IPH Team
IPH has offices in Dublin and Belfast and our team of staff work across a wide range of disciplines, from research and evidence review, policy analysis and evaluation, to specialist training and communications.
Senior Management Team
Suzanne Costello
Chief Executive
suzanne.costello [at] publichealth.ie
Suzanne is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Public Health. She has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the Institute.
With a background in senior management across a range of health and social issues, Suzanne joined the Institute as Chief Executive at the end of 2018.
Prior to joining the Institute, Suzanne served at the CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland and also acted as the Interim Policy Programme Lead for the HSE’s Alcohol Programme. Suzanne was Samaritans Executive Director for Ireland for six years.
Suzanne has a primary degree in Social Science from University College Dublin, an MBS, and a Professional Diploma in Strategy, Innovation and Change from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business and was a member of the inaugural Healthy Ireland Council.
Sinéad Ward
Director of Finance & Governance
sinead.ward [at] publichealth.ie
Sinéad joined the Institute as Director of Finance & Governance in 2016. In this role she oversees the finance, governance and HR functions of the organisation. A registered CPA accountant, Sinéad holds Postgraduate Diplomas in both Accounting and Governance disciplines.
Prior to joining the Institute, Sinéad started her career in practice, working across many sectors of industry, including Pharma, Telecoms and IT, as well as the non-profit sector.
Roger O'Sullivan
Director of Ageing Research & Development
roger.osullivan [at] publichealth.ie
Roger is Director of Ageing Research & Development at the Institute since 2015.
His work has a particular focus on improving public health intelligence relating to ageing and older people to support public policy and service in the context of an ageing population. This work has addressed topics related to health and wellbeing, physical activity, loneliness, active ageing, and creativity.
He served as Interim Chief Executive of the Institute from November 2016 until December 2018. In 2016 he was made visiting Professor at Ulster University.
Roger also served as Director of the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland between 2007- 2015. He is a member of the UK Faculty of Public Health.
Dr Helen McAvoy
Director of Policy
helen.mcavoy [at] publichealth.ie
Helen is Director of Policy at the Institute. She has contributed to reports and policy papers on a wide range of public health issues, including inequalities in maternal and child health, fuel poverty, tobacco, alcohol and health inequalities.
Helen graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a primary medical degree in 1997 and worked for several years in both hospital and general practice. She completed her MD in 2000 as part of the Masters in Health Promotion programme at NUI Galway.
Helen sits on the Public Health Alcohol Research Group convened by the Department of Health to establish a monitoring framework for the Public Health Alcohol Act (2015). Helen is also a member of the Faculty of Public Health (UK) and the Association of Health Promotion Practitioners in Ireland.
Adam McCune
Director of Communications and IT
adam.mccune [at] publichealth.ie
Adam joined the Institute in 2007 and his role oversees the IT, data protection and communications functions of the organisation. He also has responsibility for the Institute's Public Health Matters online learning platform.
Prior to joining the Institute, Adam worked with the Health Promotion Agency focusing on digital and web development. He also previously worked with the Stationery Office as design support to the Northern Ireland Assembly, in addition to managing a private sector online database provider.
Adam studied at Queen's University Belfast and holds a BSc in Computer Science. He is a professional member of the British Computer Society and a member of the Irish Data Protection Officers Society.
Programme team
Maresa Fagan
Communications Officer
maresa.fagan [at] publichealth.ie
Maresa joined the Institute as Communications Officer in 2021 and works with every department across the organisation to communicate the work of IPH.
She brings more than 20 years of experience in media and communications. Maresa previously worked as a journalist in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, with titles such as the Irish Examiner, The Detail, and the Irish Medical Times among others, and received several nominations and awards for her media work.
Maresa has an MA in journalism and also comes from a science background, with an MPhil in biochemistry from Technological University Dublin.
Lauren Rodriguez
Public Health Development Officer
lauren.rodriguez [at] publichealth.ie
Lauren joined the Institute as Public Health Development Officer in 2018. Lauren’s work aims to inform health policy on the island of Ireland across a range of topics, such as, tobacco control and child and maternal health.
Lauren is involved in producing evidence-based research, including rapid evidence reviews, consultations, and policy evaluation. Her work also focuses on engagement with committees and wider partnerships to address the social and commercial determinants of health.
Lauren received an MSc in Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. For her BA, she studied Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr Joanna Purdy
Public Health Development Officer
joanna.purdy [at] publichealth.ie
Joanna joined the Institute in 2012 as a Public Health Development Officer. Her role involves the review and evaluation of public health policy and the synthesis and interpretation of evidence to inform policy development.
Joanna works across several policy areas, such as, alcohol, tobacco control, gambling, and breastfeeding, as well as Health Impact Assessment (HIA). She had a lead role in developing updated HIA Guidance, developing HIA training, and teaching on academic courses. She represents IPH on a number of government strategy implementation steering groups.
Joanna obtained a BA (Hons) in Consumer Studies and PhD from the University of Ulster. She has worked at Queen’s University Belfast and with the Education and Training Inspectorate.
Dr Jenny Mack
Public Health Medicine Consultant
jenny.mack [at] publichealth.ie
Jenny joined the Institute in 2021 and works as a Public Health Medicine Consultant on the policy team.
