SHEP Project Team Members 

Jim has been the Director of SHEP since 2009. He is particularly interested in lifelong learning, social inclusion and community development.

He lives in Boherbue in Duhallow, though is originally from the Mitchelstown area. He is a keen gardener and loves cooking and travelling

Liam has been working full-time with SHEP in Community Education in the South of Ireland since 2005. With a background in engineering, therapy, critical social work practice and community development, his current interest is in systems thinking/change.

Liam loves to laugh, walking, family, music, growing vegetables and spiritual development.

Carmel is the coordinator of the Coisceim Counselling Programmes which provides low-cost counselling to adults, young adults, couples and children. Having trained as a psychotherapist in MTU, she has a keen interest in mental health and well-being.

A Cork City woman, she loves a good belly laugh, long walks in nature, listening to music and travelling whenever she can.

Fern has a background in youth and community work, public health and health promotion. She also lectures part time in UCC, is completing her PhD and is a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. Relationships have always been at the heart of her work.

Fern loves music, dancing, the outdoors and travelling. She is particularly fond of having fun with her partner and six children in West Cork.

Marge has a background in social policy research, advocacy, training and project work. She is one of our SHEP Advocacy Programme coordinators. Her role involves supporting the team to delivery SHEP advocacy services & advocacy training.

Marge is a music lover and she enjoys going wild in the great outdoors whenever she can.

Niamh Kelleher has a background in law, advocacy and health inequalities. She is the coordinator of the Cork Equal and Sustainable Communities Alliance (CESCA), a social justice alliance of 18 community organisations in Cork, currently hosted by SHEP.

Niamh loves to spend time reading, occasionally writing and spending time in nature, but has yet to master the craft of gardening!

Dee, a Kerry native has trained as a psychotherapist at the MTU. Her primary role is coordinator of SHEP’s flagship course ‘Cert in Personal developement’ in the Kerry region.

Dees is avid walker in the beautiful surrounds of the South Kerry Region

Aleksandra Rogulska is a Polish native, she adopted Ireland as her home almost two decades ago. She is an accountant and SHEP’s ‘purse holder’ .

Aleks is well known for positive upbeat memes attached to her email correspondence. On days off she’s loves Toastmasters, exploring new hiking trails with friends, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Nuala has been involved with the project since 1991. In 2011 she took up her current role as referral counsellor with Coisceim. A Gestalt psychotherapist, she also runs a small private practice. She has been a student of the Diamond Approach since 2001.

Nuala loves the joy and wellbeing she gets from year-round sea swimming and plenty of laughter. She also enjoys travelling and listening to all kinds of music.

Eilish has working in SHEP since 2016 and her primary role is looking after the one year SHEP ‘Cert in Personal Development’ Course. Training background: MTU – BA & Masters in Psychotherapy. Post Grad Dip in Supervision & Reflective Practice for Counselling & Professional.

Eilish loves the outdoors and has recently taken up playing Pitch & Putt.

Justyna started her journey with SHEP in 2014 on a part-time basis in the Accounts Office, becoming Finance Officer in 2020.

She came to Ireland in 2005 for holidays but fell in love and stayed for longer. In her free time she enjoys cooking and baking.

Starting with SHEP in 2005 as Programme Administrator, Ger has progressed through the SHEP training levels going on to graduate with a degree in counselling and psychotherapy from MTU and is currenty working on accreditation. Ger now holds the role of Training and Development Officer within the project.

Ger can be seen regluarly at club GAA matches in her own townland and when she has the time loves to travel to her favourite spots on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Anita is a humanistic & integrative psychotherapist accredited with IACP. Anita works in private practice and has lectured in UL in drug and alcohol studies. Currently employed with MWRDAF. Anita also facilitates personal development programmes with SHEP in the Mid West.

She likes swimming, listening to music and going to shows. She likes spending time in nature, traveling and loves a good old sing song.

Toufik coordinates Lib, a free counselling service for asylum seekers and refugees. Lib also offers personal development courses for adults and children. He feels strongly about social justice, dignity and freedom.

Born in France he’s also proud of his Algerian roots. Coming from the wonderful region of Franche-Comté on the border with Switzerland, with great gastronomy, brilliant outdoor activities and wonderful people.

