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 four sub-committees – Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FARC), Development Committee (DevCom), Remuneration and Nominations Committee (RemNom) 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:
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.
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.
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 Development Committee (DevCom).
Richard is a Vice President with Realstar Group, where he is responsible for acquisitions, asset management, and financings in Ireland. Prior to joining Realstar Group, he worked with Bain Capital where he focused on investments in real estate or real estate backed opportunities. Richard holds a B. Comm from University College Dublin.
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.
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.
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.
Circle’s Patron
