Board Committees
The Board is assisted by four committees that are authorised to make recommendations:
(Chair, Damian Kennedy)
The committee members are comprised of Board Members Damian Kennedy, Gemma Kavanagh, Paul Costello and Garret Tynan.
The purpose of the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee is to:
- Oversee the efficient financial management of CVHA, including the collection, investment, and outlay of all monies utilised by the organisation
- Ensure that CVHA reports on its financial performance in line with appropriate financial reporting standards
- Ensure that CVHA operates a robust system of internal control and meets its compliance obligations
- Oversee the management and mitigation of risks facing the organisation.
Garret Tynan
Board Member & Chair of of the Strategic Purpose Group
Garret has been the European Head of Infrastructure and Project Finance at Kroll Bond Rating Agency since 2017. Prior to this, Garret spent five years with KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH in London, where he was responsible for originating and executing projects and leveraged finance transactions in the UK, Europe and North America. Before moving to London, Garret worked at DEPFA BANK in Dublin for nine years. Garret is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a BA in Accounting & Finance and an MBS in Accounting from Dublin City University as well as graduate diplomas in International Financial Reporting Standards and Management & Applications of IT in Accounting.
Damian Kennedy
Board Member & Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Member of the Remuneration & Nominations Committee.
Board Member and Member of Finance Audit & Risk (FARC) and Member of Renumerations & Nominations (RemNom).
Damian Kennedy is an experienced Finance Director/CFO. His focus is on core finance operations, reporting, turnarounds, ERPs implementations etc., having led large teams in Mars Ireland, Applegreen and Primeline Logistics. He qualified as a chartered accountant, while working as a consultant in KPMG Management Consulting, and holds a B. Comm. and Masters in Management Science. He is the Membership Manager of CAIM, the Interim Managers group of Chartered Accountants Ireland and an active networker/ facilitator.
Gemma Kavanagh
Chair of Circle Board and Member of Finance Audit and Risk Committee (FARC)
Chair of Circle VHA Board and Member of Finance Audit & Risk (FARC).
Gemma is currently employed as a Senior Group Risk Analyst for Investments at Intrum, with previous experience in banking and credit servicing primarily working as a Relationship Manager, Compliance & Risk Manager and Finance Manager. She is a chartered accountant (ACCA) and tax advisor (IATI) and holds a degree in Business Studies & Finance and Masters in Financial Economics.
Paul Costelloe
Board Member and Member of Finance Audit & Risk (FARC).
Board Member and Member of Finance Audit & Risk (FARC).
With over 22 years of experience in financial services, Paul carries extensive expertise across a variety of fields including property financing, loan operations, risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies and startup regulatory operations. Formerly Chief Risk Officer (PCF-14) at Fitzwilliam Loan Management, Paul held a senior executive role at KBC Bank plc after joining from KPMG. Paul is currently director with Camgill Conway.
A Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA), Paul is also a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and an AITI Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA). He also holds a BA Law And Accounting from the University of Limerick.
(Chair, Keith Gillmor)
The committee members are Keith Gillmor, Richard McDonagh, John Deegan with external members Fr.Pat Carolan, Jane Doyle and Richard Boyle.
The purpose of the Development Committee is to:
- Assess proposed approaches to development to increase the number of properties managed by CVHA and so fulfil its mission to provide housing for people in need
- Assess individual development opportunities to determine how well these fit with CVHA’s strategy
- Approve and/or make recommendations to the Board in relation to the above in accordance with the Delegated Authority levels in the Development Framework
- The Committee will review its terms of reference and its effectiveness annually and propose any necessary changes to its terms of reference to the Board.
John Deegan
Board member and member of the development committee
Board Member and Member of Development Committee (DevCom).
John has over 35 years’ experience in the commercial and residential construction industry. He is Founder and CEO of DC Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical Contractors 1988-2006). Currently, John is the managing director of construction and fit out company DC Contracts Ltd.
John holds a MBS in Business Practice from UCC as well as Diplomas in Leadership and International Business from the IMI. John is also a qualified executive coach.
Fr Pat Carolan
Circle's Patron and external member of DevCom.
Member of Development Committee (DevCom).
Fr Pat Carolan (Patsy Carolan) is an Oblate Father in Dublin. He was formerly director of Conway House in London - a hostel and accommodation centre for Irish emigrants in London. He has established and developed the Oblate Basketball Club in Inchicore, which provides a range of sporting and community activities.
Jane Doyle
External committee member of DevCom
Member of Development Committee (DevCom).
Jane Doyle is a town planner by profession. She has previously worked in that role with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and was a board member of An Bord Pleaneala. She is currently a planning consultant.