Sheila is first and foremost a human being but is also an art therapist and psychotherapist based in Cork. She is one of the Referral Counsellors in Coiscéim and works on the child and adolescent side as well as with adults.

Sheila can often be found in the sea honing her skills as a mermaid. Outside that she enjoys land-based nature and the outdoors as well as creativity, connection and community.

Lorraine began her journey with SHEP in 2015 in Front of House, before moving to her role in Coiscéim while completing Counselling Skills studies (Higher Certificate) in MTU. Lorraine values and appreciates lifelong learning and believse that everyone has the potential for personal growth and to heal with the right supports.

Recent convert to country living. Lorraine enjoys time spent in nature especially with family.

Web Designer extraordinaire and reluctant social media guru – Robert started with SHEP this year. He works part-time with the basic remit to assist in communicating SHEP’s message to a wider community.

Robert likes cycling his bike and listening to music.

Norma is the Relationships in Practice & Advocacy and Training Co-ordinator, Norma also works as part of the wider SHEP Training and Development Team. Norma has a background in youth and community work.

She loves reading, going to live gigs and adult colouring books to keep her creative side alive.

Jessie works in both the Training and Development and Advocacy Programmes in SHEP and feels passionate about social justice and equality. She is a Trainer, Facilitator and Advocate. Jessie started her journey with the project in 2001 and has since joined the team in a staff role.

Jessie enjoys socializing, long walks in nature, swimming and gardening.

Deirdre has been working as an advocate for 28 years and has been working for SHEP since 2009. She now offers consultancy and direction to the SHEP Advocacy Project. Together with a small team of trained advocates, she works to support people who are struggling to get their voices heard.

Deirdre lives in County Cork by the sea and loves the spot she calls home . She also loves gardening and swimming.

Maria coordinates SHEP Earth Aware & works also with Green Spaces for Health and the Cork Food Policy Council. All three organisations are concerned with issues arising from climate change and biodiversity collapse. All Maria’s work is informed by the heart approach of SHEP.

Maria’s hobbies include walking in the countryside, growing vegetables , looking at old movies and playing with her nieces.

Robyn has a background in public health, health protection and health research. She is the Training & Development Coordinator for Relationships in Practice. Her role involves supporting the delivery and aiding the evolvement of the Relationships in Practice training programmes.

Robyn loves to travel, is always on the lookout for great food experiences and loves making new friends and connections.

Abigail has a degree in Development and coordinates SHEP’s International Learning Partnership with Sahakarmi Samaj in Nepal. She is also a SHEP trainer on the Cert in Social Awareness & Community Empowerment (SACE ).

Abigail lives in West Kerry and loves to sing, draw and spend time in nature.

Niamh started working for SHEP in 2022 after looking for a move into the community sector. She enjoys doing courses in her spare time and has diplomas in Development and Global Human Rights, and Human Rights and Equality, among others.

In her free time she also enjoys growing her own food, photography and meeting up with friends.

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in U.C.C, Zilma spent several years in the furniture relocation and shipping industry. She joined the front of house team in SHEP in 2019.

A native of Blackrock “a true Rockie”, she enjoys walking in nature, reading, listening to 80’s music and sport.

Linda started her role in the front of house with Shep in 2018. She has worked with children since leaving school and had a desire for career change and was lucky enough to start her first administration job with the project.

Linda loves walking the dogs, swimming and reading.

Having retired from private practice as a Principal Solicitor enjoying both Family and Criminal defence law, Deirdre continues to work as an Accredited Mediator. Deirdre says her life interest is one of support, and believes she is in the right place in her life right now – enjoying the front desk at SHEP.

Deirdre loves to dine out and spend time with family and friends.

Mary joined the SHEP frount of house team in 2017. Mary’s background is in nursing and hospice care and supporting families and children with learning difficulties.

Mary loves autumn walks, music, dancing and holistic therapies. She also likes to spend time with family especially her two grandchildren Oisín and Rían.

Debbie started with SHEP through work experience, while studying Applied Psychology and Social Studies. It is Debbie’s ambition to work towards becoming a facilitator with SHEP.

In her spare time Debbie likes Music, volunteering with Cork Art Community Link and creating using arts and crafts.