6th July 2026 

Active Disability Ireland has today announced the appointment of three directors to its Board, further strengthening the organisation’s leadership to deliver on its vision of an Ireland where people with disabilities have equal opportunities to be active. 

The Board has appointed a Marketing & Communications Director and introduced two new Board positions: Fundraising and Business Development Director and Advocacy Director. The appointments represent a key strategic step in supporting the ambitions of the organisation and reflect Active Disability Ireland’s commitment to broadening expertise and increasing its capacity to deliver on our mission. 

These appointments come at an important time in Active Disability Ireland’s Strategic development as the organisation continues to expand its national reach and influence, supporting partners and creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to access sport and physical activity.   

The newly appointed directors bring a wealth of experience and expertise from across the corporate, public and not for profit sectors. Their collective knowledge will support Active Disability Ireland to provide valuable leadership as we deliver on our strategic priorities to build a more inclusive sporting and physical activity landscape. 

The newly appointed directors bring extensive experience and specialist expertise across a range of disciplines. The new directors appointed are as follows: 

Marketing & Communications Director: Pamela Kavanagh 

An experienced communications leader with more than 17 years’ working in the not for profit sector helping charities, national organisations and governing bodies build their profile, influence policy and create meaningful social impact through strategic communications. 

As Head of Communications at Irish Wheelchair Association, Pam leads the organisation’s communications function working closely with advocacy, services and fundraising and IWA-Sport to ensure that the voices and lived experiences of people with physical disabilities are at the heart of public conversation.  

A lifelong believer in the power of sport to change lives, she is passionate about creating opportunities for people with disabilities to live independently, participate fully in their communities and enjoy equal access to sport and remove barriers in society. 

Pam believes that the most powerful communications are those that amplify people’s voices, challenge perceptions and inspire lasting change.

Fundraising & Business Development Director: Grainne O’Malley 

Gráinne O’Malley has over 15 years of experience across the non-profit and commercial sectors. She has held executive-level roles within national charities, with responsibility for corporate partnerships, fundraising campaign development, marketing and communications. 
 
She is an entrepreneur who founded an award-winning experiential marketing company, and currently works as a strategic marketing consultant supporting creative entrepreneurs in Ireland and internationally. She works with clients on marketing strategy, PR, and strategic partnerships – helping them grow their reach, build their audience, and drive commercial success.   
 
She believes deeply in the transformative power of sport and physical activity, grounded in her own years of training and competition. She also brings lived experience of disability and inclusive sport, as the parent of a child with cerebral palsy. Watching her son find belonging, confidence and joy through sport has given her a deep understanding of both the impact of inclusive sport and the barriers that can stand in the way. She is a fierce advocate for ensuring that disability is never a barrier to participation. 

Advocacy Director: Sarah Joyce 

Sarah Joyce is a senior communications and fundraising leader with over 23 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector. She currently serves as Head of Fundraising and Communications at Coolmine Therapeutic Community, where she leads strategy, partnerships, and engagement to drive national impact. 

  Sarah has extensive experience working with organisations supporting people with disabilities, including Special Olympics Ireland and Australia, the Irish Wheelchair Association, and IMNDA. She brings a strong track record in building high-value corporate partnerships, delivering impactful campaigns, and advancing organisational visibility and influence. 

She is deeply committed to advocacy and inclusion, underpinned by both her professional experience and personal perspective. Sarah believes that strong relationship management is central to effective advocacy, fundraising, and communications, and is passionate about supporting organisations to amplify their voice and impact. 

Speaking on the new appointments, CEO Brenda O’Donnell shared: 

“I am really excited about these appointments for the organisation as we continue to expand our reach, deepen our impact and deliver on our organisational vision.  Bringing dedicated leadership across these directorships will significantly strengthen our ability to grow partnerships, tell our story more effectively, influence policy and secure the resources needed to support inclusive participation nationwide.  I am really looking forward to working with our new Directors and to learn from their expertise, energy and shared commitment to inclusion.”

Active Disability Ireland Chairperson, Brian O’Callaghan added:

“The appointment of these three Directors representsan important step in the continued growth of Active Disability Ireland. As we implement our strategic ambitions and respond to the growing demand for inclusive sport and physical activity, it is essential that our Board reflects the breadth of expertise required to support our mission. I am delighted to welcome our new Directors with each bringing a wealth of experience, strategic insight and a strong commitment to creating a more inclusive society.”