SHEP Project Team Members 

Jim has been the Director of SHEP since 2009. He is particularly interested in lifelong learning, social inclusion and community development.

He lives in Boherbue in Duhallow, though is originally from the Mitchelstown area. He is a keen gardener and loves cooking and travelling

Liam has been working full-time with SHEP in Community Education in the South of Ireland since 2005. With a background in engineering, therapy, critical social work practice and community development, his current interest is in systems thinking/change.

Liam loves to laugh, walking, family, music, growing vegetables and spiritual development.

Carmel is the coordinator of the Coisceim Counselling Programmes which provides low-cost counselling to adults, young adults, couples and children. Having trained as a psychotherapist in MTU, she has a keen interest in mental health and well-being.

A Cork City woman, she loves a good belly laugh, long walks in nature, listening to music and travelling whenever she can.

Fern has a background in youth and community work, public health and health promotion. She also lectures part time in UCC, is completing her PhD and is a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. Relationships have always been at the heart of her work.

Fern loves music, dancing, the outdoors and travelling. She is particularly fond of having fun with her partner and six children in West Cork.

Marge has a background in social policy research, advocacy, training and project work. She is one of our SHEP Advocacy Programme coordinators. Her role involves supporting the team to delivery SHEP advocacy services & advocacy training.

Marge is a music lover and she enjoys going wild in the great outdoors whenever she can.

Niamh Kelleher has a background in law, advocacy and health inequalities. She is the coordinator of the Cork Equal and Sustainable Communities Alliance (CESCA), a social justice alliance of 18 community organisations in Cork, currently hosted by SHEP.

Niamh loves to spend time reading, occasionally writing and spending time in nature, but has yet to master the craft of gardening!

Tatenda joined SHEP in 2023 after relocating from South Africa. She has a background in finance and is involved with monitoring project finances.

Tatenda enjoys nature walks, reading and exploring new things.

Niamh started working for SHEP in 2022 after looking for a move into the community sector. She enjoys doing courses in her spare time and has diplomas in Development and Global Human Rights, and Human Rights and Equality, among others.

In her free time she also enjoys growing her own food, photography and meeting up with friends.

Nuala has been involved with the project since 1991. In 2011 she took up her current role as referral counsellor with Coisceim. A Gestalt psychotherapist, she also runs a small private practice. She has been a student of the Diamond Approach since 2001.

Nuala loves the joy and wellbeing she gets from year-round sea swimming and plenty of laughter. She also enjoys travelling and listening to all kinds of music.

Eilish has working in SHEP since 2016 and her primary role is looking after the one year SHEP ‘Cert in Personal Development’ Course. Training background: MTU – BA & Masters in Psychotherapy. Post Grad Dip in Supervision & Reflective Practice for Counselling & Professional.

Eilish loves the outdoors and has recently taken up playing Pitch & Putt.

Starting with SHEP in 2005 as Programme Administrator, Ger has progressed through the SHEP training levels going on to graduate with a degree in counselling and psychotherapy from MTU and is currenty working on accreditation. Ger now holds the role of Training and Development Officer within the project.

Ger can be seen regluarly at club GAA matches in her own townland and when she has the time loves to travel to her favourite spots on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Anita is a humanistic & integrative psychotherapist accredited with IACP. Anita works in private practice and has lectured in UL in drug and alcohol studies. Currently employed with MWRDAF. Anita also facilitates personal development programmes with SHEP in the Mid West.

She likes swimming, listening to music and going to shows. She likes spending time in nature, traveling and loves a good old sing song.

Sheila is first and foremost a human being but is also an art therapist and psychotherapist based in Cork. She is one of the Referral Counsellors in Coisceim and works on the child and adolescent side as well as with adults.

Sheila can often be found in the sea honing her skills as a mermaid. Outside that she enjoys land-based nature and the outdoors as well as creativity, connection and community.

Robert started with SHEP in 2021. He works part-time with the basic remit to assist in communicating SHEP’s message to a wider community.

Robert likes cycling his bike and listening to music.

Maria coordinates SHEP Earth Aware & works also with Green Spaces for Health and the Cork Food Policy Council. All three organisations are concerned with issues arising from climate change and biodiversity collapse. All Maria’s work is informed by the heart approach of SHEP.

Maria’s hobbies include walking in the countryside, growing vegetables , looking at old movies and playing with her nieces.

Norma works as part of the wider SHEP Training and Development Team. Norma has a background in youth and community work. Norma has been involved with the organisation since 1992.

She loves reading, going to live gigs and adult colouring books to keep her creative side alive.

Deirdre has been working as an advocate for 28 years and has been working for SHEP since 2009. She now offers consultancy and direction to the SHEP Advocacy Project. Together with a small team of trained advocates, she works to support people who are struggling to get their voices heard.

Deirdre lives in County Cork by the sea and loves the spot she calls home . She also loves gardening and swimming.

Marys background is in social care and in recent years psychotherapy. For over 20 years Mary has worked with persons who are vulnerable due to homelessness, addiction, mental health.

Family and friends are very important to Mary. . Some of Mary’s interests including walking, yoga, travelling, swimming and socialising. Happiness and contentment are what Mary is most grateful for.

Abigail has a degree in Development and coordinates SHEP’s International Learning Partnership with Sahakarmi Samaj in Nepal. She is also a SHEP trainer on the Cert in Social Awareness & Community Empowerment (SACE ).

Abigail lives in West Kerry and loves to sing, draw and spend time in nature.

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in U.C.C, Zilma spent several years in the furniture relocation and shipping industry. She joined the front of house team in SHEP in 2019.

A native of Blackrock “a true Rockie”, she enjoys walking in nature, reading, listening to 80’s music and sport.

Sarah has a degree in Social Science and a Masters in Social Policy.
Having lectured in UCC on the Diploma for Disability Studies she has spent the last year working as fundraising assistant for the Cork Deaf Association.

Sarah has a passion for travelling to new countries and attends concerts when she has time.

Breda started her journey with SHEP in 2018, progressed through the SHEP training levels and graduated from UCC with a Diploma in Social & Psychological Health Studies in 2023. She now works part-time with the SHEP Accounts Team

A Lover of lifelong learning and starts each day with gratitude, Breda enjoys has a warm quirky sense of humour and enjoys a good belly laugh.

Eilish started working in SHEP in May 2023 she is passionate about people and is studying a Diploma in Social and Psychological health studies in UCC.

Eilish loves a good laugh and loves spending time with her family. I love the outdoors and recently taken up Rowing.

Jessie works in both the Training and Development and Advocacy Programmes in SHEP and feels passionate about social justice and equality. She is a Trainer, Facilitator and Advocate. Jessie started her journey with the project in 2001 and has since joined the team in a staff role.

Jessie enjoys socializing, long walks in nature, swimming and gardening.

Debbie started with SHEP through work experience, while studying Applied Psychology and Social Studies. It is Debbie’s ambition to work towards becoming a facilitator with SHEP.

In her spare time Debbie likes Music, volunteering with Cork Art Community Link and creating using arts and crafts.