About

Cover of Crossing The Threshold The Story of Marriage Equality in Ireland (Merrion Press, 2017) Edited by Grainne Healy Photographic Editor Orla Howard

About

Gráinne Healy is a successful chairperson, facilitator, researcher, evaluator, trainer and social inclusion projects manager. She is a leader in the social justice sector, campaigns expert, researcher and published author. Her areas of expertise include: gender equality, violence against women, LGBT rights, leadership skills and strategy and social inclusion in Ireland and the EU.
photo credit: Karl Hayden
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Key Skills

Developing Strategic Plan for Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (with Dr Kathy Walsh)
Conducting Mental Health research for LGBT Ireland (with Dr Kathy Walsh)
Working with Garda National Diversity Forum
Working with Ukraine Civil Society Forum
Devising Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence for Dept Justice (with Dr Kathy Walsh)
Devising Strategic Plan with Children's Rights Alliance (with Dr Kathy Walsh)
Evaluation of services for Women's Aid (with Dr Kathy Walsh)
Citizen and Staff Engagement and Empowerment Advisor to Slaintecare - see webinars for Slaintecare - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwxqO5S9Ng
Managed consultation for Dept of Justice & Equality on revision of Hate Crime legislation
former Chairwoman of Collaborative Forum of Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes
Leadership trainer - leading for change Social Intelligence Associates programme since 2016
Led consultation workshops for First LGBTI+ Inclusion Plan for Dept of Justice & Equality
Strategic planning with Oxfam Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland
Delivering Campaigning skills training for Council of Europe in Montenegro & Slovenia
Co-Director of Yes Equality Campaign which won referendum on marriage equality for same-sex couples in Ireland in May 2015
Key spokesperson during Yes Equality campaign (2015)
Co-founder and Chairwoman of Marriage Equality, the organisation seeking equal marriage rights in Ireland (2007+)
Author and trainer in inter-agency work on violence against women, prostitution, anti -trafficking
Extensive experience and qualifications in group education/training and facilitation
Co-Devised and Co-delivered Leadership for Change and Transition Programme for CEOs and senior managers of NGOs since 2016
Two decades' experience envisaging, creating, providing management supports for EU funded projects
Developing employment and social inclusion projects
Three decades' experience of leading voluntary organisations at local, national and EU level
Extensive experience of planning, delivering/conducting and publishing pilot project evaluations
Devising funding submissions
Developing Strategic Plans (recent include Immigrant Council of Ireland, National Women's Council of Ireland, Free Legal Aid Centres)
Experienced spokesperson with media and public for national organisations with social change remit
Experienced coach providing one to one support to leaders involved in social change organisation, supporting them in their leadership roles
Providing support to CEO's of NGOs in strategic planning and organisational change and staff recruitment
Trainer in group dynamics and evaluation skills

Grainne receives Outstanding Feminist Leadership Award from National Women's Council of Ireland June 2017.

Dr Grainne Healy with DCU Special Achievement Award, 2017

Grainne pictured with her fellow grand marshalls at Pride 2015, Mark Kelly (left) and Brian Sheehan (right).

Achievements

Exceptional Contribution Alumni Award, University College Dublin, November 2018
Member of Board of Community Foundation Ireland
Member of Student Grants Appeals Board (2017-2021)
NWCI Outstanding Feminist Leadership Award, June 2017
Editor of 'Crossing The Threshold The Story of the Marriage Equality Movement' (Merrion Press, 2017)
DCU Special Achievement Alumni Award February 2017
Co-Director of Yes Equality campaign 2016, for which People of The Year Community Organisation of the Year Award was received (2015)
Won Campaign of the year GALA Award 2016
Tatler Woman of the Year Award (2015)
GALA Award 2015 for Volunteer of the Year
Winner of DCU President's Award for Social Engagement 2014
Co Author 'Ireland Says Yes, the Story of How the Yes Equality Campaign was Won' (Healy, Sheehan & Whelan, Merrion Press, 2016)
Successfully managed & delivered 2 EU funded Daphne Projects devising transnational inter-agency models of quality services for victims of sex trafficking in Ireland, Lithuania, Scotland, Spain
Evaluated Pilot Migrant Mentoring Programme for Immigrant Council of Ireland
Chaired Turn off the Red Light Campaign strategy group
Researched feasibility study for representative body of Community Development Programme in Ireland
Delivered training of trainers programme for World Association of Girls Guides and Girl Scouts in violence against women in London & Puna, India (2014-2105)
Delivered inter agency training programme in Lithuania to police, social workers and NGOs on prostitution and trafficking
Facilitated a Strategic Planning process and published a Strategic Plan for the new Community Sector Employment Forum CSEF
Co-facilitated a strategic planning process and published a Strategic plan for Sonas – the social housing association for women out of home as a result of domestic violence
Completed 6 years as project development consultant with the Dublin Employment Pact during which provided management supports to Equal at work EU funded projects (1 and 2)
Created, with the European Women's Lobby, the Nordic Baltic inter-agency network where 8 countries worked in an inter-agency manner to combat trafficking in the region
Chairwoman of EWL Observatory on Violence Against Women for a decade 2003-2013
Vice President of European Women's Lobby 1999-2006
Chairwoman of National Women's Council 1999-2004
Member of Equality Authority Board 2000-2004
Member of Women's Health Council

Experience

Campaigning in Moore Street Dublin for Yes Equality - from left: Grainne Healy, singer Mary Byrne, Brian Sheehan, Sandra Irwin-Gowran and Patricia O'Connor

