VITA BOARD
Vita’s Board is committed to maintaining the highest standard of governance and is collectively responsible for ensuring delivery of Vita’s mission, setting its strategic direction, and upholding its vision and core values.
Vita’s Board meets regularly and is advised by a series of subcommittees which are chaired by board members.
Vita’s Code of Conduct for Directors
Learn more about Vita’s Governance, Accountability & Transparency
Céline Reilly recently retired from her role as Executive Manager for the Environment & Transportation Department for Dublin City Council. She is a graduate of both NUI Galway (Bachelor of Engineering) and UCD (Masters in Water and Environmental Engineering) and is a Chartered Member of Engineers Ireland.
From 1982, Céline worked primarily in local government, initially as a Civil Engineer, and latterly – from 2006 – in a managerial role. Céline combined her role as Executive Manager with that of Energy Performance Officer for the Council and recently coordinated the Climate Change Action Plan for Dublin City Council. She also has experience in the planning and design of Water Treatment Works, garnered during a period working with consultants in the UK in the 1980s.
Among the projects for which Céline had responsibility are the following: delivering on energy targets for the City Council; coordinating the implementation of the Council’s Climate Action Plan; progressing initiatives on climate mitigation, adaptation and communication; initiatives on waste management and illegal dumping and initiatives on air quality and also delivering a Housing with Support development for older people;
Céline sits on the Environment subcommittee of the CCMA and represents this committee on the National Climate Action Steering Group, the EPA NEICE steering committee, the National Biodiversity Action Group, the Flood Forecasting Communications working group and the board of the National Waste Collection Permit Office. She also sits on the National Waste Enforcement Steering committee, the board of ESHI, (the Environmental sustainability and Health Institute) and the board of the East Link Toll Bridge.
Damien Farren’s career spans thirty years of senior management roles in technology companies both in Ireland and internationally. The organisations he has worked for include Digicel Group, dotMobi, Sigma Communications, Bank of Ireland, Softbank Corporation and Digital Equipment Corporation. His expertise is in strategic change, business improvement and performance management with a particular focus on the revenue generation and supply chain channels. More recently Damien has been retained as a business consultant in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors and specialises in business transformation and project management.
Damien holds a Master of Science degree from Trinity College, a Master of Business Administration degree from UCD as well as a range of other business qualifications. His professional memberships include the Institute of Directors, the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the Project Management Institute.
Having spent time working and living abroad Damien and his family are now based in Dublin. He enjoys time outdoors and entertains his friends by sailing, hill-walking and cycling with more enthusiasm than skill.
Niall M. Kelly is a self-employed Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and an Associate of The Irish Tax Institute (with a Bachelor of Commerce, Masters of Business Administration, and Business Related Postgraduates, amongst other qualifications).
Niall has worked in varied and dynamic environments, with commercial international organisations (and related indigenous / foreign subsidiaries – MNC, PLC, LIC), ‘big 4 practice’, ‘non-profit’ / ‘not for profit’, SME’s and ‘Startups’; organisations such as Arthur Andersen (in Ireland and in the U.K), Kerry Group plc., eircom plc., Vodafone Ireland Ltd., The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, etc.
Niall has broad experience in the Non-Profit / Not-for-Profit sector, on a ‘paid’ basis (self-employed’ / ‘employed’), on a voluntary basis as a Board Member / Chair / Executive Committee member of Chartered Accountants Managers, and also in terms of related personal and academic pursuits.
Dr Lance O’Brien, MA, PhD, MBA, is Head of Strategy & International Relations at Teagasc.He is a member of the Teagasc Senior Management Team and works on the development of Teagasc organisational policies and strategies, its relationships with international organisations, as well as leading its international agricultural development programme.
Having managed and supported successful development programmes across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean for 16 years, Stewart has an in depth knowledge of international development. He comes from a farming background in the midlands and has a passion for agricultural development, especially Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programming.
For ten years Stewart worked with Concern Worldwide in Haiti, Afghanistan, Cambodia and most recently, in Malawi as Programmes Director. In 2015 he started his own consulting business. In 2020 he was lead consultant supporting the National Task Team on Rural Africa in developing recommendations to better coordinate initiatives across public, private and NGO actors in the rural development and Agri-Business sectors in Africa. He also completed a review of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs international agricultural research initiatives in 2021. Internationally he was lead consultant on developing a set of CSA knowledge products for use across all 15 SADC states and has also led a national level CSA scoping study in Malawi.
Stewart is a firm believer in the power of people and in enabling them to achieve success by having strong management systems in place. He has Diplomas in Project Management and in Executive and Leadership Coaching and draws on both of these skill sets in all of his work. He also has a Degree in Agriculture and Environmental Science and a Masters in Humanitarian Action from UCD.
Sr. Margaret’s life has been dedicated to improving the lives of others. She has worked as a nurse and mid-wife in hospitals, maternity units and nursing homes in Ireland. One of the most rewarding experiences was, when she the Director of Nursing at a Zonal Rural Health Centre in Zambia. She was also responsible for outreach and community health services and community development.
Margaret remains active within her religious community, having established and implemented an assisted living programme within the Western Province Groups in the West of Ireland.
For some rest and relaxation Sr. Margaret enjoys walking with friends, painting, singing and the occasional good party!