Our Team
Highly qualified and experienced professionals
Our helpline, refuge and community-based services are operated by a highly qualified and experienced team of frontline professionals. Our staff work effectively, with compassion and without judgement, to respond to the complex needs of the women and children who use our services.
Collectively, our specialist team has over 200 years’ experience working with and advocating for women and children who are victim-survivors of domestic violence and abuse.
Experienced Leadership
Lisa Morris, Manager
Our Manager Lisa has over 20 years’ experience working in the domestic abuse sector. Lisa began her career working frontline with women and children before moving into her managerial role. She has wide and varied experience in operational development, organisational and people management, change management, strategic planning, human resources, finance and corporate governance.
Jean Murphy, Assistant Manager
Jean has 27 years’ experience working in the Social Care sector. Prior to joining Amber in 2015, she worked with adults with intellectual disability, with children and young people in long-term residential care and with children, young people and families as an Educational Welfare Officer. Jean was a Project Leader in a Family Resource Centre in Kilkenny and has also worked in youth justice.
Our Trustees
Amber’s Board of Directors directs our organisation to ensure we have the proper plans, procedures, policies, structures and resources in place to continue to deliver our needs-led services to women and children, living in Kilkenny and Carlow, who are victim-survivors of domestic violence and abuse. The trustees of Amber provide a wide range of valuable expertise to our organisation including strategic planning, organisational development, financial management and audit, governance, legal, HR, learning and development and marketing communications.
Clare Allen
Clare is a Fund Manager at Rethink Ireland. With a strong and varied background in Marketing, for both large multinational organisations and small business owners, Clare is passionate about social impact, sustainability and green communications. She sits on our PR and Fundraising Sub Committee and joined the Board to help maintain and grow the services we provide to women and children.
Shelagh Butler
Shelagh is a Chartered Accountant working in practice in Kilkenny. She is Treasurer and Chair of our Finance Sub Committee, where her background in finance and ability to think analytically provide much value to Amber. Shelagh joined the Board to contribute to and support the work that we do.
Ken Byrne
Ken is the founder and CEO of RedSky Europe and founder of Taxmatic. He sits on our Services Development Sub Committee, where his experience in strategy and innovation is valued as we continue to evolve and grow. Ken believes that people in business should allocate a portion of their time to organisations like Amber which support vulnerable families and individuals.
Kathleen Cass
A qualified Irish lawyer with experience in the International non-Governmental sector, Kathleen supports Irish and UK NGOs on good governance and sits on our Governance Sub Committee. Kathleen joined the board to contribute her vast experience and valuable skill set to Amber’s work.
Dee Clune
Dee is a qualified Psychotherapist with over 30 years’ experience in the areas of HR, Employment Law, Learning and Development, Coaching and Business Strategy. She is Chair of our Human Resources Sub Committee. Dee is passionate about Human Rights and Child Protection.
Aisling Hurrell
Aisling is the co-founder and COO of Momentum Healthcare Ltd. She has a strong background in operations and customer service, with a keen ability to anticipate client need. Aisling joined our board to support and contribute to Amber’s services for women and children.
Denise Kavanagh
Denise is a qualified actuary and experienced senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in financial services and global organisations. She specialises in governance, risk, financial oversight and organisational development. She joined Amber’s board to support our vital work and play a part in improving outcomes for women and children.
Margaret Newport
Margaret is a retired Senior Social Worker with over 40 years’ experience working in Child Protection, Mental Health and Homelessness. She is Chair of our Services Development Sub Committee. Margaret joined the Board as our values align with the strengths based, human rights and task centred theoretical approaches that underpinned her career.
Alan Phelan
Alan is the Chief Operations Officer in Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority. He was previously Head of HR and has a particular interest in leading change initiatives. Alan joined the Board to support Amber’s work and assist us to meet the ever increasing needs for our services.
Michelle Walshe
Michelle is a Director of a management consultancy company. She is Amber’s Vice Chairperson, Chair of our Governance Sub Committee and also sits on our Finance Sub Committee. Michelle has a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, financial oversight and corporate governance. With a strong personal ethos of giving back, Michelle joined the board as Amber’s values align with her own.
We have been supporting and protecting women and children living in Kilkenny and Carlow for over 20 years.
