the organisation
Exercising control over the organisation
Being transparent and accountable
Working effectively Principle
Behaving with integrity

Achieving compliance to the Code, helps Active Disability Ireland make a public statement about our culture and commitment to fairness, accountability and transparency for our stakeholders.

Public Statement of Compliance Form

The Charities Governance Code

The Charities Regulator launched a new Charities Governance Code in late 2018. This Code sets out a mandatory standard for governance in Irish charities. All charities in Ireland must implement the Code from 2020 onwards.

The Code identifies 6 principles on which good governance is based. Under each principle the Code provides a set of core standards that all charities are expected to apply.

The six principles of the Charities Governance Code are:

Advancing Charitable Purpose
Behaving with Integrity
Leading People
Exercising Control
Working Effectively
Being Accountable & Transparent

Achieving compliance to the Charities Code, helps Active Disability Ireland make a declaration of compliance with the Code in your annual reporting to the Charities Regulator.

The principal objects for which Active Disability Ireland is established are the advancement of community welfare; the advancement of community development; the promotion of health; the promotion of civic responsibility or voluntary work; and the integration of
those who are disadvantaged and the promotion of their full participation in society by seeking to benefit people with disabilities in Ireland through the carrying on the business of developing, promoting, supporting and advocating for equal opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in physical activity and to encourage and support people with disabilities to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

Governance Documents

Active Disability Ireland Constitution
Terms of Reference for the Advocacy and Communications Committee
Active Disability Ireland Board Code of Conduct
Nominations and Remunerations Committee Terms of Reference
Business & Risk Committee Terms of Reference

Complaints Policy and Procedure

Strategic Plan 2023-2027

Building on the success of our previous strategy, which established our organisation as a leader in advocating for increased opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport and physical activity, we are delighted to present our 2023-2027 strategic plan, developed in collaboration with people with disabilities across Ireland.

The strategy sets out a roadmap for Active Disability Ireland for the period 2023-2027 which reflects our ambition to increase physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities across Ireland.

Our strategy outlines a clear commitment to work in collaboration with national and local partners to make active lives possible for people with disabilities while ensuring the voice and needs of people with disabilities is placed at the forefront of all our decisions and actions.

Download our Strategic Plan 2023/27

Strategic Plan 2023/27 (easy to read)

Strategic Plan 2023/27 (text only)