Governance & Board

Tom was appointed Chairman of HUGG in March 2023. He has had a long career in ICT, Financial Services and Education and is currently Vice President and Global Leader for Kyndryl Vital. Tom’s experience as a non-executive director in the non for profit sector includes a number of years on the board of Unicef Ireland and as Chairman of Fast Track to Information Technology (FIT) Ltd. Tom is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, the UCD Smurfit School of Business as well as holding a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University

Fiona is the CEO of HUGG. She lost her 11-year-old daughter Milly to suicide in 2016. Driven by her own need for peer support, she set up the first HUGG support group in Dublin in 2017.  Since then, she has advocated for support, education and research into the needs of those bereaved by suicide. She launched HUGG as a charity on what would have been Milly’s 15th birthday in 2019. 

Fiona has a strong background in sales and marketing, formerly running her own publishing company; and working with the commercial radio station Today FM and in Alumni Relations with UCD. She has an MSc in Loss & Bereavement from RCSI, which she was awarded in 2018.

Catherine has an established track record of formulating, implementing and refining strategy, coproducing and delivering training programmes, adept at event organization as well as managing the professional development of staff. In 2001, in a voluntary capacity, Catherine co-founded and co-ordinates Turas Le Cheile which provides support for those bereaved, including those bereaved by suicide, and the provision of Psychological First Aid to communities in the aftermath of tragic incidents. Catherine is also a Director of Alcohol Action Ireland.

Among Catherine’s portfolio are qualifications in nursing, project management, events management, executive coaching, QQI in Training, Delivery and Evaluation and certification in Charity Law, Governance and Trusteeship with the Law Society. 

Ronnie is an independent economist with a strong interest in applied policy implementation.

His particular research focus is education and training, labour market economics and strategy and performance in the non-for-profit sector.

He has a Ph.D. in Economics from Trinity College Dublin, is a Partner of Indecon Economic Consultants, and previously worked as Chief Economist of Danske Bank in Ireland. He also served as Honorary Economist to the Irish Exporters Association from 2017 until 2023, and currently acts as a Non-Executive Director for HUGG.

Laura has over 15 years of marketing experience, encompassing digital marketing, brand building, PR and communications, international marketing and stakeholder relationship management. She has a strong track record of building brands, most notably Keelings, Bewley’s and, most recently, as the head of a global marketing department for the Irish sports apparel business, Horseware Ireland. She holds a Masters in Marketing and is a Member of the Marketing Institute in Ireland.

Úna joined the HUGG Board in December 2022 as a non-executive director.

Úna has worked for many years in the areas of medicine regulation, with a focus in biological medicines,  and is currently the Pharmaceutical Assessment Manager of the Health Product Authorisation and Registration department in the Health Products Regulation Authority.  

Prior to this Úna actively worked in Research and Development, with the aim of identifying new therapeutics in the treatment of atherosclerosis.  Úna is a science graduate of Trinity College Dublin and has a Ph.D. in Medicinal Biochemistry awarded from University College Dublin in conjunction with the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin.    

She also holds a certificate in Leadership Development certified by the Institute of Leadership and Management, Staffordshire, UK, and a Higher Diploma in Education awarded from Trinity College Dublin

David is a Business Studies graduate of Trinity College Dublin and a Chartered Accountant. He has over thirty years financial experience in industry.

David sits on a number of Boards as a Non Executive Director, typically heading up the Finance committee and/or the Remuneration Committee.

After some full time CFO roles in his early career, in 2002 he established his own Interim Financial Control and General Financial Consultancy business. He has a breath of experience in dealing with the financial function of many companies. He typically works closely with owner managers & senior management and in the course of this business he has spent much time implementing financial control, financial reporting and financial systems while assessing the key business success factors that affect start-up and high growth companies.