Anna has been involved with An Cosán since secondary school when she first began fundraising for The Shanty, after being encouraged to do so by her mother Eileen, a former director and long-time supporter of An Cosán. Anna joined the Board of Directors in 2010 and was elected as Chair of the Board in 2015. Anna’s professional background is in hospitality management and property sales; she currently holds a senior marketing role in an international hotel group.

Bill has been closely involved with An Cosán since 1989. He has held various officer positions on the Board of Directors, including Chair from 2010 to 2016. Bill is a retired accountant and has been closely involved in the running of his family furniture business for the past four decades. He brings his valuable accounting and business experience to An Cosán.

Dee is a senior HR Professional with over 30 years’ experience in Human Resource Management and Learning and Development at operational and strategic level. She holds a BA degree in English and History from University College Dublin, a post-graduate diploma in Advertising Management and an accredited diploma in Executive Coaching. Dee is the Director of CPD at Engineers Ireland and joined the Board of An Cosán in 2020.

Marlene McCormack is a professor in Dublin City University’s School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education, where the focus of her teaching is on practice, placement and play. She has a broad range of experience and expertise in the areas of practice and policy in early childhood. Marlene has worked extensively as an educator, supervisor, manager and Director in both the community and private sectors. Her current research interests lie in pedagogical documentation, professional practice (placement) and engaged research with early childhood settings.

Paula initially came to An Cosán after hearing a talk by Lynne Ruane and signed up to do Basic Computers. This gave her such a thirst for knowledge that she wanted to do more. She has since completed courses in Community Development, Business Administration with Digital Skills and Special Needs Assisting and achieved a Level 6 Personal and Professional Development award. Paula is now working as a library assistant in Tallaght Library, a job which she loves.

Thomas has played a leading role in the further education and tertiary education sector in Ireland. Most recently he has been in various chairing and facilitation roles in the Institute of Technology/Technological University sector, including leading the merger of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Blanchardstown IT and Tallaght IT to form Ireland’s first Technological University, the Technological University of Dublin (TUD). Tom was also an external facilitator in the merger of Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) to become Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).