She is on the GMC Specialist Register for Public Health Medicine and is a recognised Postgraduate Medical Trainer. She is a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health.
Jenny graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2013 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics. She completed her Master of Public Health in 2017 and has also achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education.
Dr Ciara Reynolds
Public Health Development Officer
ciara.reynolds [at] publichealth.ie
Ciara is a Public Health Development Officer with the Institute. Her role involves the analysis and interpretation of data to inform public policy. Before joining the organisation, Ciara worked as a postdoctoral researcher.
Ciara's work primarily focuses on the social and commercial determinants of health, including tobacco, alcohol, obesity and gambling. Her role also involves the presentation of evidence to government committees and the development of policy briefs and consultation responses on key public health issues.
Ciara obtained an MSc in Dietetics from University of Ulster and has a PhD on smoking in pregnancy from University College Dublin.
Ciara Gilmartin
Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme
ciara.gilmartin [at] publichealth.ie
Ciara is undertaking a PhD examining corporate lobbying and public health advocacy through an Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme scholarship, awarded by the Irish Research Council in partnership with TU Dublin and the Institute of Public Health.
Prior to commencing her PhD, Ciara received a Masters in Advertising from TU Dublin in 2019. She was awarded two gold medals upon graduating: the Michael Hayes Memorial medal for attaining the highest overall mark in the programme and a second medal for the highest scoring dissertation.
Toby Finch
Research Assistant
toby.finch [at] publichealth.ie
Toby joined the Institute in 2021 supporting the work of the Ageing Research & Development team.
His role involves the creation of online learning pathways, assisting with stakeholder engagement, research and publication of reports, and consultation responses.
Prior to joining the institute, Toby received a BA in Politics and a Masters in Public Policy (Specialising in Healthcare Policy) from University College Dublin.
Chris Callaghan
Health Improvement Coordinator
chris.callaghan [at] publichealth.ie
Chris joined the Institute as a Health Improvement Coordinator in 2022. In this role, he supports the Walk With Me (WWM) study at Ulster University and the Ageing & Research Development team.
Prior to joining IPH, Chris worked as a research assistant at Queen’s University Belfast on projects relating to cancer and healthy ageing. He also previously worked as a student support worker at Belfast Metropolitan College.
Chris has a BSc in Health Science and Physiology and a BSc (Hons) in Health Promotion and Public Health from the Atlantic Technical University in Sligo. He later studied a Masters in Public Health at Queens University Belfast and will begin a part-time PhD with Northumbria University this September.
Support team
Aisling O’Connor
Office Manager (Dublin)
aisling.oconnor [at] publichealth.ie
Aisling is Office Manager at the Institute's Dublin office and is responsible for the organisation and co-ordination of operations, procedures, and resources and acts as the Health & Safety Co-ordinator. Aisling also supports the finance function within the organisation.
Prior to joining the Institute in 2001, Aisling worked with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Éimear McAnallen
Governance and Compliance Executive
eimear.mcanallen [at] publichealth.ie
Éimear joined the Institute in 2023 supporting the work of the Finance & Governance Team. In this role Éimear works across a number of key governance functions ensuring compliance with the public sector governance environment.
Éimear has previously worked within the public sector in Ireland and Australia and has received a BSc Hons degree in Sociology with Criminology from the Ulster University,and a Cert IV in Project Management Practice from the Australian Institute of Management.
Kelechukwu Chima
Network Support Technician
kelechukwu.chima [at] publichealth.ie
Kelechukwu joined the Institute as a Network Support Technician in 2021 and provides ICT and digital expertise across the organisation.
Kelechukwu supports a range of projects across the Institute, including network infrastructure, web development, and technical support.
Kelechukwu holds an MSc in Cloud Computing from the National College of Ireland.
Leah Friend
ICT & Design Support Officer
leah.friend [at] publichealth.ie
Leah works as ICT & Design Support Officer as part of the Institute's communications team.
This varied role involves designing reports, posters, and graphics for social media and also producing videos and infographics, among other communications outputs.
Leah is also responsible for IPH branding of all external communications and also provides organisational support for events and seminars hosted by the Institute.
Louise Bradley
Information Resource Officer
louise.bradley [at] publichealth.ie
Louise is Information Resource Officer at the Institute, contributing to the development, management and maintenance of the Institute’s knowledge resources and projects.
Prior to joining the Institute in 2004, she worked with the Department of Education, the Irish Folklore Department, UCD and the Office of Public Works.
Louise holds an MA from National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Sharon Brennan
HR Executive (Office Manager)
sharon.brennan [at] publichealth.ie
Sharon joined the Institute in 2002 and is an HR Executive within IPH and part-time Office Manager for the Belfast Office.
Sharon has responsibility for the HR system, assists with recruitment, and provides administrative support to the Director of Finance & Governance.
Prior to joining the Institute, Sharon worked in GP Fundholding for several years. Sharon holds a BA in Business Studies from Ulster University.
Tara Burke
Policy Support
tara.burke [at] publichealth.ie
Tara joined the Institute in 2003 and provides programme and operational support across the organisation.
Tara also supports the organising of events and seminars hosted by the Institute.