Our Team

Discover the amazing people behind CRITICAL. Whether it’s our dedicated board members, hardworking team or volunteers, each person contributes to our mission to help save lives.

Photograph: Patrick Browne

Micheál Sheridan

Chief Executive Officer

Photograph: Patrick Browne

Edward Walsh

Operations and Standards Manager

Jess Wright

Jess Wright

Donor Care Officer

DONIE

Donie Lucey

Fundraising Support Officer

Our Board

We prioritize upholding the most stringent standards of corporate governance. We recognize that adhering to these standards is crucial to showcasing accountability to our supporters and donors and achieving the objectives of our organization. It also guarantees that we are responsive and proactive in our efforts to attain the goals of CRITICAL charity.

Our voluntary Board of Directors, consisting of experienced and dedicated individuals from diverse fields such as human resources, management, finance, communications, education, and IT, governs CRITICAL Charity. The Board receives guidance from several expert committees and is responsible for the charity’s overall direction and strategic management.

Former CEO of Glanbia Agribusiness, Colm joined the company in 1985, held numerous senior management positions and was CEO from 2005 until 2018. He is a non-executive director with several agriculture and transport-related organisations in Cork, Waterford and Kilkenny. He holds a Degree in Agricultural Economics from UCD, a Masters in Business Administration from DCU and a Professional Diploma in Corporate Governance from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

After leaving college Peter completed a 12-year engagement with the Royal Air Force conducting global criminal investigations and intelligence operations in conjunction with Scotland Yard and foreign police authorities. He then spent 15 years in the British diplomatic service in western, eastern, and communist theatres.  Peter then returned home to take up the role of National Security Adviser to the British Government on heritage issues, setting government indemnity standards, whilst visiting and advising government authorities around the world.  Peter joined Irish Community Air Ambulance as a volunteer in 2014.

Kieran McGeary is CEO of Cork’s 96FM and C103 one of Ireland’s biggest and most successful local radio operations.    A journalist by background, he worked for BBC and commercial radio in the U.K. before launching Beat 102 103 in the South East in 2003.  Kieran has previously sat on the boards of a number of not for profit organisations.  He lives in Waterford City with his wife and their three children.

Dr Cunningham is an emergency doctor who specialises in pre-hospital emergency medicine. The Mayo native is a HEMS Doctor with Essex & Herts Air Ambulance in the UK. She qualified as a doctor from UCD in 2010 and is nearing the end of a five-year advanced training scheme to become a Consultant in Emergency Medicine. She has been appointed team doctor with the Mayo Ladies Footballers, is a fluent Irish speaker and is married with three children.

Sharon is a C-Level HR Strategist with extensive experience in large-scale organisational transformation. Specialising in leadership development and cultural innovation, Sharon is a globally recognised thought leader and influencer in the HR space. Her work influences have spanned 21 countries across multiple industries, multiple cultures and multiple geographie. Her recognition as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of The Year at the World HRD Congress 2019, endorses Sharon’s expertise in strategic and operational HR Leadership. Sharon holds an MSc Degree in Strategic Human Resources Leadership from Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

35 years in the aviation industry more than 20, at senior  CEO/MD/board level. Currently an active independent aviation consultant.

MBA DCU Dublin.

20 years with Irish based Parc Aviation (former Aer Lingus subsidiary,) and 12 years as the CEO. Part of the senior team that bought the company in an MBO from Aer Lingus in 1995.

2 years in Bahrain as CEO establishing Gulf Aviation Academy.

4 years as Managing Director with Babcock Mission Critical Services based in Cheltenham, UK operating 30+ specialist helicopters across  the UK and Ireland,  primarily on HEMS operations.

Married to Adrienne with 2 grown up children and an experienced private pilot of old vintage aircraft.

A highly accomplished C-level professional with an outstanding record of achievement within the Agri / Food sector, with close to twenty years of that experience within the Irish Dairy Sector. Conversant with creating collaborative partnerships between the academic community and industry and the use of research to inspire innovation and bring about change.

In 2023 we once again achieved certification as compliant with the Triple Lock Governance Award with Charities Institute Ireland.

Triple Lock status is awarded to charities that uphold the highest standards in transparent reporting, ethical fundraising and strong governance structures. This recognition is the gold standard for Irish charities to offer assurances to donors, members and the general public.

To achieve the Triple Lock, we:

  • Maintain compliance with the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public.
  • Prepare our annual financial statements in compliance with the Charity SORP accounting standard.
  • Signed up to the detailed requirements of the Governance Code, a code of practice for Good Governance of Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations in Ireland.

 

We are committed to keeping our compliance under ongoing review.

 

Irish Community Rapid Response t/a CRITICAL is a registered charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority – Registered Charity No (RCN) 20070762. We comply with the requirements and guidelines as set out by the Charities Regulatory Authority.

Irish Community Rapid Response t/a CRITICAL, is a company limited by guarantee, registered in the Republic of Ireland. Companies Registration Office (CRO) 459255.