Karen Ciesielski
CEO
Karen Ciesielski is the CEO of the IEN. With 20 years of experience in non-profit management, fundraising, communications, advocacy and campaigning, Karen works to promote the interlinked principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability by supporting IEN members. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Environmental Pillar.
David Rossiter
Coalition 2030 Coordinator
David supports Irish Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in their efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals both in Ireland and globally. With over nine years of experience in advocacy and public affairs, he has worked across international development, domestic climate campaigning, and politics. David is deeply committed to building a just and equitable society, fostering economic systems that lift people out of poverty while respecting planetary boundaries.
Claire Knightly
Fair Seas Finance and Reporting Assistant
Claire is the Finance and Reporting Assistant for Fair Seas. With over five years of experience in both corporate and nonprofit environments, she brings a detail-driven approach to managing financial and reporting data. She is dedicated to ensuring that Fair Seas is supported by clear, accurate financial information and efficient operations.
Amy Dugdale
Membership and Network Assistant
Amy has a background in research, with a PhD in Astrobiology from the Open University. Her previous work has focused on the modification of biosignatures on Mars during impacts.
She has now transitioned her career to the environmental NGO sector. Amy uses her skills in project management, stakeholder engagement and facilitation to support the IEN members in achieving effective collaborations.
Justin Byrne
COO
Justin is the Chief Operating Officer for the IEN, having joined the organisation in 2010. Previously he worked for KPMG as IT Operations Manager and prior to that in management for a division of Unigate PLC in London. He has extensive experience in planning issues.
Alanagh Tennaty
Office Administrator
Alanagh brings a wealth of administrative expertise and a heartfelt dedication to environmental and grassroots action to her role as administrator for the Irish Environmental Network. With a robust background in administration and a passion for sustainability, she is committed to supporting the organization’s mission to protect and preserve Ireland’s natural environment.
Jenny Bortoluzzi
Project Coordinator
Dr Jenny Bortoluzzi is the Project Coordinator in Marine Biodiversity and ORE Capacity Building.
Jenny is a marine biologist by training with a PhD from Trinity College Dublin focusing the ecology and conservation of elasmobranchs and has a keen interest in finding meaningful and impactful solutions to our environmental crises which consider both nature and people.
She has worked with international organisations, such as the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and the Environmental Justice Foundation, as well as Irish NGOs, such as the Irish Basking Shark Group.
Ciaran Brennan
Communications Officer
Ciaran has many years’ experience as a journalist and as a public relations/communications specialist, having worked for the HSE, Samaritans Ireland and the Houses of the Oireachtas, as well as a number of national newspapers. He has a keen interest in environmental protection and advocacy and has worked with Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland, written for the ThinkorSwim climate action blog and currently is working on a small rewilding/nature restoration project on his own land.
Aoife Ní Lochlainn
Policy Officer
Aoife is the Policy Officer at the IEN. Her work covers the UK Withdrawal agreement as it relates to the environment, as well as broader environmental policy and advocacy work to advance sustainable policy in Ireland on behalf of the NGO sector. She is a public policy analyst and researcher with over thirteen years of experience in economic, social and environmental policy.
Catherine O’Toole
Development Officer
As our Local Environmental Development Officer, Catherine is working to increase engagement in the Environmental College of the Public Participation Networks (PPNs). Working with those on the ground for the Irish environmental movement, Catherine works to educate and inspire people in their local communities by providing complimentary training opportunities to environmental representatives.
Fintan Kelly
Agriculture Policy Officer
Fintan works to make Irish agriculture and land-use policies more sustainable for nature and people. He has a MSc in Environmental Biology from Utrecht University and a BSc in Environmental Science from NUI Galway. He specialises in Environmental Policy, Advocacy and Planning and has been working within the Irish eNGO sector since 2012, having previously worked for BirdWatch Ireland, An Taisce, SWAN and the Irish Wildlife Trust.
Jack O’Donovan Trá
Fair Seas Communications Officer
Jack O’Donovan Trá is the Communications Officer at Fair Seas. Jack is blending the art of good comms with marine science to bring the message of ocean protection to a wide audience in an engaging and impactful way. Jack is a marine biologist by training and moved into comms and campaigns in 2018, and has since worked with many large international environmental coalitions and campaigns across Europe.
Donal Griffin
Fair Seas Campaign Coordinator
Donal is the campaign coordinator for the Fair Seas Campaign. With a strong background in marine biology and ecology, Donal also has a wealth of policy experience from the UK, including coordinating a coalition of environmental NGOs focusing on MPA management and implementation.