Majella is the Director of Finance at MSD and a Chartered Accountant with over 36 years of experience. She holds a BComm from University College Cork and a Diploma in Professional Accounting from University College Dublin. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership roles, bringing expertise in finance, governance, and strategic planning. Majella was introduced to Anam Cara in 2013, when her son Daniel, despite his brave fight, passed away from leukaemia. Committed to ensuring that other bereaved parents receive the support that helped her navigate her loss, Majella became a volunteer parent in 2017 and joined the board in 2021.
Ivan Adriel is a Strategy Director at Granite Digital, working with organisations internationally on digital strategy, advertising and growth. He partners closely with senior leadership teams to support digital transformation and long-term, sustainable growth. Ivan previously co-founded the agency Connector, which was acquired by Granite Digital in 2020. He holds postgraduate qualifications in digital innovation and sustainability and has completed executive education in innovation through Harvard Business School and the Cannes Lions School. He brings a thoughtful, human-centred perspective to his work and is committed to supporting Anam Cara’s mission and long-term impact.
Rory is a Commerce graduate of the University of Galway and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) in Ireland. Rory has over 35 years of experience in Finance, having started his career with KPMG in Ireland before moving overseas and spending many years as a CFO for a major multinational in the US before returning home and establishing his own specialist tax practice in Galway. Rory is a strong believer in the unique support that Anam Cara provides to bereaved parents and is a member of the Finance committee.
Hugh is a retired Family Doctor with over 40 years’ experience in the medical profession. Throughout his career, he developed a particular interest in Paediatrics and Psychiatry. He has adult children and three grandchildren. Like many members of the Board, Hugh has experienced the bereavement of young family members. Through both his professional work and his own lived experience, Hugh brings a deep understanding of the impact of loss, bringing a significant breadth of knowledge to support Anam Cara in its mission to provide compassionate, high-quality support to bereaved parents and siblings.
Orla works at Irish Hospice Foundation where she is Director of Bereavement and Education and a member of the Senior Management Team aiming to deliver IHF strategic goals focussing on conversations about dying, end of life care and bereavement. Her background is in psychology and health services research, and she worked in university and the NHS in Scotland, as well as with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) where she is now Honorary Senior Lecturer. She is a member of bereavement-related European groups including Bereavement Network Europe. Orla has long respected and admired the work of Anam Cara having met Sharon, Grainne, Kate and other parents very early in its evolution.
Nora joined the Anam Cara board in 2024, bringing over 22 years of experience in marketing communications. She is currently the Communications Lead for Johnson & Johnson Campus Ireland, based in Cork. Since her return to Ireland in 2022 following a decade in Brussels, Nora has worked with leading agencies and led award-winning, multi-market campaigns, including Friends of Glass for the European Glass Packaging Industry. Nora’s involvement with Anam Cara is deeply personal. Her youngest brother, Killian, passed away from cancer in 2021 at the age of 24. She understands the profound grief of sibling loss and is committed to supporting others navigating similar experiences.
Oonagh is a senior pharmacist with over sixteen years’ experience in hospital pharmacy, medicines optimisation, governance, and clinical leadership within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. She currently holds a lead pharmacist role and has led service improvement initiatives, including participation in a cross-border healthcare research project. Oonagh was introduced to Anam Cara following the death of her beloved son Ethan in 2022. Committed to supporting other bereaved parents, she is a volunteer parent and brings both professional expertise and powerful lived experience to the board.
