Circle VHA Board
Circle VHA is a legally incorporated company limited by guarantee (registered in Ireland, no. 374693) and is required to have a board of directors. The Circle VHA board consists of nine members who each have considerable expertise and experience in areas such as housing policy and development, organisational management, financial management and legal expertise.
The directors are volunteers who are not directly responsible for the delivery of our housing services. They have ultimate responsibility for the good governance of the organisation, company policies, strategy and the achievement of our mission. They are paid no fees or other earnings by Circle VHA.
The Board meets on average eight times per year. It also has five sub-committees – Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FARC), Development Committee (DevCom), Remuneration and Nominations Committee (RemNom), the Strategic Purpose Group (SPG) and the Tenant First Link Committee (TFL). These committees review policies, proposed acquisitions, and Circle VHA’s services and management, and report to the Board.
Current Board:
Eileen Patterson
Chair of Cirlce VHA and member of The Strategic Purpose Group
Eileen Patterson has had a long career as a housing professional and is committed to the delivery of high quality, affordable housing and support services. She has held senior positions in social housing in Northern Ireland with Radius, Fold, and the NI Housing Executive. Eileen has directly contributed to the development of housing strategy, policy and regulation and to the professionalism of housing staff and practitioners. She is a Chartered Member of the CIH, holds an MSc in Housing and is a graduate of the Queen’s University Business Leaders Programme.
Eileen is currently the Deputy Chair of the Probation Board NI and is also a Board Member of Clanmil Housing Group, CIH Ireland Advisory Board and is a representative for Northern Ireland on the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence
Chris White
Board Member & Chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee
A career in the not for profit sector has led Chris to a variety of roles in various charities and not for profit organisations. Chris is currently the Group CEO of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, one of the largest charities in the country, caring for 54,000 people with sight loss. Prior to that post he was CEO of Boardmatch, Ireland Corporate Governance Charity. However Social Housing has been the major passion of his career, having been CEO of the Sue Ryder Foundation and Head of Development at the Irish Council for Social Housing.
John Deegan
Board member and member of the development committee
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.
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.
Michelle Ní Riordáin
Board Member & FARC Member
Michelle Ní Riordáin is a tax consultant by profession, currently working with a Middle Eastern sovereign fund. She started her career at KPMG and is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Irish Tax Institute. Michelle holds a Degree and Masters in Accounting.
Damian Kennedy
Board Member & Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Member of the Remuneration & Nominations Committee.
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
Board Member and is also a member of 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.
Keith Gillmor
Board of Directors & Chair of 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
Richard McDonagh 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.
Circle’s Patron
Circle's Patron and external member of DevCom.
Fr Pat Carolan
Fr Pat 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.