New Chair of the DFI Board announced

At our AGM on 29 June a number of board changes were acknowledged by outgoing Chair of the DFI Board Fran Brennan. Fran paid tribute to outgoing Board Members Pat Clarke, Wendy McCarry and Darragh McDonald and welcomed DFI's two new Board Members Aoife Lambe who works with MS Ireland and Padraig Hannafin who works with the Rehab Group. 

At the DFI Board meeting following our AGM our CEO John Dolan paid tribute to Fran Brennan who stood down as Chair of the Board as his three year term concluded. John said, "Fran commenced as Chair in 2020 in the height of the Covid crisis and not long after we commenced grappling with remote meetings. This was a big challenge to us all and Fran led us capably into that method of doing the board work. 

"I mark Fran's time as Chairperson with two strong memories. Firstly his consistent time and attention to his role and secondly how he always brought the focus back to the member organisations within DFI. In this he was conscious, just as in his organisation, Polio Survivors Ireland, that so many disabled people rely on the work of the organisations to stand up for them and with them to make critical improvements in their day to day lives." 

Fran continues to serve on the Board of DFI.

Elections at the recent DFI Board meeting saw Michael Doyle take the position of Chair; Gráinne O’Leary taking the position of First Vice Chairperson; and, Siobhan Long taking the position of Second Vice Chairperson. You can find all the DFI Board details here. 

Commenting on his election Michael Doyle said, "It's an honour to be appointed Chairperson of DFI. I look forward to working with the board and the executive of DFI to progress our mission of achieving an Ireland where people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of society. I recognise that I take up this position at a time when member organisations are facing unprecedented challenges and that the expertise and dedication of the staff in DFI are more than ever an essential resource for our members to help highlight and address these issues.”

ENDS