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Leadership and Governance

Cuan > Leadership and Governance

An Ghníomhaireacht um Fhoréigean Baile, Gnéasach agus Inscnebhunaithe, or Cuan, is a statutory agency under the remit of the Department of Justice.

Its functions and governance structure are set out in the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023.

The Chief Executive Officer

Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe was appointed as the first CEO of Cuan on 23 February 2024, following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.

Dr O’Keeffe previously worked in the HSE as the National Director of Health and Wellbeing and more recently National Director of Operations Planning. She has over 20 years’ experience of working in the Irish public service, across a number of organisations and, was responsible for delivering Ireland’s first ‘whole-of-government’ population health strategy - Healthy Ireland, while working in the Department of Health.

In addition to a range of academic qualifications and professional and development achievements, Dr O’Keeffe holds a PhD in psychology and has Diploma and Certificate qualifications from the Institute of Directors Ireland.

As CEO, Dr O’Keeffe’s role is to manage and control the staffing, administration and business of Cuan, and to implement its Corporate Plan and Annual Business Plan

The Cuan Board

In April 2024, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced the appointment of the Chair and members of the inaugural Board of Cuan.

In line with good governance and practice, the legislation establishing Cuan provides for a board which includes a chairperson and six ordinary members with various experience in domestic, sexual and gender-based violence matters, governance, public management, and other matters relevant to the functions of the Agency.

The functions of the Board include:

  • providing strategic direction to the Agency
  • promoting high standards of corporate governance in the Agency
  • advising, or making recommendations to, the Minister in relation to the policies of the Minister and the government relating to or affecting the functions of the Agency
  • adopting the annual report

Cuan Board Members

Chair - Professor Caroline Fennell

Caroline is Professor Emerita of Law at University College Cork. She is currently a Commissioner of An Coimisiún Toghcháin and served as a Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission from 2018 to 2023. She was a founder member of the Board of Women's Studies and MA in Women's Studies in UCC, and founder member and co-Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights (2006-8). Caroline has published widely on issues relating to gender, due process and evidence/criminal justice.

Sarah Benson

Sarah Benson is CEO of Women’s Aid since 2019. For nine years prior to this role, Sarah was the Chief Executive Officer with Ruhama.

Molly Buckley

Molly is a Public Health Nurse by profession and has worked extensively in Community Development and Family Support Services. Molly is a founding member of Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service (ODVSS) where she has been Chairperson for 20 years and is also a Member of the Mental Health Tribunal.

Denise Charlton

Denise is Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland and was previously CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Director of Women’s Aid.

Vivian Geiran

Vivian is a social worker and Adjunct Assistant Professor and lecturer (Criminology & Probation) on the MSW and BSS programmes at Trinity College Dublin. He served as Director of the Probation Service from 2012 to 2020.

Conor Hanly

Conor is a College Lecturer/Assistant Professor of Law at University of Galway, where his primary academic interest is in the field of criminal law and especially the issue of sexual and domestic violence. He is on the Board of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre.

Claire Loftus

Claire is a solicitor and retired public servant who served a ten-year term as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for Ireland.