• Madeleine Clarke, Founding Director, Genio
• Hugh Kane, Project Development Director, Genio
• Dr Fiona Keogh, Research and Information Manager, Genio
• Tara Doheny, Network Support Manager
• Margaret Flynn, Finance and Administration Manager
• Fiona Murphy, Communications Manager

Biographies

Madeleine Clarke

Founding Director
e: info@genio.ie
In 2008 Madeleine Clarke established a new organisation, Genio, in order to facilitate philanthropy and Government to combine their efforts to bring about positive change for people at risk of social exclusion. Madeleine began her professional career in 1980 as a psychologist working in disability services in Ireland. In 1984 she moved to work with Ireland’s largest children’s charity, Barnardos, where she became Deputy Chief Executive. During the period 1995 to 1999 Madeleine Clarke co-founded the Children’s Rights Alliance of Ireland and was elected inaugural chairperson. Madeleine was a member of the working group, which produced Children First – National Guidelines on the Welfare and Protection of Children (1999). In 2000, she began working as an independent consultant with statutory, non-governmental and philanthropic organisations on a wide range of commissions relating to children, older people, people with disabilities and mental health difficulties, and immigrants. Madeleine is an Ashoka Fellow.

Hugh Kane

Project Development Director
e: hugh.kane@genio.ie
After retiring from the public service in December 2010, Hugh Joined Genio in January 2011 as Project Development Director where he is working to facilitate the development of a problem-solving focus to removing the barriers to increasing individualised supports. Hugh Kane has worked in personal social services for nearly 40 years. He began his career in health as a Community Welfare Officer and moved into senior management in 1998 as Community Services General Manager. In 2000 Hugh joined the management team of South Western Area Health Board as Assistant CEO, and was subsequently appointed Deputy CEO in 2003. Hugh joined the HSE in 2005 as Hospital Network Manager. He later worked as Local Health Manager for Wicklow with lead responsibility for Disability services and after that took on the role of Assistant National Director for Dublin mid-Leinster. In 2009 Hugh left the HSE to become CEO of the Mental Health Commission.

Fiona Keogh

Research and Information Manager
e: fiona.keogh@genio.ie
Fiona Keogh, PhD, Dip. Stats, Cert. Health Ec. has been working with Genio since August 2008. During this time she has conducted the research for the report on Identifying Effective Sustainable Services for People with Disabilities and Mental Health Difficulties. Fiona has over 20 years experience in conducting health research in Ireland, in mental health and in the wider disability sector. She has most recently worked as rapporteur to the Expert Disability Policy Reference Group which was part of the Value for Money Review of Disability Services. Fiona has also worked for the Mental Health Commission, preparing and implementing a Research Strategy for the organisation and was part of the management team that implemented the Mental Health Act 2001. She worked as the researcher and writer for the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy and drafted much of the government’s current mental health policy A Vision for Change. Fiona previously worked for the Health Research Board as the senior researcher in the Mental Health Division and as the researcher on a comprehensive evaluation of a community mental health service in West Dublin. She is also an Associate Lecturer on the MA in Health Services Management course in the Institute of Public Administration.

Tara Doheny

Network Support Manager
e: tara.doheny@genio.ie
Tara joined Genio in 2010 as Network Support Manager. Her role is to monitor the projects supported by the Genio Trust, and to support the development of strategic advocacy amongst key stakeholders focused on increasing opportunities for people with disabilities and mental health difficulties to live self-determined lives as equals in society. She previously worked for Brothers of Charity’s Services Clare as Co-ordinator focusing on the transformation of services away from segregated group settings towards supporting individuals to access opportunities which enable them to live a ‘real life in a real place’. Prior to working with the Brothers of Charity Services, she was District Manager with Enterprise Ulster where she worked with unemployed people helping them to retrain and up skill in their chosen occupational areas. After the 1998 Omagh bomb she successfully secured funding to provide women aged 25 plus living in the Co. Tyrone area with confidence building training, basic computer skills and first-aid training. Tara also spent 4 weeks with the Jay Nolan Community Service in Los Angeles in 2007. She holds a BA (Hons) Retail Management and a Diploma in Management and Training.

Margaret Flynn

Finance and Administration Manager
e: margaret.flynn@genio.ie
Margaret joined Genio in November 2010 as the Finance and Administration Manager. Margaret Flynn started her career in PKF Chartered Accountants now Grant Thornton in Dublin.  She worked in various departments from 1985 to 2001, gaining wide experience in the payroll and management accounts departments. She moved to the role of financial controller in 1999 and held the position for two years.  In 2001 Margaret joined the Irish Greyhound Board acting as Track Accountant for the Mullingar Track, playing an important role in establishing Mullingar track as a renowned venue for leisure in the midlands.

Fiona Murphy

Communications Manager
e: fiona.murphy@genio.ie
Fiona Murphy joined Genio in November 2009 as Communications Manager. Her role is to assist in developing and implementing a communications and information strategy to support the work of Genio. Previously Fiona has worked as a Website Editor and Content Manager with the student website campus.ie, co-ordinating its re-launch in 2009. Campus.ie was shortlisted for a Golden Spider Award 2009. Prior to this she worked with Ground Marketing, where she managed promotions, events, and media co-ordination for clients such as Heineken Ireland, RTÉ 2FM, Coty Ireland, among others. She also spent two years in Japan where she taught English Communications. Fiona holds an MA Computer Mus., BSC Multimedia, Prof. Dip. Marketing.