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
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
Health Service Executive
David is a consultant in public health medicine with the Health Service Executive (HSE). He has worked in the area of international health since 1988, including 12 years working with Tearfund and other development agencies in Nepal, Liberia, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. Following his return to Ireland he worked as health adviser with Irish Aid, the government overseas aid programme from 2003 to 2007. David is married to Alice and has 3 children.
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
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
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, Director
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.
Susan Heaney, Director
Susan has a background in project management and has worked alongside her husband pastoring Redcross Church, Co. Wicklow, for the past 22 years. She involved in the New Wine network. A long time supporter of Tearfund, she is passionate about the local church and has a heart to see the Irish Church actively involved in transforming the lives of the poor through both action and prayer. She is married to Roland and has 3 children.