Our Team

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

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David Tighe

Chief Executive Officer

Photograph: Patrick Browne

Edward Walsh

Head of Operations

Critical. Picture: Alan Place

Jeppe Rasmussen

Head of Fundraising

Jess Wright

Jess Wright

Individual Giving & Engagement Manager

Donie Lucey

Donie Lucey

Fundraising Support Officer

Marie Kennedy

Marie Kennedy

Community & Events Officer

Critical. Picture: Alan Place

Michelle  Costello

Donor Care 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.

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.

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.

Philomena Maguire: RGN MPRII

Registered Nurse.

Diploma PR (hons)

Vast experience in the community as a; General Practice Nurse and clinical research and in occupational health.

Over 20 years as a, volunteer with the RNLI in a variety of roles.

Health and Safety-

Water-safety education-

TRiM Practitioner, as part of a team offering peer to peer support to volunteers who have experience traumatic events.

Mental health, first-aider

Edith Lawler Profile Photo

BSc (Hons) Health & Social Care, Open University (2009)

Diploma in Health & Social Care, Open University (2006)

Certificate in Company Secretary (2022)

Legal Secretary/Personal Assistant/Executive Assistant – 10 years

Clerical Officer to the Principal and Staff of the School of Nursing MUH – 5 years

Volunteer Lifeboat Administrations Officer, RNLI Crosshaven – 3 years;

Volunteer Visits Officer & Water Safety Adviser, RNLI Crosshaven – 8 years

Volunteer with Irish Community Rapid Response CLG as Executive Assistant – 4 years

Non-Director Company Secretary – Irish Community Rapid Response CLG – 1 year

Charities Institute Ireland Triple Lock Logo showing CRITICAL as a Triple Lock Member for 2024 'Promoting Trust'

Triple Lock Status

We have once again in 2024 been awarded with the Triple Lock Governance Award by 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.