Keith Gillmor
Board of Directors & Chair of DevCom
Board Member and Member of Development Committee (DevCom).
Keith Gillmor is an experienced finance professional. Keith has worked in domestic and international corporate and asset-backed lending roles with KBC Bank and with Bank of Ireland. Keith currently works at KBC Fund Management Ltd in Dublin where he is responsible for portfolio management of global fixed income and equity funds.
Richard McDonagh
Board Member & DevCom Member
Board Member and Member of Richard McDonaghDevelopment Committee (DevCom).
Richard is a Vice President with Bain Capital. His primary focus is on direct equity and debt investments in real estate or real estate backed opportunities. Prior to joining Bain Capital, he worked with Hines where he focused on large scale residential developments. Richard holds a B. Comm from University College Dublin.
Richard Boyle
Board Member and Member of The Development Committee (DEVCOM)
Richard Boyle – a Vice President with Bain Capital.
Primary responsibilities include implementing and executing asset management strategies by strategic oversight and direction to specialist operating partners, across multiple assets classes (Residential and Commercial) in Ireland, UK and Central Eastern Europe.
Prior to joining Bain Capital, I worked at Goldman Sachs and Grant Thorton and hold a BA (Honours) in Accounting from National College of Ireland.
(Chair, Chris White)
The committee members are comprised of Damian Kennedy and Breege Ann Murphy, with external members Eamonn McGee.
The purpose of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee is to:
- To develop clear and robust policies and practices in relation to remuneration generally in the organisation to ensure that CVHA can attract and retain the right people and, in relation to the CEO, to determine his/her conditions of employment.
- To renew and refresh the Board and Board Committees with suitably qualified and experienced people both as vacancies arise and where opportunities to strengthen the Board are presented.
Damian Kennedy
Board Member & Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Member of the Remuneration & Nominations Committee.
Board Member and Member of Finance Audit & Risk (FARC) and Member of Renumerations & Nominations (RemNom).
Damian Kennedy is an experienced Finance Director/CFO. His focus is on core finance operations, reporting, turnarounds, ERPs implementations etc., having led large teams in Mars Ireland, Applegreen and Primeline Logistics. He qualified as a chartered accountant, while working as a consultant in KPMG Management Consulting, and holds a B. Comm. and Masters in Management Science. He is the Membership Manager of CAIM, the Interim Managers group of Chartered Accountants Ireland and an active networker/ facilitator.
Eamonn McGee
External member of Remuneration & Nominations Committee.
Breege-Anne Murphy
Board Member and Member of The Strategic Purpose Group
Breege-Anne Murphy is a solicitor with over 14 years post qualification experience working in the not for profit sector, specialising in financial services, regulatory and corporate law. She began her legal career with the Legal Aid Board and subsequently with the Irish League of Credit Unions where she held the position of Head of Legal & HR for eight years. She holds a degree in Law and European Studies from the University of Limerick and a Law Society Diploma in In House Practice.
Chair – Chris Ellison
The TFL committee was established and held its first official meeting in May 2024, marking an important moment in tenant engagement within Circle. The committee is comprised of Board Member Todaishe Mangwiza and external members Chris Ellison, David Kortukohun, Siobhan O’Driscoll, Margaret Pierce, Lorraine Gorman and Natasha Whelan. The role of the committee is to support the Tenant Advisory Group (TAG) on issues of concern, delay, or variation in Tenant Communication and Engagement Strategy and associated action plan targets, as well as monitor how Circle operates through a tenant lens.
Chris Ellison
Member of The Tenant First Link Committee.
Member of the Tenant First Link Committee (TFL).
Chris Ellison is Executive Director of Operations at B3 Living Limited in the UK. He was previously a consultant to housing associations and served on a number of boards and sub-committees as a non-executive director. He has extensive experience of managing and developing both general needs and supported housing schemes.
Todaishe Mangwiza
Board Member and Member of Tenant First Link (TFL) Committee.
Todaishe is a Senior Consultant at KPMG Ireland in the Financial Performance and Transformation practice, with over 7 years of experience in compliance, data analysis, and process improvement. He advises corporate clients on enhancing processes to align with strategic goals and manage risk. He is the chairperson of the KPMG Multicultural Network, where he champions diversity and inclusion initiatives.
His expertise spans external audit management and process improvement across diverse industries, including Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, FMCG, Aircraft Leasing, and Agriculture. Prior to KPMG, he worked as an external audit consultant with a Big Four firm in Ireland and gained additional experience in the US and Zimbabwe.
David Kortukohun
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Lorraine Gorman
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Siobhan O’ Driscoll
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Margaret Pierce
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Natasha Whelan
Member of Tenant First Link Committee
Member of Tenant First Link Committee