We are bringing hope and demonstrating love to the most vulnerable and marginalised people – through the local church.

  • Job Vacancies

    Exciting times as this month we appointed 2 new Board Directors & a part-time Church & Supporter Relations Manager. More details...

  • Internships

    Exciting opportunity to do an internship with a globally recognised charity. A chance to gain experience, learn about development issues and make great contacts in the non-profit sector. Are you interested? We are looking for enthusiastic, creative, driven graduates or workers for a minimum of 9 months. Expenses will be covered and we will provide references for future employers. Contact us for further information

People

Tearfund relies on our CEO, staff and board members who come from a range of backgrounds and who share our passion for seeing people released from material and spiritual poverty wherever we work. Meet them below.

Chief Executive – Reuben Coulter

Reuben Coulter

CEO, Tearfund Ireland

After life-changing visits to Africa and South America, Reuben chose a career in development. He completed an MSc in Public Health in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and then worked for Tearfund as a manager in the displaced people camps in Darfur and then helped rebuild communities in Liberia after the civil war.

On returning to Ireland, Reuben worked for GOAL as the operations manager for Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also served as a director of Tearfund Ireland. He is passionate about travel, spicy food and seeing transformation in the lives of the most vulnerable people, this job allows him to do all three.

Reuben became Chief Executive of Tearfund Ireland in August 2008.

Staff and Volunteers

There is also a small team of dedicated staff and volunteers who work hard to ensure that our vision becomes a reality. Of course, there is always more work than we can possibly manage. If you are interested in helping in our office as a volunteer then contact us.

Board of Directors

We believe accountability is vital and have appointed an experienced Board of Directors to oversee the corporate governance of Tearfund Ireland.

Dr. David Weakliam, Chair

Dr. David Weakliam, Chair

Health Service Executive

David is a consultant in public health medicine with the Health Service Executive (HSE). He previously worked for 18 years in the area of international health as health advisor to Irish Aid. He had worked with Tearfund and other development agencies in Nepal, Liberia, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. David is married to Alice and has 3 beautiful children.

Kate O’Ceallaigh, Director

Kate O’Ceallaigh, Director

Kate has been a volunteer with Tearfund for 12 years and worked with many other organisations including IMAP (Irish Mission Agencies working in Partnership), the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, World Vision and Scripture Union since graduating from Stranmillis College in Belfast. Kate and her husband Ruairi (and cat Snowy) are passionate about people and ending injustice.

Richard Philips, Director

Richard Philips, Director

CEO, ACET (AIDS Care Education and Training)

Richard is chief executive of ACET (AIDS Care Education and Training) Ireland, and a member of the executive team of the ACET International Alliance. He has been a supporter of Tearfund since he was seven years old. Richard has spent eight years working in development projects in Africa and also in Ireland with Dell, gaining experience of the corporate world. He is married to Wendy and has an eight-year-old son Zeph. They live in Co Wicklow where Richard loves to hike and rock-climb, although it never seems to happen often enough.

Richard Barkley, Treasurer

Richard Barkley, Treasurer

Director and General Manager of an Irish subsidiary bank (retired)

Richard retired in 2007 from a challenging career in banking, culminating as Director and General Manager of an Irish subsidiary bank of a major Italian banking group, responsible for assets of €8.5 billion. He has also served as non-executive director on numerous boards of financial companies. Since retiring, Richard has been the volunteer administrator of Grosvenor Road Baptist Church in Dublin and has indulged his love of classical music. His desire is to see help and healing and the good news of Jesus Christ brought to those in need throughout the world, by local churches and Christian organisations.

Paraic O’Toole, Director

Paraic O’Toole, Director

Chief Executive of Automsoft

Paraic is the Chief Executive of Automsoft, the leading process data management software company in the world, whose major customers include Cadbury, Exxon and Pfizer. He was a founding director of the US-Ireland Alliance and is currently serving on the executive council of the Irish Software Association. He brings a wealth of business and management experience to the Board. Paraic is married to Susan and has four children. When he is not working or spending time with his family he is in training for a marathon.

Dr. Oghenovo Osa Oghuvbu

Dr. Oghenovo Osa Oghuvbu

Specialist Occupational Physician

Dr. Oghenovo Osa Oghuvbu is a specialist in occupational health medicine. He is actively involved with Victory Christian Fellowship in Dublin. He is from Nigeria and has lived in Ireland with his family for the past 13 years. He is a passionate writer on issues relating to the Nigerian diaspora, particularly concerning civil society, governance and accountability.