Meet the Team

Sean Copeland; BA Christian Education & Biblical Studies; MA Religion; Prof Dip. Management; Prof Dip. Organisational Behaviour

Sean joined Tearfund Ireland in 2018 and currently serves as its CEO.  Sean has had senior roles in strategic sales, marketing and business development within the construction and environmental sectors.  Specialising in creating new business, Sean helped grow a start-up into a nationally recognised brand and, within larger enterprises, created new sales channels to generate seven-figure revenue growth.  Sean also ran his own consultancy business helping organisations build a healthy culture and align their values.

Outside his role in Tearfund Ireland, Sean is a spiritual mentor and is passionate about helping people become all they were created to be.  He enjoys cycling, watching his kids do what they love and helping dog owners better understand their dog.

Sophie joined Tearfund Ireland in September 2021 as International Programmes Manager. She has a MSc in Humanitarian Action and a BA in Management of Social Innovations. Sophie has worked with relief and development organisations in Nepal and Turkey, and has managed projects in Ethiopia, Somaliland and Yemen.

Mulugeta Dejenu, MSc in Development Planning & Management, MSc in Transformation in the Work Place, BA in Economics, Mulugeta  joined Tearfund Ireland in July 2017 as Regional Programmes Coordinator . Mulugeta has over 20 years of experience working with governments, donors, INGOs (World Vision, TF UK ) in the areas of food security, humanitarian assistance, community development and church mobilization. Prior to joining Tearfund Ireland Mulugeta worked with World Vision as Grants Director and with TF UK as Food Security, Regional and Capacity Development advisor.

Mulugeta led organizational review processes with World Vision and supported organizational reform initiatives with partners in the field and pioneered the work of Self Help Groups in Ethiopia.

He is married to Heran and has two children, Samuel and Salem.

Emma Lynch: BBS, MA, IITD Certificate in Training and Development (23 years development experience – 8 years overseas), 11 years Development Education experience, member of Irish Institute of Training and Development (IITD). Emma joined Tearfund Ireland as Church and Supporter Relations Coordinator in 2013. Emma is a board member of the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland (EAI) and represents the Association of Mission Societies on the Church of Ireland Council for Mission. Emma spent several years serving in Nepal with her family during the 1990s and sits on the executive committee of the Nepal Ireland Society.

Amanda Prather, BA Film Production; MA International Development. Amanda joined Tearfund in 2018 and has eight years of experience in television broadcasting and photography. Prior to joining Tearfund, she worked as programme coordinator for six years at an NGO in the US, working with Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia to install water wells in their respective countries.

Freda Owens, BComm and FCA. Freda joined Tearfund Ireland in 2021 and has thirty years of experience in the private sector in accounting project management and training. Freda has been on the board of Agape Ireland for a year and half. She is the mother to two adult women and is very happy and privileged to be a part of the Tearfund Ireland Team.

Michael Goss, BA Hons (Acc & Fin) Finance & Administration Coordinator with 18 years Accounts experience in both Charity and For-Profit sectors. Prior to joining Tearfund Ireland as Finance and Administration Coordinator in May 2013, Michael spent twelve years working in Admin & Finance in the Construction Sector. Michael also worked in the Fundraising and Finance division of the charity Jobcare Ltd.

Genet Beyene, BA in Accounting Information System. Genet joined Tearfund Ireland as Finance & Project Officer in February 2019. Genet has over 18 years accounts experience for NGOs in different capacities. Prior to joining Tearfund Ireland as Finance and Project Officer, Genet worked sixteen years working in Admin & Finance as Administration and Finance Manager in Tearfund UK and Finance Officer in Tere Dess Homme Netherlands. Genet also worked in the Partner Finance Support Coordinator in Tearfund UK and as Project Accountant in German Agro Action.

Orla Cluff BA Hons, Social Studies, Dip IPM, ACCA Affilliate.  Orla joined Tearfund Ireland in 2018 and serves as the Finance and Compliance Co-ordinator. Orla served with Irish Aid as a short and long term observer on six  EU and OSCE election monitoring  missions to Bosnia, Serbia, Mozambique and  Liberia. Orla worked for many years in administration, events organization and Accounting including five years in accounting practice and six years working in Emergency Relief and Development sector in an administrative and accounting roles in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Chrissie joined Tearfund Ireland in October 2011 as Accounts and Administration Officer and assists in finance and administrative duties.