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.
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
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
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
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
Head of Advocacy
Conor leads the Advocacy Team at AONTAS, working to identify and address issues affecting learners, staff, and providers. The team develops projects supporting adult and community educators and uses evidence to advocate for better conditions, quality, and learner experiences in adult education. A qualified Further Education teacher with experience in EAL and adult literacy, he also enjoys hiking and birdwatching.
Conor Thompson
Head of Advocacy
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
Senior Research Officer
Eve supports AONTAS’s research, focusing on community education. She leads the AONTAS Community Education Census (North and South) and serves as Secretary of the peer-reviewed journal The Adult Learner. Eve holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and has taught at Trinity and Maynooth University. She enjoys yoga, cooking, and poetry.
Eve Cobain
Senior Research Officer
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
Research Officer Learner Initiatives
Aisling supports the Head of Research with National FET Learner Forum events, data analysis, and reports, providing evidence to strengthen AONTAS’s advocacy work. With a background in the community and voluntary sector, she’s passionate about peer-led initiatives and enjoys martial arts and music.
Aisling Meyler
Research Officer Learner Initiatives
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
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
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
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
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
Office Coordinator
Suzanne is responsible for providing administration assistance in all aspects of AONTAS
Suzanne Kerr
Office Coordinator
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
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
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
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
Communications and Social Media Officer
Thomas is our Communications and Social Media Officer, leading on digital content and engagement across AONTAS platforms. With a background in computer science and a master’s in public relations, he’s always been passionate about stories and how they connect people. Outside of work, Thomas enjoys video games, soccer, and reading.
Thomas Ogbemudia
Communications and Social Media Officer
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
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
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
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
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
