The NHI Care Awards,
in Association with Homecare Medical Supplies,
Celebrating Excellence in Care


Judging Panel


Chairman of Judging Panel

Prof Brendan McCormack, Nursing Research & Practice Development, University of Ulster

Brendan is Professor of Nursing Research and Practice Development in the Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster. His writing and research work focuses on gerontological nursing, person-centered nursing and practice development and he serves on a number of national and international strategy and development groups in these areas.

He is the co-editor of the “International Journal of Older People Nursing” and is President of the All-Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association [AIGNA] and Chairman of the new older person’s charity in Northern Ireland - 'Age NI’.

Brendan is a graduate of the University of Oxford.

Judging Panel

Ms Margot Brennan, PRO, Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute
Dr Suzanne Cahill, Dementia Services Information Development Centre, St James’ Hospital
Ms Mary J Foley, Vice President AIGNA
Ms Mairead Hayes, CEO Irish Senior Citizens Parliament
Ms Jean Manahan, Head of National Development, Third Age Foundation
Mr Robin Webster, CEO, Age Action Ireland


Ms Margot Brennan, PRO, Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute

Margot qualified from Trinity College Dublin in 1987 with a Hons Bsc in Human Nutrition and a Dip in Dietetics. She worked in Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda Co Louth before joining SMA Nutrition in 1989.

In 1999 she left fulltime employment due to family commitments and provided part time consultancy to the Irish Nutrition Dietetic Institute.

In 2002 her involvement with Irish Nutrition Dietetic Institute expanded to take on the role of PRO. This has resulted in her being a regular contributor to several TV and radio shows. She is an expert contributor to the ’How long will I live series’ for the past 4 seasons.

Within her INDI role she also represents the profession on various expert advisory Committees looking at nutrition related issues such as Folic Acid fortification and Review of the current healthy eating guidelines and currently sits on the Intersectoral Group on Obesity. She is a board member of the Irish Osteoporosis Society and contributes to nutrition related issues here.

In Late 2004 she commenced work in St Josephs Hospital Trim a long stay facility which cares for approx 170 Older Persons where she does a weekly session. She was responsible for setting up the dietetic service in this unit which involves providing nutrition support to all categories of residents. She also works closely with Catering and Care staff to ensure residents receives nutritionally balanced meals that are appropriate for their individual requirements. She has introduced a nutritional screening tool which is now routinely used for all residents. and is partaking in the Essence of Care project where the benchmark being evaluated is Nutrition.

Dr Suzanne Cahill, Dementia Services Information Development Centre, St James’ Hospital

Suzanne Cahill is a graduate of University College Dublin with a B.Soc.Science and M.Soc. Science. She wrote her PhD on the topic of Dementia, Family Caregivers and Social Policy whilst lecturing in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Suzanne has worked as a Social Work Practitioner, Researcher and Educator for over 30 years and has practiced Social Work both in Ireland and in Australia. She is currently on secondment from the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre at St James and is employed as Research Senior Lecturer and Research Director with the Living with Dementia Programme based in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin.

Since 2000, Suzanne has co-ordinated courses in Social Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin taught to Social Work and Social Policy under-graduate students. She currently teaches a fourth year course to Sociology and Social Policy students and supervises several Masters and PhD students writing dissertations on Dementia.

Her research interests include GPs and dementia, quality of life and caregiving, end of life and dementia, and quality of care in nursing homes.

Ms Mary J Foley, Vice President, AIGNA

Mary J.Foley trained as a registered nurse in Portiuncula Hospital, Galway. She later completed a BSc and MSc Nursing and a higher diploma in Gerontological Nursing in University College Cork.

Her professional development includes nurse prescribing of medication and xrays and certificates in dementia, palliative care and advanced health and social care. As a Staff Nurse and Clinical Nurse Manager, she has clinical experience in care of the older adult, continuing care, rehabilitation and acute care settings. As Practice Development Facilitator in St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork, Mary has been involved in education and a number of quality initiatives which she has published and presented.

Mary is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Gerontology and has a pivotal role in Assessment and Treatment Clinics, education & research. Mary has contributed significantly to the development of the All Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association & as Vice President of AIGNA she is proactive on a number of Working Groups.

Ms Mairead Hayes, CEO, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

The Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament is a representative organisation of Older People in Ireland.
The Parliament is a non-partisan political organisation working to promote the views of older people in policy development and decision-making.
The Parliament is run by older volunteers who are elected annually at the Annual Parliament Meeting by delegates from affiliated organisations. The ISCP currently has 400 affiliated organisations whose memberships combine to a total of 100,000 individuals.
This membership means the ISCP has a genuine mandate to be the Voice of Older People in Ireland.

Mairead Hayes was appointed CEO of the Parliament in Nov 07

Ms Jean Manahan, Head of National Development, Third Age Foundation

Jean Manahan has worked at senior management level in the voluntary / not for profit sector for the past 20 years - as CEO with the Irish Hospice Foundation until 2004, as Programme Executive with Atlantic Philanthropies' Ageing Programme until 2008 and currently with Third Age as Head of National Development.

She has held a number of Board memberships including St Luke’s Hospital, The Refugee Council and the CARI Foundation. Presently she is on the Boards of the Children's Sunshine Home, (which incorporates Laura Lynn House, Irelands first Children's Hospice), the Older and Bolder Alliance, and a school Board of Management

Mr Robin Webster, CEO, Age Action Ireland

Robin Webster has been the Chief Executive of Age Action Ireland since its establishment in 1992 as the independent national network on ageing and older people. Its main aim is to improve the quality of life of all older people, especially those who are most frail and vulnerable, by combating discrimination and promoting equality and diversity.

He is a social science graduate, with post-graduate qualifications in education, social work and gerontology. He has wide experience of adult education, community development, social planning and social work through his professional and voluntary work. For over 25 years, his main interests have been ageing and older people with a particular interest in social policy.

His previous positions include Director of AONTAS, the National Association of Adult Education in Ireland, Director of Age Concern Scotland, National Development Officer, Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ireland, Lecturer in Social Work, Trinity College, Dublin, Lecturer in Gerontology, the Open University in Ireland and HM Inspector of Schools (Further Education) in the Scottish Education Department.

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