Delivering LGBTI Consultation Process on LGBTI Strategy for Dept of Justice & Equality, 2018
Devised, with KW Research Associates, Strategic Plan for Threshold
Devised and co-delivered Campaigning Training for Council of Europe in Montenegro 2017 with Orla Howard
Devised Strategic Plan for Immigrant Council of Ireland 2017
Review of Galway WHO Healthy Cities Programme with KW Research Associates (2016-2017)
Successfully delivered pilot programme 'Leadership in Transition and Change' a Leadership Programme with Co-Director Denise Charlton (2015-2016)
Delivered Campaigning Summer School as part of Social Intelligence Associates Summer 2016, Dublin with 130 participants
Devised Strategic Plan for NWCI (2016)

Devised Strategic Plan for Immigrant Council of Ireland (2017-2021) & Devised Strategic Plan for FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) 2018-20121)

January 2015-May 2015: Co-director of Yes Equality campaign
September 2011-November 2015 Awarded PhD at Dublin City University 'The Meaning of Civil Partnership for Same-Sex Couples in Ireland–A Heideggerian Phenomenological Study'
December 2009-March 2010: Immigrant Council of Ireland

Position: Evaluator

Conducted summative evaluation of ICI's EIF funded Mentoring Programme
November 2009 - February 2010: Northside Citizen's Information Service
Position:Consultant
Providing supports and facilitation services to Board and staff of NCIS re strategic development and planning

October 2009 - October 2009: Longford Women's Link
Position:Consultant
Provided consultancy services to LWL board and staff re strategic planning and development
July 2009 - December 2009: Equality Authority

Position: Consultant
Devised and delivered workshops and seminars on Equality and the community sector in Ireland for the Equality Authority

June 2009 - December 2009: The Women's Therapy Centre Position:Consultant
Provided consultancy support advice and application support for fundraising initiatives for WTC

March 2009 WERRC at UCD

Position: Research consultant
Provided research supports to WERRC and the European Gender Equality Employment Network (EU)

2009 Dignity Project

Position: Project Co-ordinator
Co-ordinated delivery of an inter-agency model of work for service providers providing supports to victims of sex trafficking

January 2009-April 2010: Dublin Employment Pact
Position: Joint evaluator with Hibernian Consulting
Delivered formative evaluation of Learning at Work and Skills for Work programmes under DEP, funded by FAS promoting in-work upskilling of employees

October 2008 - March 2009: Community Development Projects Position:Feasibility Study

Conducted feasibility study for CDP projects on a national representative body for CDP projects in Ireland

2008: Sonas Housing

Position: Strategic Plan Developer
Devised and Delivered plan to Sonas strategic plan

June 2007 - August 2009: One Parent Exchange Network

Position: Evaluator of 'Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities' Programme

2009: Blanchardstown Refuge Development

Position: Consultant
Provided facilitation and planning services to Board in development of refuge from greenfield site for Blanchardstown area.

2007- 2009: Immigrant Council of Ireland
Position: Chairwoman of the Research Advisory Group on Trafficking & Chair of various seminars delivered by ICI to inform and develop clarity on policy and practice regarding trafficking and prostitution in Ireland
2007- 2008: European Women's Lobby
Position: Anti-Trafficking Project Developer
Identifying the strategic partners in 8 countries to participate in an anti trafficking inter-agency network programme development
2006- 2007: Gender Equality Unit of DJELR
Position: Facilitator
Working with Hibernian Consulting to report on labour market initiatives piloted throughout Ireland in pilot projects funded by DJELR
2004-2007: National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency
Position: Executive Chairwoman
Responsible to the Board of NDVIA for strategic development of the organisation which piloted inter-agency interventions in the criminal and civil justice system for the prevention of domestic violence

2004- 2005: Doras Bui Teen Parenting Programme
Position: Researcher/evaluator
Completed evaluation process and report Evaluation Report of the 'Reproductive Health Programme' for Young Lone Mothers and Young Men for Doras Bui, 2005
2003-2004: Doras Bui
Position: Researcher/Published research report: ‘Lone Parents: Profile, Policy and Provision. A local study’. Commissioned by Doras Bui and Northside Partnership – May 2004

2000- 2004: National Women's Council of Ireland
Position: Elected Chairwoman
Chairwoman of Board of NWCI, involved in development and representation to media and Government of women in all related policy matters including employment, childcare, human rights and social welfare
1994-1996 Editor with Attic Press
1993-1994 Sub Editor with Irish Press
1981-1992 - Secondary School Teacher at various schools

Education

At Leinster House on the day the Dail voted to introduce marriage equality into Ireland following referendum win. With Brian Sheehan, Orla Howard, Moninne Griffith and Andrew Hyland

2011-2014:
Completed PhD
'Exploring the Meaning of Civil Partnership for Same-Sex Couples in Ireland' – Dublin City University (SALIS and Government of Ireland Research Scholarship Recipient)

1992-1993:
Dublin City University
Qualification: Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism

1980-1981:
University College Dublin
Qualification: Higher Diploma in Education

1977-1980:
University College Dublin
Qualification: B. A. in English, Geography, Philosophy

1972-1977:
Dominican College Eccles Street, Dublin 7

Interests

Moninne Griffith and Andrew Hyland, Co-Directors of Marriage Equality with Grainne Healy, Pride 2015

Italian language and culture
Politics and current affairs
Gardening
Travel and Running outdoors