Meet the Team
The MQI board of directors is responsible for establishing the organisation’s vision, mission and values. The board sets our strategic aims and the policy parameters within which we operate. The board also approves annual plans and budgets proposed by executive members and monitors performance to ensure the organisation is effective and accountable.
Our board members work on a voluntary basis and meet at least six times a year. In addition, the board has established seven sub-committees which each meet at least four times a year. These committees are: Audit & Risk, Client Services, Clinical Governance, Finance, Fundraising & Communications, Governance & Nominations and HR & Remuneration.
The board appoints the CEO of MQI and delegates a range of day-to-day decision making authority to the CEO and the executive.
Our Board
Mr. Ray Langton
Ray joined the Board of Merchants Quay in June of 2016. He has many years’ experience, working in both the private and public sector. He has held director-level roles leading Operations, Governance and Major Capital Projects in industries both in Ireland and internationally and has held consultancy roles in the areas of Organisational Effectiveness, Governance, Project and Change Management.
Chair
Mr. Derek Bell
Derek joined the MQI board in November 2016. He brings with him almost 20 years’ experience in a variety of leadership roles, 2 years as MD of an indigenous logistics organisation, 7 years as Director of Services providing services for adults with physical disability, and 16 years running his own business providing services and support to individuals in career transition.
Ray is the Chief Executive of Emerging Futures CIC an organisation he co-founded in May 2014 providing specialist support and transitional housing services for people experiencing substance misuse, mental health and social exclusion problems.
An experienced leader, he has worked within the health and social care filed since 1993 and is the former National Development Director of CRI/CGL, the UKs largest substance misuse treatment provider.
He left in 2010 to set up Vital Signs training ad consultancy providing workforce professional and programme development as well as bespoke consultancy solutions for both third sector and NHS provider organisations.
He is a former member of the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit (UKADCU), advising on the implementation of Government’s first 10 year Drug Strategy and has extensive knowledge of workforce, and service user development.
Ray also holds a diploma in integrative counselling, is a qualified trainer and was awarded his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) by Brighton University in December 2004.
Board Member
Dr. Joanne Fenton
A member of the board since September 2012, Joanne is a consultant perinatal psychiatrist at the Coombe Women’s & Infants University Hospital, Dublin and a consultant psychiatrist with homeless people in Dublin South City; a joint position she has held since 2004.
Margaret Hennessy
Margaret has been a member of the board since November 2016. She retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2012, where she served as Ambassador to a number of countries and most recently, at the Council of Europe. She was also Head of Overseas Development Aid and Head of Corporate Affairs at the Department.
Dr. Brian Melaugh
Brian joined the board in December 2011. He is a lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth University. Before taking up an academic position, he worked extensively in the area of drug practice and drug policy and was CEO of the Ana Liffey Drug Project. Brian holds professional qualifications in community work and youth work, social work, Masters in Systematic Organisation and Management, Masters in Organisational Consultancy, and a Doctorate in Health.
David has been a member of the board since October 2018. David works in the banking sector where he has held a number of senior roles for over 20 years, particularly in the areas of risk management, compliance and governance.
Our Executive Team
Paula Byrne
Prior to joining MQI in 2008, Paula worked in the public and private sector in positions where she was actively involved in business/services operations. Previous roles have included Senior HR Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Business and Function HR Leader with Shell Exploration and Production Ireland Limited (formerly Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited), and before that held HR Roles within the public and private healthcare sector. Paula completed the UCD Professional Diploma in Organisation Renewal and Transformation in 2016 and is currently undertaking the Chartered Director’s Programme in the IMI.
CEO
Geoff joined MQI in August 2022. He has almost 20 years’ experience working in management in the areas of social housing management and development, working with General needs and Specialist Housing Associations. Geoff has a MBS in Co-operative and Social Enterprise from University College Cork and is a certified Project Manager. Geoff has a strong focus governance and the development of client centred services.
Head of Services and Operations
Carol Casey
Carol joined the MQI team in December 2016. Prior to this Carol worked with Sightsavers Ireland as the Head of Individual Giving and Marketing and before that held senior roles in advertising where she specialised in integrated direct marketing. Carol holds an honours B.Sc. (Mgmt) degree from Trinity College Dublin and is an Ashtanga yoga & mindfulness teacher.
Head of Fundraising & Communications
Antoinette Mangan
Antoinette joined MQI in late 2022. She has over 25 years’ experience in senior roles in both the not for profit and commercial sectors. A graduate of DCU and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and more recently completed “Leadership for Change” accredited by All Hallows College, Dublin.
Head of Finance & IT
Tony Geoghegan
Tony has worked in the addiction arena for the past thirty years, both in Ireland and in Britain. He has worked across a range of different treatment modalities and settings from crisis intervention, including needle exchange, to day counselling services and on to residential drug free therapeutic communities and aftercare, resettlement and social housing programmes. Tony holds a Diploma in Addiction Studies from Trinity College and an M.A. in Social Policy. In 2018, Tony was nominated to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Co-Founder