Appointments to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service - 6 October 2023

Following a Public Appointments Service campaign, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has appointed the following members to the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service with effect from 20 July 2023 until 19 July 2026.

A pharmacist by background with over 35 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and blue-chip multinational companies such as Grifols and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Specific specialisation in Governance, Quality and Regulatory Affairs and a history of providing global quality strategic direction and building high performing teams. Now working as an independent consultant providing Quality and Regulatory services to the MedTech and Pharmaceutical sectors both in Ireland and internationally.

Ann spent 18 progressive years at the HPRA and was Medical Devices Director and subsequently Human Products Registration and Licensing Director and was a member of the Executive Committee. She routinely provided advice and attended the Advisory Committees that reported to the Board and also EU Expert Groups. She was responsible for the establishment of the Competent Authority in Ireland for medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices in 2001.

Industry roles include Executive Director, Global Quality Operations, Jazz Pharmaceuticals providing global quality leadership in the external manufacturing space with responsibility for Development, Commercial and Quality Control activities. Ann managed a diverse portfolio of products and Team locations. She was an active member of the Global Quality Leadership Team. Prior to that Ann was Technical Director at Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd based in Ireland and was responsible for the establishment of the new global site and successfully obtained all key licenses to operate globally. She was also a member of the Global Executive Committee.

Una Clifford is a Barrister and HR and employment law specialist. She has led HR functions over the course of twenty years prior to establishing herself as a Consultant five years ago. Her business, HR Nua, now manages a portfolio of clients from the SME, file, FDI and not for profit sectors. She has extensive knowledge of “best in practice” HR practices and has guided her clients through many strategic change initiatives both in house and as a consultant. Her initial education was at University College Cork where she gained degrees in both Law and Commerce.

Stephen O’Hare is Executive Director of HIV Ireland, a nationally focused, non-profit, community organisation with charitable status, working to end new HIV transmissions and advance the rights of people living with HIV in Ireland. He is Chair of the PPI Community Advisory Board for the UCD CEPHR-led Infectious Diseases - Clinical Trials Network Ireland (ID-CTNI) and Co-Chair of the Dublin Fast-Track Cities Steering Group. Prior to joining HIV Ireland in 2019, Stephen was Executive Director of Transgender Equality Network Ireland (2017 - 2019) and Senior Policy Programme Manager / Director of European Projects at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (2010 - 2017). Stephen is a qualified barrister and social researcher. He has worked extensively on strategic human rights and health-related policy matters with several statutory and non-statutory organisations including on issues pertaining to health, ageing and older people, Travellers and Roma, and the LGBTI+ community.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has reappointed Dr Sharon Sheehan to the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service for a period of three years from 5 October 2023 to 4 October 2026.

Dr Sharon Rachel Sheehan is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital. Dr Sheehan graduated from UCD School of Medicine in 1998. Since that time, she has worked at the Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital, National Maternity Hospital, Rotunda Hospital, Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital and St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol.

Dr Sheehan became the first female Master of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital serving from 2013 to the end of 2019. Her focus as Master was enhancing patient safety and building out the long-term strategy for the hospital.

Dr Sheehan is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Ireland and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists U.K. She is Chair of the Governance Review Group of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Physicians Ireland.

Dr Sheehan was a member of the National Maternity Strategy Steering Group which produced Ireland’s first Maternity Strategy – “Creating a Better Future Together: National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026”.