Announcement - Review The STAR Winners 2025

Staff & Board

​At AONTAS, we work collaboratively to advance adult and community education across Ireland. Led by Chief Executive Officer Dearbháil Lawless, the team includes experts in advocacy, research and communications. Together, we strive to amplify the learner voice, influence education policy, and champion lifelong learning as a catalyst for social change.

Meet the Team

Dearbháil Lawless

Dearbháil Lawless

Chief Executive Officer

Dearbháil is the Chief Executive Officer of AONTAS. She has responsibility for the strategic direction and operational management of AONTAS. Dearbháil was previously the Head of Advocacy, EU Project's Officer, and taught in Community Education, FET, and Higher Education. Dearbháil is a passionate advocate and activist. She believes that adult learning is the greatest tool for creating positive social change. Dearbháil likes to bring her dog Hazel to the office sometimes.

Dearbháil Lawless

Chief Executive Officer

Marta Feragalli

Marta Feragalli

Head of Environmental, Social and Governance

Marta works closely with the CEO, Team Leads, Office Coordinator and Finance and Admin Officer and provides finance support across all areas of work. Marta also plays an integral part in the monitoring of the schedules, budgets and expenditures of all EU funded projects.

Marta Feragalli

Head of Environmental, Social and Governance

Megan Fearon

Megan Fearon

Head of Impact & Engagement

Megan heads the Impact and Engagement Team, focusing on building strong relationships with key stakeholders and using strategic communications to ensure our work has a meaningful impact. She also works on our campaigns and oversees AONTAS publications and materials. Megan loves travelling, tea and the GAA.

Megan Fearon

Head of Impact & Engagement

Thomas Murray​

Thomas Murray​

Head of Research​

Thomas leads our research initiatives and Research Team, ensuring a strong evidence-base for advocacy and for informing national policy and practice in adult and community education.

Thomas Murray

Head of Research

Aisling Meyler

Aisling Meyler

Research Officer Learner Initiatives

Aisling supports the Head of Research in the delivery of all National FET Learner Forum events, developing reports, delivering and analysing large-scale mixed-methods data. Aisling also supports new learner research initiatives, providing an evidence-base to support AONTAS's advocacy work. She has a background in the community and voluntary sector and is passionate about peer led initiatives. She loves martial arts and playing music.

Aisling Meyler

Research Officer Learner Initiatives

Eve Cobain

Eve Cobain

Senior Research Officer

Eve supports the delivery of AONTAS' research, with a particular focus on community education. Eve leads in the delivery of the AONTAS Community Education Census (both North and South). She is also the Secretary of the organisation's peer-reviewed journal, The Adult Learner. Eve has a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and has taught courses in both Trinity College and Maynooth University. Eve loves yoga, cooking and poetry.

Eve Cobain

Senior Research Officer

Rachael Ryan

Rachael Ryan

Head of Communications

Rachael is responsible for our daily communications activities, building the public profile of the organisation, and organising key AONTAS events throughout the year.

Rachael Ryan

Head of Communications

Brian Desmond

Brian Desmond

Membership & Digital Engagement Officer

Brian is our Membership & Digital Engagement Officer and works within the Communications team to build membership and increase engagement across our digital channels . He has a passion for adult education, digital content and graphic design. He loves books, music and the idea of doing Pilates.

Brian Desmond

Membership & Digital Engagement Officer

Conor Thompson

Conor Thompson

Head of Advocacy

Conor leads the Advocacy Team at AONTAS. He works with the Advocacy Team to identify issues in the sector facing learners, staff, and providers. The Team develops projects to support adult and community educators and adult learners. We use our evidence base to lobby the Government and work with key stakeholders to improve conditions in adult education, the quality of adult learning, and the learner experience. Conor is also a qualified Further Education teacher and has a background in adult education, working as a English as an Additional Language and Adult Literacy tutor. He loves hiking and bird-watching!

Conor Thompson

Head of Advocacy

Megan O'Neil

Megan O'Neil

Communications and Digital Media Officer

Megan supports the Communications Team with implementing the communications strategy through social media, digital engagement and events. She has a background in university career services, event management and content marketing. In her free time, Megan can be found on her yoga mat or chipping away at her ever-growing book collection.

Megan O'Neil

Communications and Digital Media Officer

Giuliana Peña

Giuliana Peña

Publications and Design Officer

Giuliana is part of the Impact and Engagement team and is Secretary of The Adult Learner Journal. She focuses on graphic design for projects, publications, and social media, and makes a mean Instagram reel. She has a MSc in Psychology and Wellbeing and is interested in sustainability.

Giuliana Peña

Publications and Design Officer

Clare Fleet

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Clare is part of the Environmental Social and Governance team and works closely with the head of ESG, the CEO and AONTAS Board supporting all matters relating to the governance, compliance and operations of Aontas.

