Kare appoints Margaret O’Neill as Chief Executive Officer

Kare, an organisation that provides services for people with intellectual disabilities in Kildare, East Offaly and West Wicklow, has appointed Margaret O’Neill as its new Chief Executive Officer.

O’Neill is a registered dietitian with over 30 years’ experience in frontline, national and senior management roles in the HSE. Currently Head of Disability Services for the HSE Dublin and Midlands region, she has extensive knowledge and experience in the disability sector as well as from previous roles including General Manager in Mental Health and National Dietetic Lead, a strategic role in health and wellbeing which she held for seven years. 

Kare is a HSE Section 38 agency that provides a range of supports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, including day, residential, employment, clinical and respite services. As CEO, O’Neill will work closely with the Board, staff and people supported by Kare to continue delivering high-quality services and advocacy, as well as guiding the organisation into its next phase of development, including the development and delivery of a new strategic plan.

Chairperson of Kare’s Board of Directors, Matthew Behan, said: “We’re very pleased to be welcoming Margaret as the next CEO of Kare. Margaret brings a wealth of experience in disability services, public health and non-profit leadership, as well as a strong commitment to our mission of promoting inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, and we look forward to working together in this next chapter. I would like to sincerely thank our Interim CEO, Darren Smullen, for his steady leadership of the organisation during this time, which has been instrumental in supporting a smooth transition.”

Speaking about her upcoming appointment, Margaret said “I’m really delighted to be given this opportunity to take up the role of CEO of Kare. It’s a very exciting time for Kare as it comes to the end of its current strategic plan and I look forward to leading the organisation into the next part of that journey. I know from working with Kare in my current role that I share the vision and values of the organisation and am looking forward to working with the Board, with staff and most importantly with the individuals and families supported by Kare to build on the great work that has been done in recent years.”

O’Neill will take up the role in early October.