Board of Directors
Peter McVerry Trust’s Board of Directors are as follows:
- Tony O’Brien – Chairperson (appointed May 2025)
- Gilbert Little (appointed May 2022)
- Aidan Connaughton (appointed November 2024)
- Kathleen McCann (appointed January 2025)
- Nessan Vaughan (appointed January 2025)
- Liz Bayfield (appointed September 2025)
- Paul Bailey (appointed September 2025)
- Damien Keogh SC (appointed September 2025)
- Valerie Philpott (appointed September 2025)
CEO and Senior Management
Niall Mulligan, CEO
Niall Mulligan joined Peter McVerry Trust in April 2024, previously serving as the National Secretary of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Niall has worked within the charity sector in both the UK and Ireland since 1990, specifically in the areas of addiction, justice, homelessness, HIV & sexual health, suicide prevention, and poverty. He has held senior management positions in some of Ireland’s leading charities including the Simon Communities of Ireland, HIV Ireland, Samaritans Ireland, and most recently The Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Niall has demonstrated a strong track record relevant to the Ethos, Values and work of Peter McVerry Trust including a clear commitment to human rights and social justice.
Tanya Blyth, Director of Child and Family Services
Tanya was appointed Deputy Director of Services in November 2017, having been Head of Services since April 2015 and Deputy Head of Services since April 2013.
Tanya has a degree in Social Science and a postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy and has been involved in the Community and Voluntary Sector since 1992 and has worked in Under 18s Residential Services since 1998.
Bernie Keigher, Director of Homeless Services and Housing First – Criminal Justice
Bernie joined Peter McVerry Trust in 2006 as a Project Worker and has worked across multiple areas within Peter McVerry Trust as a Team Leader including adult homeless services, Young People services, Housing First and TRAIL. In 2018 she was appointed to Head of North City Region Homeless Services.
In February 2021, Bernie was appointed to Director of Homeless Services and Housing First Criminal Justice. She is responsible for homeless services across Leinster and the Criminal Justice strand of the Peter McVerry Trust Housing First programme. Bernie holds a diploma in Community and Youth Work, a diploma in Social Care, BA in Social Care and a MSc in Criminology.
Noelle Woods, Director of Nursing, Addiction and Housing First Dublin Services
Noelle was appointed Director of Nursing and Addiction in February 2021. In early 2023, Housing First – Dublin was added to her Directorate. Noelle oversees multiple multi-disciplinary teams responsible for delivering Peter McVerry Trust’s nursing, addiction and Housing First services. Noelle joined the organisation in October 2013 as a staff nurse, progressing to Head of Nursing and Addiction services in 2019.
Noelle holds a BSc in Psychiatric Nursing, diploma in Addiction Studies, certificate in Effective Management of Homeless Services certificate in Recognising and Responding to Domestic Abuse and is currently completing a MSc in Health and Social Inclusion. She is a Registered Nurse Prescriber with RCSI and is qualified to provide training on the ‘Administration of Naxolone’ and ‘Mental Health First Aid’.
Dr Jo Power, Acting Director of Human Resources
As our Acting Director of HR, Jo brings over two decades of experience across HR leadership, recruitment, organisational development, and people centred service delivery to Peter McVerry Trust. She has been with the organisation since 2017, serving first as Recruitment Manager before progressing to Head of Recruitment and Onboarding, and was appointed Acting Director of HR in 2025.
Before joining PMVT, Jo held senior roles in the private sector where she developed strategic talent solutions, built high performing teams, and supported start ups and multinational clients across high tech and specialist sectors. Her earlier career spans leadership in recruitment, education, and hospitality management, including several years as Proprietor and Managing Director of award winning boutique hotels. Jo holds a PGDE from Trinity College Dublin and maintains a career long dedication to continuous learning and professional development.
