Board
The work of EIL Intercultural Learning is overseen by a Board of 12 volunteers who meet on a regular basis throughout the year. All members of the Board have previously participated on EIL programmes and do not receive any payments or emoluments for their work. Board members are elected each year by the members of EIL.
The members of the Board are:
Judy Roche - Chairperson: "I am from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway and am currently working as a solicitor in Dublin. I first became involved with EIL in 2000 when I was fortunate enough to be selected for a travel award to Ecuador. It was the beginning of a great adventure for me and I have made wonderful friends and had a number of fantastic experiences with EIL as a participant, group leader and member of the network and Board of EIL. For example, I acted as group leader for the Hong Kong / Ireland Youth Exhange Programme and have attended annual meetings of the EIL Federation. I am delighted to serve on the Board - it is inspiring to be at the heart of an organisation that is genuine in its pursuit and support of intercultural exchange and awareness, active citizenship, development education....and so much more".
Katy Dobey - Vice Chairperson: "I have been involved with EIL since 2006, when I won a Travel Award to Washington DC. I joined the Board later that year. Since then I have travelled to Hong Kong and Vermont on EIL programmes. I am particularly interested in the Development Education aspect of EIL and am a member of the Development Education Management Committee. I graduated from Trinity College in 2010 and now work as a primary teacher in a Gaelscoil in Dublin."
Paul Quinn - Treasurer: "My name is Paul Quinn and I’m from Cavan. I have a masters in International Relations and in Law. At the moment I’m pursuing my PhD in Politics and International Relations at UCD, as the Irish Government’s Dept. of Foreign Affairs Conflict Resolution Scholar. I became involved with EIL in 2009, when I volunteered on a Human Rights project in Nigeria. I’ve stayed involved with EIL as an active member of the Board and the Development Education Committee for the last two years. I participated on EIL’s Global Awareness Program, working on a HIV/AIDS project in South Africa last year and recently began representing EIL on the National Youth Council’s Development Education Advisory Group".
Gill Carter: "I’ve been a member with EIL since taking part in the Global Awareness Programme in South Africa, since then I’ve kept active by co-ordinating an awareness campaign in Ireland regarding HIV/AIDS and helping out with EIL at volunteer fairs. I am currently studying International Development and Food Policy and have lots of experience with working in committees. I have served as Chairperson of UCC International Development Society ’10-’11, and more recently as UCC Amnesty International society events officer and UCC Student’s Union Gender Equality Officer".
Paul Conway: "I joined the EIL Family after a Homestay in Communist Poland in 1986. Afterwards, I was asked to represent EIL on the National Youth Council. When the EIL Board was established in the late 1980s, I was elected and have served continuously since then, including holding the position of Chairperson on several occasions. In 2009 on the recommendation of the Board I became a member of the EIL Trust and have just become Chairperson of this group. I am married to Brenda and we have 3 teenage children. I work in the Operations Department of a European Logistics Company. Also I am an active member of the Red Cross where I use my skills and qualifications to train and support others".
Hollie Kearns: "I've been involved with EIL since I won a travel award to go to Japan in 2001. I continued to remain active in the EIL network, meeting lots of new friends and learning about global issues, and was first elected to the board in 2007. I've also been a tour guide for EIL/Roadscholar programmes and met many people coming to Ireland for their intercultural learning experience. In all my interactions with EIL, it's been really exciting to feel a part of this dynamic and inspiring network of people committed to intercultural learning, development education, and global citizenship. I'm from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and studied art history in college. I've worked in Ireland, the UK and Italy in heritage and the arts, and currently, I'm a curator at an art-and-architecture community organisation in Kilkenny".
Jamie Keating: “My name is Jamie Keating. I work for the Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics, in Dublin. I became involved with EIL when I won an ACCESS travel award in 2010. As part of this award I travelled to the rainforest town of Puerto Quito, in Ecuador, for two months. Since returning from Ecuador I have remained involved with EIL by joining the Development Education Committee. In early 2012, I had the fantastic opportunity to step into the role of Chairperson of the Development Education Committee. In this role I have become much more informed on the position of Development Education in the context of the EIL organisation, and the evolving strategies to bring the Committee in to the spotlight of the day-to-day work of EIL. As a member of the EIL Board, my goal is to draw on my professional and volunteer experiences to support the on-going efforts of the EIL organisation and help drive new and exciting projects.”
Seanai Kiely: "I am from the Gaeltacht of Ring in Waterford. In 2008, I won a scholarship with E.I.L to live in Germany for two months. This time in Germany, influenced me so much so, that I am now studying Law and German in Trinity College Dublin. I am class rep for Law and German and therefore, I am a sitting member on the Trinity College Law School Committee and on the board of the highly acclaimed Trinity College Law Review. I have represented EIL on the Youth Advisory Group of The National Youth Council’s Development Education Programme for the last 2 years. I feel a strong duty to give something back to E.I.L, as to date I directly and indirectly owe most of my achievements to them".
Emily McCormack: "I am from Mullingar and am currently in my final year of European Studies in Trinity. I first got involved in EIL in 2009 when I was fortunate enough to win a travel award to Vermont. This was an incredible opportunity, and changed my life in many ways. My group leader in Vermont, Ruth, had just completed her degree in European Studies and majored in Russian, she encouraged me to take the same route. I am just back from a brilliant year in Moscow. Since my time in Vermont I have continued my involvement with EIL, I have been a member of the Development Education Committee, have been involved in the selection process for the Travel Awards and have organised a number of talks and stands on campus to promote EIL. I am fully committed to and passionate about the work of EIL and am delighted to serve on the board".
Mark Moore: "A native of Limerick and currently residing in Dublin I've been involved with EIL since receiving a Travel Award to Hong Kong in 2008. Over the past couple of years I have come to know many of the volunteers and staff of EIL and am always inspired by their trojan work and common ideals. As a member of the EIL Development Education committee I'm part of a wider team of volunteers dedicated to increasing awareness and ubiquity of development issues both in EIL programmes and amongst the wider public".
Kate O’Regan: "I first became involved with EIL in 2003, when I won a scholarship to attend the Future World Leaders' Summit in Washington DC. In January 2009 I was invited to return to D.C. to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I have a B.A. in French and English Literature from Trinity College Dublin and an MSc in Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics. Passionate about experiencing new cultures, I have lived in New Zealand, France and the UK. I am currently a stagiaire with European Movement Ireland".
Kieran Phipps: "I am 23 years old and from Cork. I recently graduated from the University of Limerick and I am currently a French and Spanish teacher in Limerick. I first became involved with EIL in 2008 when I was one of the recipients to win a travel award to Hong Kong. Since then, I have stayed in contact with EIL by attending the network weekends whenever possible and I also assisted with the interviews to Hong Kong in 2009. I would like to continue to give back to EIL and having been a founding member of UL International Society and President for two years I hope that I could assist in continuing the progression of EIL as an organisation".