The Dublin-based national office is responsible for carrying out Educate Together’s role as a patron and a management body. The national office is also responsible for carrying out the organisation’s strategic objectives, as set out by the Board of Directors of Educate Together. Educate Together’s 2022 – 2026 strategic objectives are available to view here:
The national office offers guidance to our schools and their Boards of Management and supports the development of the Educate Together network nationwide. The national office switchboard (01 4292500 / info@educatetogether.ie) is manned between 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:00 on weekdays.
Emer Nowlan
Chief Executive Officer
Emer was appointed as CEO in 2020. She has a long association with Educate Together and has occupied a number of key roles in the organisation since 2007. Originally a post-primary teacher, Emer holds a Masters and a PhD in education. She brings to the organisation a range of experience in leadership, management and education at primary, post-primary and third-level in Ireland and abroad.
Adrienne Flynn
Head of Services
Since 2015, Adrienne has worked with Educate Together in different capacities. She is part of the organisation’s leadership team and is responsible for ensuring that Educate Together can fulfil its obligations as a patron, a management body and company for its members. Adrienne also has a number of years’ experience as a member of a Board of Management, as well as broader policy development and management experience. Adrienne holds an Advanced Diploma in Law and Education from The Society of King’s Inns.
adrienne.flynn@educatetogether.ie
Luke O’Shaughnessy
Communications Manager
Luke has worked for Educate Together since 2010. He is part of the organisation’s leadership team and is responsible for developing and implementing Educate Together’s marketing strategies, advocacy campaigns and public relations activities. Luke has a BA in History and Political Science and a Masters in Public Affairs and Political Communication.
luke.oshaughnessy@educatetogether.ie
Lydia McCarthy
Head of Education and Development
Originally a primary school teacher, Lydia has spent the last 14 years working in various NGOs, including Trócaire, Financial Justice Ireland and Suas. She has also lectured in Global Citizenship and Human Rights Education in DCU. Most recently, she led the scaling up of Unicef Ireland’s Child Rights Education programme and managed multiple EU funded education projects. Lydia has a Masters in Anthropology and Development and has a particular interest in outdoor education. Lydia leads the support and development of Ethical Education and Educate Together ethos at primary, post-primary and third-level.
Keith Mooney
Patronage Administration Officer
Keith has worked for Educate Together since 2018 and took up the role of Patronage Administration Officer in July 2021. In this role, Keith manages Garda Vetting, appointments and the redeployment panel and also works in Member Support. Keith has held various positions in the private sector over the years before returning to education in 2012, completing a BA in English and Classics and an MA in Postcolonial and World Literature, both at Maynooth University.
keith.mooney@educatetogether.ie
Jessica Simpson
Administration Officer (HR, Governance)
Jessica has worked with Educate Together since 2011. She provides support in the areas of Human Resources and Company Governance, ensuring that Educate Together fulfils its obligations as an employer, a company limited by guarantee and a charity. Jessica holds a BATh. and MTh. from St. Patrick’s College Maynooth and is undertaking a Certificate in Human Resource Management in the Technological University of the Shannon.
jessica.simpson@educatetogether.ie
Vera Shanahan
Primary Education Officer
Vera began working as the Primary Education Officer for Educate Together in 2021. Vera lectures on Ethical Education in the Colleges of Education and supports primary school teachers in implementing the Learn Together curriculum. Vera obtained a Masters in Education from Trinity College Dublin and has worked as a mainstream and special education teacher in Dalkey School Project and Malahide/Portmarnock ETNS. Vera is the national office’s Designated Liaison Person (DLP).
vera.shanahan@educatetogether.ie
Susana Núñez
Second-level Education Officer
Susana began working as Second-level Education Officer in 2021. Susana supports the implementation of Ethical Education across the second-level school network. Susana has an academic background in sociology, education, community and youth work, and has experience in teaching and project development and management in the community and charity sector.
susana.nunez@educatetogether.ie
Julia Bauer
Fundraising and Communications Officer
Julia began working as the Fundraising & Communications Officer for Educate Together in 2022. In this role, Julia manages the fundraising plans for individual giving, community fundraising and corporate partnerships as well as communications and advocacy work. Julia has over seven years’ experience in the charity sector working for Trinity Development & Alumni and Friends of the Earth. Julia holds a BA in Music from Trinity College Dublin and is a past pupil of North Bay Educate Together National School.
julia.bauer@educatetogether.ie
Alison O’Neil
Volunteer Officer
Alison began working as the Volunteer Officer for Educate Together in 2022. In this role, Alison is responsible for enhancing systems to recruit, train and support board of management members and other volunteers working within the Educate Together network. Alison holds a BA in Applied Social Studies, an MA in Community Development, a qualification in Training and Development and has extensive experience working for Tusla with children in care, as well as in development roles within the community and voluntary sector and the local authority sector.
Laura Geraty
Finance Officer
Laura began working as the Finance Officer for Educate Together in 2021. Laura works the finance sub-committee of the Board of Directors in the management of financial systems and process and the execution of financial duties. Laura is a qualified accountant and holds a BSc in Management from Trinity College Dublin. Laura has over 25 years experience working in the not for profit sector including with the National Youth Council of Ireland, Fairtrade Ireland and Friends of the Earth.
laura.geraty@educatetogether.ie
Grace Burke
Office Administrator
Grace joined the Educate Together national office team in March 2023. Grace worked with Westport ETNS as school secretary prior to this from 2019. Grace has many years of office and administration experience, with a degree in primary education. She managed the early years department of a further education college for a number of years.
grace.burke@educatetogether.ie
Jennifer Buttner
School Support and Development Officer
Jennifer has worked for Educate Together since 2016. As the School Support and Development Officer, Jennifer provides a wide range of supports for the Educate Together school network. Jennifer obtained a Physics degree from Trinity College, and has experience working in the semiconductor industry. Jennifer is the national office’s Designated Deputy Liaison Person (DDLP).
jennifer.buttner@educatetogether.ie
Niall Wall
Buildings Officer
Niall, as Buildings Officer, is the national office contact with responsibility for school accommodation and property management, including leases and rental agreements. Niall joined the national office team in 2008 having spent a large portion of his working life in industry and management. Initially working as a New Schools Officer, Niall spent almost a decade as Regional Development Officer for Munster and South Leinster before moving to his current position.
Edward Platt
School Development Officer
Edward’s interest in equality-based education began during his teacher training at Marino Institute, where he wrote a dissertation on how effectively colleges of education were preparing newly qualified teachers to work in Educate Together schools. After graduating, he taught at Griffeen Valley ETNS for almost 8 years.
In 2022, he earned an M.Sc. in Education and Training Management from DCU. He then became a Digital Education Officer at Kinia, an Irish educational non-profit, traveling nationwide to deliver CPD in STEM education.
edward.platt@educatetogether.ie
Aaron Jewell
Software Applications Manager
Aaron is an experienced I.T. project manager who has worked with notable organisations such as the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Department of Health, Amnesty International, the Dublin Food Coop, and the Humanist Association. Passionate about education and the environment, Aaron has facilitated development education programs at all levels, focusing on sustainability and natural system design through forest school and climate education. Recently, he furthered his expertise by qualifying in Innovation for Sustainability at UCD.
Kylie Kinsella
Communications Officer
Kylie began working as the Communications Officer for Educate Together in 2024. In this role, Kylie is responsible for implementing strategic communication plans to effectively convey the organisation’s message, enhance its public image and engage with stakeholders across various platforms. Kylie obtained a Masters in Gender, Globalisation and Human Rights from the University of Galway. She has over five years’ experience in the non-profit sector in both the US and Ireland.
