ActionAid Ireland Appoints Gráinne Kilcullen as Head of Programmes
28th November 2022
Gráinne Kilcullen, a Cobh native, recently joined international women’s human rights organisation ActionAid Ireland as Head of Programmes.
In her new role, Gráinne will oversee ActionAid Ireland’s programmatic work in Ireland and overseas, including the Irish Aid funded Women’s Rights Programme.
Established in 1983, ActionAid Ireland works with women and children who are excluded and live in poverty, as they take the lead in claiming their human rights, and changing unfair systems at community, national and international levels, so that they can live safe lives and access food, education, and healthcare.
On the appointment Gráinne said: “I’m delighted to join ActionAid, an organisation I have always really admired for putting women’s rights at the heart of its programme and policy work. I’m looking forward to working with the team to deliver impactful programmes that bring real change to the lives of women and children.”
CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karol Balfe said: “We are pleased to welcome Gráinne to the team, she brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to human rights, women’s rights and peacebuilding. As Head of Programmes, Gráinne will join ActionAid Ireland’s Senior Leadership team and I’m looking forward to working closely with her to deliver our strategy for A Just and Caring World for Women & Children.”
Previous to this appointment, Gráinne worked as a Programme Adviser on Governance and Human rights with Christian Aid Ireland for over 6 years. Before that she worked with the UN in Tanzania for over three years supporting the Tanzanian Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance to develop, disseminate and implement a National Human Rights Action Plan. She has also worked at the local level in Tanzania, Myanmar and Nepal supporting civic engagement, local peace building initiatives and the protection of human rights defenders at risk.
Gráinne has an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy from University College Cork.
