With over 30 years of high-level managerial experience in housing, child, youth, and community development, Elaine is a dedicated and accomplished leader with a lifelong commitment to improving lives in diverse and often vulnerable communities. Renowned for her strategic leadership and unwavering focus on service-user centred approaches, she has led multidisciplinary teams across a wide range of impactful roles in both public and non-profit sectors. Throughout her career, Elaine has consistently demonstrated an ability to build strong, sustainable community connections, foster inclusive engagement, and drive organisational success through strategic vision and operational excellence.
Elaine is a skilled communicator and consensus builder, recognised for her innovative approach to community development, tenant engagement, conflict resolution, team empowerment, and continuous service improvement. Her professional journey includes key leadership positions at Clúid Housing, Tuath Housing, Cooperative Housing Ireland, and several youth and childcare organisations, where she has delivered significant outcomes in stakeholder engagement, programme design, funding sustainability, and change management.
She is also known for her agility in fast-paced environments and for designing inclusive, equity-focused strategies that reflect the needs of both individuals and communities. Elaine’s collaborative leadership style is rooted in genuine community connection, guided by the belief that shared ownership and partnership lead to the most effective and enduring outcomes in service delivery for all.
Academically, Elaine holds a BSc in Education and Training (First Class Honours) from Dublin City University, along with a Certificate in Applied Social Studies from the Institute of Technology, with additional professional development in trauma-informed care, safeguarding, governance, and leadership.