Our Board of Directors
St John of God Housing Association clg is a legally incorporated company limited by guarantee and is required to have a Board of Directors. Our Board members have a personal interest in the people we support and an affinity with the values of St John of God. As we are a registered charity, our Directors act on a voluntary basis and do not receive any payment for their services.
Board Responsibilities
The Board is responsible for providing leadership, for setting the strategic direction, for the achievement of our mission and for exercising control over the Housing Association. It accepts that it needs to work effectively, with integrity, transparency and accountability. The Directors bring to the Board their significant professional skills, experience and decision-making abilities reflecting their broad range of views and life experiences.
The Board is committed to maintaining the highest standard of corporate governance and believes that this is essential in directing and controlling the activities of the St John of God Housing Association clg. It recognises that robust and transparent governance is essential to maintain credibility and trust.
There is a clear division of responsibility within the Housing Association with the Board retaining control of major decisions, whilst the Chief Executive is responsible for devising and implementing strategy and policy decisions within the authorities delegated to her by the Board.
Margaret Burns (Chair)
Social Science (Social Policy) Appointed Director October 2020
Currently chairperson of Children in Hospital Ireland and was a board member of the Childrens’s Rights Alliance from 1995 to 2013.
From 1973 to retirement in 2017, worked as a social policy analyst covering a wide range of social issues. Published critiques and articles on housing policy, Irish Prison System, Health and Rights of the Child under UN Conventions.
Lorcan O’Connor
Lorcan is a senior executive with over two decades of experience in the international food sector. He is a qualified accountant, and his career has spanned finance, commercial leadership and general management across businesses operating in Europe and South America.
Over that time he has worked on a range of growth, restructuring and integration initiatives, including joint venture consolidation, minority partner buyouts and organisational simplification across multi-country operations. Much of my work has involved bringing greater structure, commercial discipline and strategic clarity to businesses operating in complex markets.
In more recent roles he has operated primarily at board level, working with management teams to strengthen performance, governance and long-term positioning. I have also served as Chair of Frankort & Koning BV, Anaco Greeve International BV and Total Produce BV, and as a Director of Dole Europe BV.
Louise Heavin
Louise Heavin BA MArch RIAI, is an Architect and housing professional with over a decade of experience in the planning, design, and delivery of residential and social housing projects. She has extensive expertise in managing developments through all stages of the project lifecycle, from securing funding and leading design teams to overseeing construction and project completion.
Her experience spans private practice and the approved housing body sector, where she has worked on a diverse portfolio of projects including individual homes, large-scale apartment schemes, urban regeneration projects, and specialist housing developments. Louise is currently Head of Development at the Housing Association for Integrated Living (HAIL).
Louise also brings valuable governance and leadership experience from her time as a Westmeath County Councillor and Mayor of Athlone. She remains actively engaged in community development and local initiatives across Athlone.
Tom McConalogue
Dr. Tom McConalogue is an experienced management consultant in the areas of leadership development, organisational change and management education. As an independent consultant he has worked with many organisations in the public and private sectors and not for profit area.
Tom worked for many years as a Senior Specialist in the Irish Management Institute where he advised executives and organisations on management and strategic change initiatives. He holds a Master of Science degree in Organisation Development (MScOD) and a Doctorate in the Leadership of Change (PhD). Tom has served on a number of Boards and is the author of several books on Time Management, Developing Staff and Change Management. Based in Dublin Tom continues to share his expertise through consulting, writing and advising on strategy, change management and governance .
Des North
Des North is Regional Director for the Dublin South East Region with St John of God Community Services, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the organisation. Throughout his career, he has been a dedicated advocate for rights-based services, championing the inclusion, dignity, and empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities.
Des holds an Masters Degree in Health Services Management (Trinity College Dublin) and combines extensive experience in the social care sector with a strong background in business, having worked in the business world before transitioning to a career focused on supporting individuals and communities.
His leadership is rooted in a commitment to person-centred supports, service innovation, and ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities are supported to live fulfilling lives as active members of their communities.
Based in Dublin, Des continues to play a key role in advancing high-quality, rights-based services across the region.
Secretary & registered office
Ciaran Cuddihy
‘Granada’
Stillorgan
Co. Dublin
Company no.
426952
Charity tax exemption no.
CHY 18279
Charity Reg. Number
20069834
Auditors
Grant Thornton
Penrose One
Penrose Dock
Cork City
Ireland
T23 YY09
Solicitors
Ryan’s Solicitors LLP
46 Harrington Street
Portobello
Dublin
D08 YFN7
Bankers
Bank of Ireland
College Green
Dublin 2
Investment Managers
Davy Stockbrokers
49 Dawson Street
Dublin 2