DEBRA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
Job Titles:
- Head of Communications
- Head of Strategic Communications and Supporter Engagement
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Finance Committee
- Member of the Research Committee
Job Titles:
- Head of Family Support
- Head of Family Support Service
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
- Strategic Advisor and Consultant
Leo acts as a strategic advisor and consultant to a number of life sciences companies. Previously, she was Head of Strategic Investments and R&D Innovation policy in IDA Ireland. She has a wealth of experience in health research and has been volunteering her time with Debra for the past number of years.
Trained in dermatology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution Baltimore USA where she was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor of Dermatology. She was appointed consultant in dermatology in Ireland in 1992 to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC) and St James's Hospital Dublin.
Susanna qualified as a medical doctor in 1998 from Trinity College Dublin and works both as a GP and a specialty doctor in Breast Surgery. Susanna and Willie are parents to sons Jimmy, who has EB, and Mike.
Emma is Debra's Ambassador and lives with recessive dystrophic EB.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Development Committee
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Development Committee
Job Titles:
- Head of Advocacy and Policy
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
Liz Collins is Debra's Parent Ambassador and mum to Claudia (16). Claudia was born with recessive dystrophic EB. Liz is a Quality Control Manager at BaxterStorey.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Audit and Finance Committee
- Secretary of the Board
- Financial Director at EXpd8
Mark is the Financial Director at eXpd8, an IT company who specialise in providing IT solutions to SME professional sector. Mark and Ger are the parents of Alison and Erica, both born with EB.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
Michael has over 40 years' experience in marketing and communications. He has served at senior management and director level in private and commercial semi-state companies, most recently as Director of Marketing and Communications in Horse Racing Ireland (HRI). He is currently a director of Down Royal Racecourse and has been Chairman of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Excellence Awards committee since 2015.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
- CEO and Founder of Manna
Bobby is the CEO and Founder of Manna (formerly of CarTrawler and Eland Technologies). He is an experienced inventor and technology entrepreneur specialising in booking engine software.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
Job Titles:
- Head of Research
- Head of Research, Policy and Advocacy
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of Charities Institute Ireland
Val is a Bank Official with Allied Irish Banks. Val and his wife Maria are two of the founding members of DEBRA Ireland. Their son Aaron was born with EB and sadly passed away in 2001.