Our team

The Misean Cara team combines a commitment to supporting those furthest behind with deep professionalism and long experience in international development. Meet the individuals who work with our members that seek to empower the most marginalised people achieve a better quality of life:

Management team

John Moffett

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

John was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Misean Cara in April 2020. He has worked in international development for over 25 years, his most previous post being as CEO of TREE AID, where he developed and led a 5 year strategy delivering organisational growth and deepening impact. John was previously Programme Director with Self Help Africa where he led the implementation of programme strategy targeting smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. John brings a strong track record in leading geographically dispersed teams to design and implement impactful programmes and growing institutional funding.

Séamus O'Leary

Organisational Change Manager

Séamus has been involved in overseas development for many years. He previously worked in Romania and Albania with a Wexford-based charity providing support to Missionaries of Charity care centres in Eastern Europe. Séamus spent three years with the Columban Lay Mission Programme in Lahore, Pakistan. He has worked on programmes in India and the Philippines with Trócaire as Asia Programme Officer and the Integration Centre on cultural diversity in Ireland. Seamus has a Diploma in Development Studies from Kimmage DSC, a Master’s Degree in Rural Development from UCD and a Degree in Non-Profit Sector Management through the Open Training College. He is married to Geraldine and they have four children.

Jennifer Donovan

Donor Engagement Manager

Jennifer has worked in the non-profit fundraising sector for almost 20 years, with over 10 years’ experience at a senior executive level and as a fundraising consultant for 5 years. Some of her previous posts included fundraising for Dublin Simon Community, Coolmine Therapeutic Community, The Model Arts Gallery, Suas Educational Development and Aiséirí. Her work includes all aspects of fundraising with a strong focus on strategic development through relationship building. Jennifer holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management for the Community and Public Sector and guest lectures on Fundraising and Philanthropy. When not working Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family in the West of Ireland where she lives.

Seamus Collins

Learning & Development Manager

Seamus joined Misean Cara in March 2017 as Learning & Development Officer and became Learning & Development Manager in 2020. He holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from University College Dublin, and has been working in the international development arena since 1987. He has lived and worked in Sudan, Lesotho and Mozambique. Prior to joining Misean Cara, Seamus spent 17 years with the Irish agency Trócaire, travelling extensively in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Throughout his career, he has gained a deep appreciation and respect for the work of Irish missionaries. As Learning and Development Manager, Seamus has responsibility for Misean Cara’s monitoring, evaluation and research work, as well as focusing on organisational learning and on capacity development for member organisations.

Mary O'Connell

Funding Manager

Mary joined Misean Cara in April 2017 to manage the Members Capacity Development scheme. Mary has a BSc (Hons) in Science, Technology and Society from Middlesex University that included a year with the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe undertaking research on capacity development within the function of District Medical Officers. Mary has since worked in international development for over twenty years including eight years as the Policy Officer for Capacity Development in the advocacy team at WaterAid in the UK. She has travelled extensively in Africa and South Asia. Mary returned home to Ireland from London in 2012 keenly interested to bring her skills and experience to the development sector and now to Misean Cara.

Fergal Molloy

Financial Controller

As Financial Controller, Fergal is a member of the Management Team and is responsible for producing monthly Management Accounts, annual Financial Statements, budgets and managing Cash Flow. He also provides leadership and direction to the Finance and IT team and oversees the implementation of finance/IT policy and procedures, accounting controls and reporting protocols. In addition, he reports to the Board and the Financial Oversight, Risk & Audit Committee on all matters financial and risk related.

Fergal comes to Misean Cara from an extensive career in Finance and Accounting, including management roles within the Insurance brokerage, technology and retail sectors and as a consultant, where clients included Irish Life & Permanent plc, Basketball Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). He has also lectured in Accounting, HR and Management with Dublin Business School and Blanchardstown Institute of Technology. Fergal’s overseas experience includes a two-year post in Pakistan as Finance Director for Aer Rianta International. He holds a BA in Business Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA from UCD’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Safeguarding

Valerie Philpott

Safeguarding Advisor

Valerie is a qualified Social Worker and holds membership with the Social Work Registration Board of Ireland (CORU). She has extensive experience working with many marginalised groups within the non-profit and statutory sectors. Valerie is passionate about child welfare, children’s rights and care reform. Prior to taking up the position of Safeguarding Advisor at Misean Cara, she spent 6 years in Australia working in Child Protection. She has also worked as a Social Worker in Ireland in the area of fostering and adoption. Valerie has qualifications in Anthropology, Social Policy, Social Work, and Law. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Master of Laws (LL.M) (Children's Rights and Family Law) from University College Cork. Valerie is currently Co-Chair of the Dóchas Safeguarding Working Group and an active member of the Comhlamh 'End Orphanage Care and Volunteering' Working Group.

Funding team