Executive Committee
and Staff

Executive Committee

Gráinne Begley, Secretary, is a community worker. She has worked in solidarity with communities experiencing social exclusion and disadvantage, extensive experience working with the Traveller Community. She has coordinated an accredited three-year Primary Health Care Training Course for women Travellers, within which she integrated development education She is the Co-ordinator of a Family Resource Centre in Tallaght.

Rowan Oberman has a long track record in development education, which includes work with ECO-UNESCO and Development and Intercultural Education (DICE). She currently lectures in development, interculturalism, human rights and citizenship education in St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. Rowan is a qualified barrister, specialising in family law and judicial review cases.

Astrid Pérez Piñán is an activist from Puerto Rico working in development and intercultural education. She has been active in formulating, co-writing and facilitating teacher training and training of trainers' courses at both the non-formal and post graduate, university levels. She is also a member of the National Council of the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA). Astrid has done post graduate studies in Development Education and has a Masters Degree in International Peace Studies. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Gender and Development with focus on the Aid Effectiveness Agenda.

Staff team

Eileen Smith, Coordinator
Eileen’s background is in feminist economics, and she has a long track record in community development and feminist activism. She has been the Coordinator of Banúlacht since 1996, and has worked on all aspects of the Banúlacht work programme as a trainer and manager. Contact: eileen@banulacht.ie

Caoimhe Kerins, Project Worker
Caoimhe joined Banúlacht in September 2011. Caoimhe works on policy and development education with women’s networks for Banúlacht. She has a strong interest in equality issues and comes from a community education and activist background. Contact: caoimhe@banulacht.ie