Board Member Profiles
MS Ireland is governed by a Board of 12 voluntary members. These members have a wide range of experience and skill. Some have MS themselves or have family members with MS. Others have long careers in business, social services and other areas. The Board promotes the vision and aims of the Society and charges the Chief Executive to meet these aims through the various departments, services and resources of the Society.
Mr. Manfred Huschka, Chairman
Manfred Huschka is the Vice President Global Sales of Taconic ADD, a multinational company. He has more than 20 years of senior management experience in the electronics and wireless manufacturing industry in Germany and Ireland. His business activities see him travelling extensively to the USA and Asia. Manfred is married to Susan, and together they have two grown-up children. They live in Westmeath, having moved there from Germany more than 12 years ago. Improvement of the quality of life of people with MS is Manfred’s key objective within MS Ireland. He has gained personal experience in complementing Western medicine successfully with holistic Chinese approaches while using individually tailored nutrition programmes and continuous physical exercise regimes. Manfred believes that adopting a healthy lifestyle is central to maintaining the wellbeing of the MS community.
Mr. Paddy Stronge, Deputy Chairman
Paddy worked for over 40 years in Bank of Ireland and since his retirement he has been involved in training and consultancy both in Ireland and overseas. He has lectured in Finance for the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, the Irish Institute of Bankers and the National College of Ireland. He is a qualified accountant and has been a director of a number of companies. He was financial adviser to the Dublin Simon Community for many years. He has also contributed articles in national newspapers on banking and finance matters. Paddy would like to assist in the activities of MS Ireland particularly as some family members have been diagnosed with MS.
Ms. Margaret Burke
Margaret qualified as a nurse at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in 1972. She is married to Edmund (Ned) and mother of 5 children. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis twenty five years ago and joined the Carlow Branch of MS a year later. She served as Chairperson and Secretary in the branch on different occasions. She has also been co-ordinator of National Pen Day for a number of years. She was a member of the South East Working Group for MS dealing with issues pertaining to MS. She is a member of "The Carlow Centre for Independent Living", as a volunteer, and a member of "The Steering Committee" on Advocacy. She is a former Board member of "CANDO Carlow". She is the Editor of the local Parish Newsletter. Margaret believes that everyone has a responsible role in society and has a lot to contribute for the well being of all. We are all cogs in the big wheel of Life.
Mr. Joe Cahill
Until his retirement, Joe Cahill was a senior manager in the Health Board for over 30 years, most recently as Director of Physical & Sensory Disability Services EHB and Assistant CEO of the NAHB. With extensive experience of planning and managing health services, he was involved in negotiating and sanctioning capital grants from the EHB for MS Ireland. Joe's knowledge of the disability sector and many years experience as a senior manager is invaluable to the future development of MS Ireland.
Dr. Susan Coote
Dr Susan Coote is a Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in the management of people with neurological disorders such as MS and stroke. She has worked as a lecturer in Physiotherapy in the University of Limerick since 2003 and teaches neurological rehabilitation on both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Her research interests include the role of exercise and physiotherapy interventions and the application of technology in rehabilitation. She has been working as the principal investigator on the research arm of the Getting the Balance Right Programme and now has a team of postgraduates who are investigating various aspects of exercise, physical activity and electrical stimulation for people with stroke. She is chair of the Physiotherapists Interested in MS group which brings together physiotherapists from all geographic locations and health care services who work with people with MS. She has published widely and has a keen interest in a broad range of rehabilitative services for people with MS
Mr. Barney Cunningham
Barney is a software consultant from Donegal that has provided IT services to Dulux Paint Ltd in Cork for the last 10 years. Barney is a software consultant from Donegal that has provided IT services to Dulux Paint Ltd in Cork for the last 10 years. Barney has previously served as secretary to the Cork MS Branch. Within the last 10 years Barney has served as secretary and treasurer to the Donegal MS branch and it is with this branch that he is currently serving as a committee member. Barney is married to Maureen, who has MS for the last 25 years, and has two children Christine & Kevin.
Ms. Maureen Feeney
A long standing member of the Castlebar Branch, Maureen has been their Council Delegate for the last 10 years. Maureen was elected to the Board of MS Ireland in 2006. She was a carer for her husband who had MS for 14 years. Her eldest daughter was diagnosed with MS in 2003. Maureen lives in Castlebar with her daughter and grandchild.
Ms. Ciara Kelly
I am a 29 year old Registered Nurse in Intellectual Disabilities and currently work on a part time basis for Sunbeam House Services in Arklow, Co. Wicklow. My work involves working with adults with severe to profound learning difficulties which I thoroughly enjoy.
I have a little girl whose name is Eva, who is aged three and who keeps me very active and on the go!
In early 2005 after returning from university, I experienced the first symptoms of MS with pins and needles, imbalance and blurred vision. Following this episode, I had many tests and screenings and was eventually diagnosed with MS. I am currently on injections taken on alternate days and am very well at present.
Ms. Lorna Mitchell
Following a career in advertising and marketing, Lorna joined the MS Society in 1989 as a fundraising consultant. Amongst her most successful ventures has been the celebrated ‘MS Pilgrim Walk on the Camino de Santiago’, now in its 19th year and flourishing.
Lorna took early retirement in 2007. Outside of work, Lorna maintains an active interest in hockey, having held various offices including Treasurer of the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations. She is currently President of the Irish Universities Hockey Association. Lorna is married to Peter and they have three grown-up children.
Mr. Sean Murphy
Sean had been a member of Cork Branch for 25 years and is a past Chairman and Treasurer of the Branch. Involved in all aspects of Branch’s work, Sean’s particular interest lies in fundraising. Sean is married to Josephine who was diagnosed with MS in 1979.
Ms. Emma Rogan
Emma Rogan has a degree in Journalism and Media Communications and in 2009 completed an MSc in Equality Studies from the School of Social Justice, UCD. Since 2007, when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she has been raising awareness of the needs of young people with the condition. Elected council representative of the Mullingar branch in 2008, Emma has particular interest in how the board and Society communicates and works with young people. In May 2010 she represented the society at the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform Youth Conference in Stuttgart where she met and worked with others from around Europe. This group is in regular communication, sharing ideas for motivating and supporting one another’s work in their respective countries.
Currently an intern for the Equality and Rights Alliance, she is the organiser of a social group that meets every two weeks in Dublin city centre and organises events for young people affected by MS.
Emma is passionate about advocating for young people with multiple sclerosis, raising awareness and supporting people affected by MS in Ireland and the rest of Europe. She believes diversity on the board is vital to reflect the diversity and the needs of all people affected by MS.
Dr. Killian Smith
Dr Kilian Smith is a Scientist who works in the Nuclear Safety/Emergency Preparedness section of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. He has had considerable experience in the past as a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Experimental Physics in University College Dublin.
Dr Smith has represented Ireland on a number of International committees and working groups. He is currently a member of a number of European Commission, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Nuclear Energy Authority expert groups. He is also involved in the development and application of computer models that simulate the transfer of radiation in the environment.
Originally from Cavan, Kilian is married with one son and is living in Dublin. Kilian was diagnosed with MS in January 2009 and has been a member of MS Ireland since then. He has always been keenly interested in disability issues in Ireland as his sister has been a wheelchair user since infancy.
