About Us
As the independent voice of the voluntary healthcare sector, IVHA is uniquely placed to shape the future of the Irish health and social care system.
What is IVHA?
IVHA is the Irish Voluntary Healthcare Association. A non-profit organisation, we are Ireland’s representative body for voluntary healthcare organisations, including some of the country’s most respected hospitals and hospices. With transparency in everything we do and the pursuit of excellence cornerstones of our culture, we have come to be recognised as respected thought leaders in Irish healthcare.
Our driving ambition is to transform the relationship between our members and decision makers, advocating for public policy that will revitalise the Irish health and social care sector. Realising this ambition will provide our members with the freedom and flexibility they need to develop and deliver the kind of cutting edge care that will improve outcomes for the people who not only use but rely on their services.
Who we are
Our people have many years of experience, knowledge and expertise in the Irish health and social care system. With diverse backgrounds in everything from policy development and strategic planning to financial management and governance in the care field, we are committed to working with our members and stakeholders to build a partnership ecosystem that benefits the entire healthcare sector.
Liam Dowdall
Liam has spent over 30 years working in the Corporate Recover field. Liam was Head of the Restructuring and Recovery Department and a Director in smith & Williamson. Prior to that Liam was a partner in BDO for over 30 years. Liam was a member of the Board of Tallaght University Hospital from 2011 to 2023 and Chair of the Hospital Board from 2017 to 2023.
Liam was elected the Chair of the Voluntary Healthcare Association, Company Limited by Guarantee in 2021.
Conor O'Connor
Conor O’Connor is a Chartered Accountant. He has over 30 years experience, through Enterprise Equity Venture Capital, in managing Venture Capital Funds for Institutional Investors. Enterprise Equity has invested in 88 early and growth stage Irish technology companies. This has involved almost 300 tranches of equity investment into Portfolio Companies. Conor has assisted many Portfolio Companies on their journeys from early stage to growth and ultimately to exit. Conor has a keen interest in Sustainability and The Circular Economy and has completed University of Cambridge’s “Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies” programme. He is a past Chair of the Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA), and a former Director of the European Venture Capital Association (now “Invest Europe”). He is Chair of the Board of Management of The Royal Hospital Donnybrook since September 2022, having previously served as Hon. Treasurer and Chair of RHD’s Audit Committee.
Pat McCann
Pat has over fifty years’ experience in the Hotel business. He joined the Board of Jurys Hotel Group plc in 1994. In 1998 he was appointed Chief Executive Designate of Jurys and assumed the role of Chief Executive in 2000. He retired from Jurys Doyle in 2006 and founded Dalata Hotel Group in 2007. Pat retired from Dalata Hotel Group plc on the 31st of December.
Pat served as President of Ibec from September 2019 to September 2020 and currently sits on the board of Ibec. He has served as Non-Executive Director on the Board of Greencore Group plc from 2003 to 2013 and the Board of EBS from 2007 to 2011. Pat was Chairman of Whitfield Hospital in Waterford from 2011 to 2018.
Ann Doherty
Ann took the helm at the Port of Cork Company Ltd as Chief Executive Officer in late 2024. For the 10 years prior, Ann served as the Chief Executive of Cork City Council, where she was responsible for the strategic leadership and successful direction of the organisation. Cork City Council employs approximately 1,600 staff, has an annual operational budget of over €290 million, and delivers over 1,000 services, including infrastructure development, planning, housing, and strategic economic development to a population of over 224,000.
Before her tenure at Cork City Council, Ann had a distinguished 30-year career in the health service, both in the UK and Ireland. A trained nurse, she held the position of National Director with the HSE for 10 years, working in areas such as Acute Hospitals, Change and Performance, Cancer Control, and establishing the UL Hospitals Group. Ann is an experienced business leader who places a strong emphasis on team engagement and empowerment, having spent over three decades in senior management roles. She has successfully implemented transformative programs to deliver change and operational success at local, regional, and national levels.
Ann is a passionate advocate for sustainability and the promotion and implementation of a climate-neutral economy. She holds an MBA and is a Chartered Director. Ann also serves as the Chair of UCC Campus Accommodation DAC. A keen supporter of equality, diversity, and inclusion, Ann was honored to be recognised as one of Ireland’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2014.
Mo Flynn
Mo Flynn has 40 years’ international experience of health and social care systems, including as Group Chief Executive of The Rehab Group and Chief Executive of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services. Mo has extensive knowledge in governance, strategic planning, financial management, policy development, health and social services, and organisational development. As well as significant chairing and board membership experience in a wide range of organisations working with professionals across many disciplines, she also has experience of public boards. Since 2020 Mo has been chair of CORU-Health and Social Care Professionals Regulator and is a former Ministerial appointment to HIQA. She is a past President of the Irish Gerontological Society and was also a member of the Charities Institute Ireland Governance Committee. Mo currently provides consultancy services on governance support, strategy development and executive mentoring.
Conall O'Halloran
Conall is Chairman of St Vincents Healthcare Group and a number of related entities.
He was formerly a partner in KPMG where he served as Head of the Audit practice and served on KPMG EMA Boards. He is a former Council member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, and was its President in 2019/20. He is a former Director of Hibernia Reit plc and a number of other companies. He is Chair of the Audit Committee of the Irish Universities Association.
Catherine Mullarkey
Catherine was appointed Chair of St James’s Hospital on the 8th March 2022. She has served as a non-executive director of St James’s Hospital since 2019 and was a member of the audit and risk committee and chaired the finance committee of the board. She has been self employed since 2005, involved primarily in property investment and development. Prior to this, she worked in financial services with Anglo Irish Bank, KBC and IIB.
She is a non-executive director of Community Foundation Ireland, since 2017, one of Ireland’s leading philanthropic organisations, which provides donor services and strategic community grants. She also served as a non-executive director with the Dublin Docklands Development Agency from 2007 to 2012.
Catherine graduated with a bachelor of Commerce in 1988 from UCD and subsequently qualified as a certified accountant (ACCA) in 1992. In 2017, she completed the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction with the Institute of Directors and has completed a Higher Diploma in Psychology.
What we do
Our core mission at IVHA is to drive transformative change in modern healthcare. We deliver on this by forging strong strategic partnerships that amplify our collective impact, equipping us to overcome the multifaceted challenges that exist on the Irish healthcare landscape.
Governance
A best practice, evidence-based governance framework is vital to the success of our mission to transform the health and social care sector in Ireland.
Harnessing the full breadth of knowledge, experience, skills, and talents within our membership, IVHA has developed a governance framework, which comprises the culture, values, systems, and processes by which the membership is supported and represented. We believe our members’ expertise will enhance levels of governance and leadership in the health service at no extra cost to the State.
