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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Kate is part of the Impact and Engagement team and plans how we share our work with different audiences. She writes, pitches, and edits written pieces for and with the team, and shapes public messaging and responses to new education policy. She has a PhD in English, studied psychology, and is also a writer. Kate is from Galway and loves dogs but doesn’t have one - yet.
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.
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.
Ecem is responsible for leading the European Agenda for Adult Learning (EAAL) and the management of EU funded Projects in AONTAS. She represents the organisation at national and European level, including working directly with the European Commission.
