Chief Executive
Kevin Burn, CEO
Kevin joins the IMNDA with a wealth of experience having served as CEO of Exchange House Ireland: National Travellers Service for over six years. Kevin’s extensive background in tackling social issues such as discrimination, poverty, homelessness, mental health and substance misuse will be invaluable in his new role with the Association.
Kevin holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management, an MA in Social Work, and a BA (Hons) in History, all from Lancaster University. He has also undertaken a Transformative Leadership Course, CEO/Chair Training by Boardmatch and the Navigator Leadership Programme by Common Purpose. Kevin is committed to excellence in governance and compliance and his passion for promoting the mission, vision, and values of his previous organisation aligns perfectly with the goals of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Services Team
Naomi Fitzgibbon, MSC, RGN FFNMRCSI, Director of Nursing & Services
Naomi joined the IMNDA team in June 2022 as the Director of Nursing & Services. She graduated from Beaumont Hospital Dublin as a Registered General Nurse after which, she spent 10 years working in year in London. As Senior Ward Manager in King Edward VII Hospital she deputised for the Director of Nursing in the management of the Hospital. She completed her MSc in Clinical Leadership in UCD and achieved her Fellowship with the Faculty of the School of Nursing and Midwifery RCSI and is and Honorary Teaching Associate. She was awarded a scholarship at the National Cancer Institute Curriculum in Cancer Prevention, Washington where she gained a global perspective of health behaviour.
Naomi has worked at a senior level in the charity sector, developing evidence-based service in collaboration with universities and industry. She is an expert patient advocate, representing the voice of clients and family. She is committee member of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS), which gives an overview of quality in our health service.
Tracy Hutchin, Community Engagement Manager
Tracy joined IMNDA in 2007 as Fundraising Administrator and later that year became Services Administrator. In 2014 she was appointed as Services Manager. During her time with the Association Tracy has been a member of a number of working groups and steering committees working closely with groups such as Irish Hospice Foundation, NAI, DFI, Enable Ireland and the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Johanna McGrath, Information & Support Officer
Johanna joined IMNDA in May 2018. Her role revolves around providing information, advice and advocacy services to people with Motor Neurone Disease, their families and caregivers. She liaises closely with the MND Nurse Specialist and acts in an advisory capacity to the multidisciplinary team involved with the MND community.
Paula McNally-Krenn, Services Co-Ordinator
Paula joined IMNDA in May 2018. She was the third staff member to be sponsored by Arthur Cox as the Loretto Dempsey placement. After the sponsored position ended Paula stayed on to continue working with IMNDA. She primarily looks after requests for equipment, in this role she liaises with our MND Nurses, community healthcare professionals and our warehouse contractor.
Lisa McNally, Services Co-Ordinator
Lisa joined IMNDA in March 2021 as the fourth staff member sponsored by Arthur Cox as the Loretto Dempsey Placement. Lisa will be a point of contact for those with MND and their families. She will be liaising with our MND Nurses & community healthcare professionals concerning provision of our services to people living with MND.
Fidelma Rutledge, MND Nurse
Fidelma joined the IMNDA in 2007. She qualified as a general nurse in 1995 from The Whittington hospital in conjunction with the University of North London. She worked for 2 years in The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Queen’s Square London before returning to Ireland in 1997 and working in Beaumont hospital in Neurology for 9 years and completing a specialist practice course in Neuroscience Nursing.
Louise Hennessy, MND Nurse
Louise started her nurse training in collaboration with Beaumont hospital and DCU in 2007. She qualified in 2011 and began working in St. Brigid’s Neurology Ward, Beaumont Hospital where she worked for 6 years. She gained a vast amount of experience within neurology and especially within the area of MND.
Kathryn Foley, MND Nurse
Kathryn is a dual qualified nurse and has worked both as a general nurse and in the area of intellectual disability for over 25 years. Awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to honours level in 2007. Kathryn has vast experience of nursing in community-based settings at management level and in nurse specialist areas. Most recently she has worked for Epilepsy Ireland providing information and support to people living with epilepsy, parents of children with epilepsy, their care givers and the wider community.
Maire Hayes, MND Nurse
Máire is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the past 12 years and has worked with people with MS in both private and public hospitals in Ireland. She studied End-of-Life Healthcare Ethics in University College Cork, where her interest in patient advocacy came to the fore.
Maire has presented at The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centres in Indiana, USA and has had an abstract published in Frontiers of Neurology. More recently she has presented at the Munster Neurology Meetings, Best Practise Meetings for MS nurses and an International Ethics Conference. During the pandemic she worked with MS Ireland to create a suite of videos to support persons with MS. She was the project lead in an update of The Guide to Best Practice for MS nurses in Ireland before gaining a new and exciting role in University Hospital Waterford.
Áine McFadden, MND Nurse
Áine McFadden is an RGN RM MND Nurse CNM 2. She qualified as a general nurse from Kings College Hospital London where she worked in Neurosurgery before returning to Ireland to study Midwifery and Public Health Nursing.
As a PHN she specialised in continence care and was involved in setting up the Community Intervention team in the Midlands. Áine has vast experience caring for clients with MND in the community.
Charlene Crawford, MND Nurse
Fundraising Team
Gemma Watts, Head of Fundraising
Gemma joined IMNDA in August 2008 to assist with fundraising, accounts and general office administration. Over the last few years Gemma has been involved with a number of successful fundraising campaigns and events and is now responsible for managing, implementing and reviewing the Association’s fundraising activities.
Jackie Martin, Fundraising Executive
Jackie started with IMNDA in 2016. She was the first Arthur Cox sponsored placement. After the sponsored position ended Jackie stayed on to continue working with the IMNDA team. She assists in all of the IMNDA’s fundraising efforts.
PR & Communications Team
Fiona Thornton, Head of Advocacy & Communications
Fiona joined IMNDA in September 2023. She is responsible for the management and implementation of the IMNDA's Advocacy, PR & Communications strategy.
With over a decade of experience in public relations and communications, she works to ensure the voices of families affected by MND are heard, building strong relationships with stakeholders and the media.
Fiona oversees PR and advocacy campaigns, media relations, and social media outreach at IMNDA, playing a key role in enhancing the organisation’s visibility and impact.
Derbhla Wynne, PR & Communications Executive
Derbhla re-joined IMNDA in April 2021. She looks after the implementation of IMNDA’s PR and Communications Strategy and supports the Head of Advocacy & Communications. She has over 20 years experience working with IMNDA and has a wealth of knowledge in this field.
Accounts
Audrey Charleton, Accounts Assistant
Audrey started working with the IMNDA in March 2023. She holds a Business Management degree and qualifies as a Qualified Financial Advisor. She began working in the charity/Not for profit sector in 2015 and has gained a significant level of experience in all aspects of Financial Accounts. She works within the Finance department of the IMNDA.