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Karyn Farrell

Karyn Farrell

Learner Voice Project Officer

Karyn is part of the AONTAS Research team, responsible for supporting the coordination, development and delivery of the National Further Education and Training Learner Forums. She has a background in project & events management and arts development, and is an experienced adult literacy tutor. She is a keen photographer and writer, has a serious travel bug, loves all things cultural and is obsessed with food.

Karyn Farrell

Learner Voice Project Officer

Lorraine O'Connor

Lorraine O'Connor

Community Education Officer

Lorraine is part of the Advocacy Team, working to ensure that the community education stays firmly on the public and political agenda.

Lorraine O'Connor

Community Education Officer

Suzanne Kerr

Suzanne Kerr

Office Coordinator

Suzanne is responsible for providing administration assistance in all aspects of AONTAS

Suzanne Kerr

Office Coordinator

Ruby Cooney

Ruby Cooney

Education Projects Officer

Ruby supports the Advocacy Team in implementing different education projects. She is passionate about adult education and promoting alternative routes to higher education. Ruby enjoys volunteering, and loves cats!

Ruby Cooney

Education Projects Officer

Larisa Sioneriu

Larisa Sioneriu

Adult Education Initiatives Officer

Larisa is responsible for building capacity for people working in adult and community education sector by developing and coordinating various initiatives and resources. She has extensive experience in the community sector, both in Ireland and internationally. Her work is driven by the conviction that education can make the world a more just and better place.

Larisa Sioneriu

Adult Education Initiatives Officer

Traci Barton

Traci Barton

Finance and Administration Officer

Traci has almost 30 years' experience in book-keeping, credit control and office management. At AONTAS, she looks after the book-keeping, payments and monthly reconciliations.

Traci Barton

Finance and Administration Officer

Philip Finn

Philip Finn

Research Officer

Philip is part of the AONTAS Research Team and supports the delivery of all National FET Learner Forum events, including analysing mixed-methods data and developing reports. Philip has a PhD from Maynooth University and has a track record of policy orientated research on issues relating to economic inequality. He spends his time reading, listening to music and being walked by his three dogs.

Philip Finn

Research Officer

Rebecca Jackson

Rebecca Jackson

Policy and Advocacy Officer

Rebecca supports the head of Advocacy and Policy and the CEO with the generation of evidence-based policy submissions and advocacy activities. With a background in Community Development, policy-focused research, practice evaluation, and critical policy analysis, Rebecca applies these skills to generate knowledge and insightful recommendations that can be used by key decision-makers. When not absorbed in current affairs, Rebecca likes to spend time with her family, friends and dog, and the dogs of her family and friends.

Rebecca Jackson

Policy and Advocacy Officer

Clare Fleet

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Clare is part of the Environmental Social and Governance team and works closely with the head of ESG, the CEO and AONTAS Board supporting all matters relating to the governance, compliance and operations of Aontas.

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Clare Fleet

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Clare is part of the Environmental Social and Governance team and works closely with the head of ESG, the CEO and AONTAS Board supporting all matters relating to the governance, compliance and operations of Aontas.

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Clare Fleet

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Clare is part of the Environmental Social and Governance team and works closely with the head of ESG, the CEO and AONTAS Board supporting all matters relating to the governance, compliance and operations of Aontas.

Clare Fleet

Governance and Operations Officer

Meet the AONTAS Board

The AONTAS Board plays a crucial role in overseeing and guiding the strategic direction of the organisation. It ensures our initiatives align with our mission to advocate for adult learning that drives social equality, justice, and collective action across the island of Ireland. The Board provides governance, financial oversight, and ensures that AONTAS remains responsive to the needs of adult learners and stakeholders.

John Darcy

Chairperson/Director/ Governance Sub Committee Chairperson

Martin Flynn

Treasurer/Director/ ARC Subcommittee Chairperson

Imelda Gaffney

Director/ ARC Subcommittee Member

Imelda Gaffney

Director/ ARC Subcommittee Member

Cora Rafter

Director/ ARC Subcommittee Member

Anne Whelan

Director/ ARC Subcommittee Member

Pamela Latimer

Director/ Governance Sub Committee Member

Deborah Oniah

Director

Lilian Nwanze

Director

Fergus Craddock

Director

Deirdre Arnold

Director

Charis Hughes

Director

Lynn Simpson

Director

Stephanie Kirwan

Director (co – opted) July 2023

Blessing Chidiogo

Director (co – opted) July 2023

Dearbhail Lawless

CEO AONTAS/ is a member of the Governance Sub Committee Member

Find out about our Staff and Board's work and learn about job opportunities