Staff
Orla O’Neill Orla O’Neill CPA is Executive Director since 2004 and manages SSGT’s grant programmes, including research, design and development, grant administration, assessment, monitoring and evaluation. She supports the Trustees in their finance and governance function including the production of Annual Reports and Financial Statements and strategy development. Orla is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has previously worked in Schizophrenia Ireland (now Shine), Nexus Research, Edelman PR and several accountancy practices. Her education includes a Prof Cert in Governance (IPA), PG Dip in Grantmaking Management (CASS Business School), a Cert in Voluntary Sector Management (DCU), Diploma in PR and BA in Economics & Politics from Trinity College.
Orla can be contacted at (085) 755 2009 or email orla@ssgt.ie
Anne Costello was appointed as Travellers in Prison Initiative Programme Coordinator in April 2015. In 2022 the TPI was relaunched as the Traveller Justice Initiative (TJI) to reflect the breadth of the work. Anne works 3 days per week and is based in Galway. Anne’s role is to coordinate and implement the actions set out in the SSGT Travellers in Prison Initiative Strategic Plan which seeks to improve outcomes for Travellers in prison and their families through a range of policy and service initiatives. She coordinates the activities of the TPI Steering Group and supports them to achieve the intended outcomes of the TPI. Anne has been actively involved in community work since qualifying with a H.Dip in Community & Youth Work from NUIM in 2000. She was the coordinator for Clondalkin Travellers Development Group (2000-2004), she worked as the resource worker with the Community Platform – a network of 28 national organisations working collectively to address poverty and inequality – from 2007 to 2011 and has been employed as a community worker with the Galway Traveller Movement focusing on a number of issues including accommodation, education, justice and rights, enterprise and employment (2004-2015). She completed a BA in Psychology in 1987 and an MA in Applied Social Studies at NUI Maynooth in 2012. Anne can be contacted at anne@ssgt.ie or 085 863 0565.
Karen Ryan was appointed Administrative Assistant in February 2016 and works 4 mornings per week. Her role includes administrative support to the Executive Director for existing and new grant programmes and she is responsible for the general and financial administration duties. Previously Karen worked in the private Financial Sector. Karen can be contacted at (085) 755 2009 or email info@ssgt.ie
Dr Sara Stokes was appointed as Grants and Development Manager in 2022 and manages SSGT’s grant programmes, including research, design and development, grant administration, assessment, monitoring and evaluation. She has worked in the area of grant-making since 2007 and has previously worked at The Community Foundation for Ireland and The Arts Council. Her education includes a BA in English, Sociology and Politics (NUIG), an MA in Arts Policy and Practice (NUIG) and a PhD in Sociology and Gender Studies (NUIG). Sara can be contacted at 085 840 4432 or sara@ssgt.ie