SSGT - Key Persons
has over 40 years experience of working in the not for profit sector in Ireland with people and communities at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Anna was educated in the University of East Anglia (BA Social Science) and the University of Birmingham (CQSW) and worked as a social worker in the London Borough of Southwark before coming to work in Dublin in 1975. She worked with Cherish and the ISPCC before moving to work in Tallaght in 1986 managing a 2nd EU Poverty Programme project and from 1991 the Tallaght Partnership (now South Dublin County Partnership). Anna retired from her role as CEO of the South Dublin County Partnership in 2014.
Anna has contributed to the development of policy and practice at local, county and national level including chairing Tallaght Drugs Task Force for 6 years, the South Dublin County Local and Community Development Committee (LCDC) and the Combat Poverty Agency (1995-2001). Anna has written about local and community development and the community / voluntary sector.
Since her retirement from the Partnership Anna has maintained her voluntary commitments including to St Stephen's Green Trust.
Anne Costello was appointed as Travellers in Prison Initiative Programme Coordinator in April 2015. In 2022 the TPI was relaunched as the Traveller Justice Initiative (TJI) to reflect the breadth of the work. Anne works 3 days per week and is based in Galway. Anne's role is to coordinate and implement the actions set out in the SSGT Travellers in Prison Initiative Strategic Plan which seeks to improve outcomes for Travellers in prison and their families through a range of policy and service initiatives. She coordinates the activities of the TPI Steering Group and supports them to achieve the intended outcomes of the TPI. Anne has been actively involved in community work since qualifying with a H.Dip in Community & Youth Work from NUIM in 2000. She was the coordinator for Clondalkin Travellers Development Group (2000-2004), she worked as the resource worker with the Community Platform - a network of 28 national organisations working collectively to address poverty and inequality - from 2007 to 2011 and has been employed as a community worker with the Galway Traveller Movement focusing on a number of issues including accommodation, education, justice and rights, enterprise and employment (2004-2015). She completed a BA in Psychology in 1987 and an MA in Applied Social Studies at NUI Maynooth in 2012. Anne can be contacted at anne@ssgt.ie or 085 863 0565.
Dr Avila Kilmurray works with the Social Change Initiative (SCI) with a focus on peacebuilding, philanthropy and refugee/migrant rights. A native of Dublin, Avila has lived and worked in Northern Ireland since 1975. She has a long history of activism in the community movement, the Women's Movement and in social justice causes. Avila held the position of Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (1994-2014). She had previously overseen a EU Anti-{Poverty programme in rural areas (1985-1989) and served as the first Women's Officer for the ATGWU (now Unite) in Ireland. (1989-1994). Avila holds a BA (History & Politics) University College Dublin; an MA (International Relations) from Australian National University and completed a PhD (Institute of Governance) in Queens University Belfast, where she was later awarded a Hon. Doctorate in Social Science and was awarded a Hon. Professorship with the Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security & Justice. Avila has long been involved with a range of peacebuilding initiatives as a founder member of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition in 1996 and serving on the Coalition's Negotiating Team for the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. As Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Avila also managed a number of measures in support of victims/survivors, political ex-prisoners and grassroots work under the EU PEACE Programmes (1995-2014). Avila has written extensively on community action, peacebuilding and women's rights. She has published a book - ‘Community Action in a Contested Society: The Story of Northern Ireland' (Peter Lang, 2016) ; ‘Conflict-Affected Environments: Notes for Grantmakers' - (www.thesocialchangeinitiative.org) and co-edited ‘Peacebuilding, Conflict and Community Development' (Policy Press, 2023).
Job Titles:
- Development Manager
- Grants and Development Manager
Dr Sara Stokes was appointed as Grants and Development Manager in 2022 and manages SSGT's grant programmes, including research, design and development, grant administration, assessment, monitoring and evaluation. She has worked in the area of grant-making since 2007 and has previously worked at The Community Foundation for Ireland and The Arts Council. Her education includes a BA in English, Sociology and Politics (NUIG), an MA in Arts Policy and Practice (NUIG) and a PhD in Sociology and Gender Studies (NUIG). Sara can be contacted at 085 840 4432 or sara@ssgt.ie
Jordan Campbell has worked in the Irish non-profit sector since 2005. Originally from South Carolina, Jordan earned an undergraduate degree in French, Political Science and Chemistry before completing a master's in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin and, later, a post-graduate diploma in Public Relations at the European Institute of Communications. Jordan currently oversees communications and business development activities for the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. She previously worked as Grants Director at The Ireland Funds, as well as for Philanthropy Ireland and for Suas.
Job Titles:
- Head of Department and Professor in the Department of Sociology, Maynooth
Mary Murphy is Head of Department and Professor in the Department of Sociology, Maynooth University, with research interests in ecosocial welfare, gender, care and social security, globalisation and welfare states, and power and civil society. She co-edited The Irish Welfare state in the 21 st Century Challenges and Changes (Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2016) and authored Creating an Ecosocial Future (Policy Press, May 2023). An active advocate for social justice and gender equality, she was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (2013-217) and is currently a member of the Council of State in Ireland.
Orla O'Neill Orla O'Neill CPA is Executive Director since 2004 and manages SSGT's grant programmes, including research, design and development, grant administration, assessment, monitoring and evaluation. She supports the Trustees in their finance and governance function including the production of Annual Reports and Financial Statements and strategy development. Orla is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has previously worked in Schizophrenia Ireland (now Shine), Nexus Research, Edelman PR and several accountancy practices. Her education includes a Prof Cert in Governance (IPA), PG Dip in Grantmaking Management (CASS Business School), a Cert in Voluntary Sector Management (DCU), Diploma in PR and BA in Economics & Politics from Trinity College.
Orla can be contacted at (085) 755 2009 or email orla@ssgt.ie
Sharon Mutesi was appointed Administrator in May 2023 and works 20 hours a week. Her main roles are financial, grants, and general administration duties. Sharon is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has previously worked in GIZ, the German international agency for cooperation. Her education includes a BSc in Applied Accounting and she is currently pursuing a MSc in Accounting and finance management. Sharon can be contacted at (085) 755 2009 or email info@ssgt.ie