Who We Are

IDEA’s members include Development NGOs, community and voluntary organisations, educational institutions and networks, trade unions, educators, researchers and activists. They work across the Formal Education, Adult & Community and Youth sectors, engaging with hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and communities throughout Ireland each year. 

They use a wide variety of tools to engage the Irish public in Development Education and foster global citizenship in this country. This diverse and dynamic group all share a commitment to Development Education, global citizenship, sustainable development, and creating a just and equal future for all.

INTERIM DIRECTOR

Elaine

Mahon

Elaine is the interim Director of IDEA from March 2024. She will be responsible for leading the organisation, implementing the IDEA Strategy and overall management of IDEA during this time. 

COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS MANAGER 

Éimear

Green

Éimear manages IDEA's communications and events programmes, including IDEA's Annual Conference. She also supports the promotion and showcasing of the work of IDEA members. Éimear is staff contact for the IDEA Adult & Community Education Working Group.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

Maximiliana

Eligi Mtenga

Maximiliana supports IDEA’s capacity development events programme and communications programme. She also supports the promotion and showcasing of the work of IDEA members. Maximiiliana is staff contact for the IDEA Adult & community education Working Group.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT & EVENTS MANAGER

Anya

Sparynska

Anya is currently managing the implementation of IDEA's capacity development events programme with IDEA members, particularly on De knowledge & skills, innovation and impact, as well as our Annual Conference. Anya is staff contact for the IDEA Quality and Impact Working Group.

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Sal

Healy

Sal manages the finance functions within the IDEA and is responsible for administrative support for IDEA’s programme of work, governance, and management. She is IDEA’s staff contact for Membership applications, renewals, and support.

POLICY & ADVOCACY MANAGER

Leigh

Brady

Leigh manages IDEA’s Policy & Advocacy work. This includes championing Development Education via Vision 2025, and developing policy submissions with our members and working groups. Leigh is staff contact for the IDEA Formal Education Working Group.

CHAIRPERSON

Vikki

Brennan

Vikki Brennan  is the Chairperson of IDEA. She is a senior manager on the labour rights team with Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A former CEO of Proudly Made in Africa, the Irish NGO focused on trade with Africa, she has over 10 years’ experience is responsible procurement, ethical international trading and business and human rights. Previously, Vikki worked at the Bangladesh Accord Foundation in Amsterdam and as senior ethical trade manager for food multinational Associated British Foods in London. She is IDEA’s company secretary.

VICE-CHAIR

Cara

Ryan

Cara Ryan is the Director of Corporate Services in Clúid Housing, a not for profit Charity and Approved Housing Body. She has extensive experience in HR having worked for many years in Higher Education in senior HR roles, and more recently in general Operations Management. She is Vice-Chair of IDEA’s National Council and a member of its Nominations and Remuneration Committee that deals with issues relating to Board appointments and Human Resource (HR) matters. 

TREASURER

Martina

Ryan-Doyle

Martina is the Treasurer of IDEA. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), with over 15 years experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device and construction sectors. Since 2015 she has worked in the Not-for-Profit sector both in Ireland and abroad, as a volunteer and consultant. Martina is currently working with Irish International Development charity Gorta Self Help Africa. 

COMPANY SECRETARY

Pierre

Yimbog

Pierre Yimbog is IDEA’s Company Secretary. He is a Co-founder and Managing Director of Black and Irish and Co-Founder & CEO of his travel start up SoloBook. Pierre has a Bachelor of Law from DIT, a Diploma in Technology and Intellectual Property Law from the Law Society and is currently undertaking a Masters in Corporate Governance at the University of Law. He has previously worked for Engineers Ireland as Community Engagement Executive.

Daniel

Meister

Daniel Meister is Communications Manager with the National Youth Council of Ireland, and has over ten years experience increasing the profile of national non-profit organisations. He has a keen interest in sustainable development and environmental issues, and brings his enthusiasm for Development Education, his communications expertise, and his experience with the youth sector in Ireland to his role on the IDEA National Council. 

Fiona

Duignan

Fiona Duignan is GCE, Integration and EU Projects Officer with Meath Partnership, working on Erasmus KA2 and GCE programmes, primarily targeted at people at risk of exclusion and is a member of the IDEA National Council. Fiona holds a Masters in International Human Rights Law and an honours degree in Law and Administration of Justice. She has over a decade of experience developing and implementing programmes in the not-for-profit sector in Ireland and international volunteer management in the Global South.

Ben

Mallon

Ben Mallon is Assistant Professor in Geography and Citizenship Education in Dublin City University and is a member of the IDEA National Council. Ben is chair of the governance sub-committee, which advises the National Council to ensure good corporate governance and to implement the Charities Governance Code.