Meet the Team

The team in Tearfund Ireland come from a range of backgrounds and have a passion to see people experience fullness of life, free from poverty and injustice. We also consider as part of the team everyone who volunteers, donates, prays, raises awareness, and gets involved. 

Our Team

Chief Executive Officer

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.

Fun Fact: Sean is a spiritual mentor and is passionate about helping people become all they were created to be. He enjoys watching his kids do what they love, helping dog owners better understand their dogs and spending time on his bike — he’s cycled through 29 counties on the island and is now working on the last three! Sean loves sharing his reflections and perspectives through his writing and frequently contributes to our Tearfund Ireland blog.

International Programmes Manager

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

Fun Fact: Sophie has lived in four different countries, loves anything outdoors (long walks, hiking, cycling, not so much sea swimming – gotta stay warm) and has even cycled the Wild Atlantic Way!

Church Engagement and Education Manager

Emma Lynch: BBS, MA, IITD Certificate in Training and Development. Emma has experience working in development since the early 1990s, with eight years abroad and experince in development education since the early 2010s. She is a member of Irish Institute of Training and Development (IITD). Emma joined Tearfund Ireland as Church and Supporter Relations Coordinator in 2013. Emma co-convenes the Comhlámh End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group and is a member of the Rethink Orphanages Global Community of Practice. Emma spent several years serving in Nepal with her family during the 1990s.

Fun Fact:  Emma spent several years serving in Nepal with her family during the 1990s. From her time there, she learned a trick to keep unwanted insect guests away during your outdoor BBQ, which she can show your church if you have her come and share about Tearfund Ireland. Emma loves meeting congregations around Ireland that want to know more about our work

Finance Manager

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 since 2021. She is the mother to two adult women and is very happy and privileged to be a part of the Tearfund Ireland Team.

Fun Fact: A devout tea drinker, Freda joined our team and asked us not to judge her for the number of cups of tea she partakes in daily (which may or may not be more than ten). Aside from her appreciation of tea, she also loves learning about the impact of our Ethiopian Self Help Groups through our email learning journey.

Regional Programmes Coordinator

Mulugeta Dejenu, MSc in Development Planning & Management, MSc in Transformation in the Workplace, 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.

Fun Fact: Mulugeta is married to Heran, has two children (Samuel and Salem) and loves sharing about climate justice and the impact changing climate patterns can have on communities.

Communications and Fundraising Coordinator

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. In 2026, Amanda joined the board of Arthritis Ireland.

Fun Fact: Amanda’s favourite animal is the shark, loves sea swimming and cycling, has been able to recite the alphabet backwards since the age of five and loves learning how we help children in institutions through our email learning journey.

Finance and Operations Coordinator

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.

Fun Fact: An experienced musician, Michael was the drummer for a popular 90’s band who currently languish in the “where are they now?” file and still plays drums and percussion regularly as part of his church’s worship team. Michael loves Psalm 37:4 and always tells the team, “He’s here all week”, which he is. A passionate football fan who plays and manages a local 11 a side team, his favourite workday of the year is our Annual 5 a Side Church Blitz. You can check out our upcoming events.

Public Engagement Coordinator

Ella holds an MA in Gender, Politics and International Relations from University College Dublin, and a BA in Sociology and French from Trinity College Dublin. She has a strong academic grounding in gender equality, peace and security, and global justice. Ella is passionate about gender justice and is committed to advancing gender equality across the globe through sustainable, community-driven approaches to development.

Fun Fact: Ella is a dedicated coffee enthusiast and loves nothing more than catching up with people over a good cup in her favourite cafés. For her, these moments of connection echo Tearfund Ireland’s belief that real change begins in relationship with others. If you would like to learn more about our work and how you can get involved, get in touch and Ella would love to meet you for a coffee!

Project and Finance Officer

Genet Beyene, BA in Accounting Information System; Master’s in Accounting and Finance. 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.

Fun Fact: Genet is married with two children and both her and her daughter have recently started crocheting, with hats and scarfs already made! Genet loves how Tearfund Ireland puts Christ at its centre and how you can join with us in prayer.

Our Board

Chair

Paraic O’Toole is the CEO of software company Automsoft, based in Dublin. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the United Nations Environment Programme GEMS/ Water, a former Chairman of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and a director of a number of technology companies. He lives in Kilternan in Dublin with his wife Susan and two sons and spends his spare time looking after his horses.

Vice-Chair

Sharon, currently the Director of the All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network, has worked in the Healthcare sector for over 25 years. Previous positions include CEO of LauraLynn, Children’s Hospice and COO of Tallaght Hospital. Sharon is Registered General Nurse and having completed the BSc (Hons) in Nursing continued her education with a MBA, MSc in Healthcare Ethics and Law, and, more recently, a Professional Diploma in Corporate Governance. Sharon is also a qualified Black Belt in Lean / 6 Sigma and is a trained instructor in Crew Resource Management. Sharon is a member of the gHealth Research group which is primarily focused on global health issues in low and middle income countries, and is presently involved in a large project concentrating on child health in Malawi. Sharon attends Wicklow Methodist Church and her family have been long term supporters of Tearfund. In recent times, Sharon has volunteered in Iraq and Calais, providing support and clinical care to the displaced children and adults

Treasurer

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.

Director

David has worked in international and global 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 now a Consultant in Public Health Medicine in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and works as Programme Lead for the HSE Global Health Programme.

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 Ireland, 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.

Director

Ovo has lived and worked in Ireland since the mid-1990s; prior to that he worked in Trinidad and Tobago. Following training in General Medicine, he went on to train and qualify as a specialist in Occupational Medicine. ‘Ovo has a healthy interest and passion for issues of civic responsibility, governance and, accountability. He is involved in community service both as a volunteer and in governance roles, and has a strong commitment to the role of the local church as an effective agent for development and transformation in communities.

Director

Lucy has a background in Development Education – after working for ACET Ireland for several years she completed an MA in International Development at Kimmage Development Studies Centre. Following this Lucy worked in Development Education at the National Youth Council of Ireland. These days, however, she spends most of her time caring for her 3 girls – Maddie, Ruby and Iris and is passionate about finding ways to help her kids engage with the world around them and exploring how they can creatively respond to issues of social justice, local and global, as a family living in Dublin.

Lucy is also part of the 24/7 Prayer movement and together with her husband, Ross, lead a 24/7 community in Dublin – with the values of prayer, mission and justice at the heart.

Tearfund Family

Tearfund Ireland is one of nine Tearfund organisations around the world who voluntarily relate together as the Tearfund Family. Each Tearfund is a stand-alone organisation with its own legal status. With a shared name and common brand, members of the Tearfund Family are on a journey toward closer collaboration having agreed an Identity Statement, with vision and values, reputational standards, and a roadmap to improve collaboration.

The Tearfund organisations that make up the Tearfund Family are: 

Tearfund Australia
Tearfund Belgium

Tearfund Canada

SEL France
Tearfund Germany

Tearfund Ireland
Tearfund Netherlands

Tearfund New Zealand
Tearfund (UK) 

There is also an office for Tearfund USA.