Management and governance

Find out more about the Irish Cancer Society, including how the charity is run and how we are governed.

We are the national charity for cancer care in Ireland (the charity registration number is CHY5863).

We're governed by a Board of Directors made up of leading medical experts, scientists and business people. The Board is advised by a number of expert committees and is responsible for the overall control and strategic direction of the charity.

The Board's decisions are put into effect by the Chief Executive John McCormack and the Senior Management team through the various departments in the Society.

Board of Directors

• Dr John Kennedy (Chair)
• Prof John Armstrong
• Ms Marie Armstrong
• Mr Dermot Breen
• Dr Grainne Flannelly
• Ms Bernadette Godley
• Mr Liam Grogan
• Mr Dougie Heather
• Mr Bill McCabe
• Mr Paddy McMahon
• Prof Cliona O'Farrelly
• Mr Padraig O'hUiginn
• Mr Willie O'Reilly

Medical Committee

• Dr Grainne Flannelly (Chair)
• Ms Marie Cox
• Dr Gerard Crotty
• Mr James Geraghty
• Dr Liam Grogan
• Dr Rajnish Gupta
• Mr Tom Lynch
• Dr Regina McQuillan
• Mr Barry O'Connell
• Ms Eileen O'Donnell
• Prof Colm O'Morain
• Dr Seamus O'Reilly
• Dr Pierre Thirion

Finance Committee

• Mr Paddy McMahon (Chair)
• Mr Fergus Brennan
• Mr Vernon Crowley

Research Priorities Committee

• Prof Cliona O'Farrelly (Chair)
• Mr Dermot Breen
• Dr Harry Comber
• Dr John Kennedy
• Prof Rosemary O'Connor

Research Policy & Analysis Advisory Committee

• Dr Harry Comber (Chair)
• Professor Kevin Balanda
• Professor Elaine Kay
• Professor Philip Larkin
• Professor Ciarán O'Neill
• Professor William Watson

Research Capacity Building Advisory Committee

• Prof Rosemary O'Connor (Chair)
• Prof Frank Giles
• Prof Liam Gallagher
• Prof Josephine Hegarty
• Dr Bryan Hennessy
• Prof Bob Lahue
• Dr Lorraine O'Driscoll
• Dr Leonie Young

Research Advocacy & Communications Advisory Committee

• Prof Cliona O'Farrelly (Chair)
• Mr Dermot Breen
• Dr Harry Comber
• Ms Gary Joyce
• Prof Noel Lowndes
• Mr Dermot McCrum

Strategy & Advocacy Committee

• Mr Bill McCabe (Chair)
• Prof John Armstrong
• Dr Grainne Flannelly
• Ms Bernadette Godley

Fundraising Advisory Committee

• Mr Dermot Breen (Chair)
• Mr John Armstrong
• Ms Marie Armstrong
• Ms Della Clancy
• Mr Sean Dorgan
• Mr Ivor Fitzpatrick
• Mr Dougie Heather
• Mr Bill McCabe
• Ms Marie O'Connor

Our CEO and senior management team (SMT)

The SMT assists the Chief Executive, John McCormack, in managing the Irish Cancer Society's day-to-day business. Each member is responsible for a particular division. The current SMT consists of:

• John McCormack – Chief Executive
• Donal Buggy – Head of Services
• Niamh Ní Chonghaile – Financial Controller and Company Secretary
• Noeleen Donnelly – Head of Human Resources
• Prof. John Fitzpatrick – Head of Research
• Mark Mellett – Head of Fundraising
• Kathleen O’Meara – Head of Advocacy & Communications