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

About

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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
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Grainne receives Outstanding Feminist Leadership Award from National Women's Council of Ireland June 2017.
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Dr Grainne Healy with DCU Special Achievement Award, 2017
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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

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

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  • 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

PictureAt 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

PictureMoninne Griffith and Andrew Hyland, Co-Directors of Marriage Equality with Grainne Healy, Pride 2015
  • I​talian language and culture
  • Politics and current affairs
  • Gardening
  • Travel and Running outdoors