Aoife Kearney

Chairperson

Aoife joined Feach in 2010, after the birth of her first child. Visually impaired from birth herself, 2 of Aoife’s 3 children are visually impaired. She has been chairperson since 2018.

Aoife has worked in the health service for over twenty years; starting as a frontline worker in disability services (Enable Ireland), a research officer (St John of God Brothers) and in child protection. She trained as a clinical psychologist and has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Trinity College Dublin. She has been working as a psychologist for 16 years. She has a passionate interest in disability rights and in positive psychology. Her doctoral thesis was on the positive impact of growing up with a physical health condition. She holds a Certificate in Higher Education on Working with People with Visual Impairments.

Stuart Lawler

Stuart Lawler is totally blind and works as Head of Digital Content and Irish operations with Sight and Sound Technology, a UK-based assistive technology supplier of software, hardware and associated services for people with disabilities. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in the assistive technology industry, with most of that being spent at the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), where he held the position of Head of Technology Innovation. An avid user of Braille, Stuart is passionate about equal access for education and works closely to assist and support children, their parents and professionals in the field.

Michael Blighe

Michael Blighe is the Chief Risk Officer of Legal & General Investment Management (Europe). Michael has over 20 years technology and risk management experience in the financial services sector.

Michael is a member of the Board of Rare Diseases Ireland, a patient advocacy national alliance for voluntary groups representing people affected by or at risk of developing a rare disease, and was previously a Board member of Belvedere Youth Club.

Michael is the parent of a child with autism and a rare eye condition.

Claire Lehane

Claire Lehane is a Senior Manager in the Department of Children , Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.  She has over ten years’ experience working in various roles within the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS). Claire’s roles within the NAS have carried frontline, operational and strategic responsibilities including the establishment and management of the new Patient Advocacy Service

Claire is a qualified solicitor in the Republic of Ireland and worked for a number of  years in a General Practice Law firm prior to transitioning to Advocacy.

Claire holds a Master’s in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy and a particular interest in ensuring that the individuals ‘voice’ is heard in the process.