NATIONAL BOARD
The National Board of Amnesty International Ireland is our membership elected governance body. Excluding the Executive Director, who is recruited and paid a salary, members of the board serve in an entirely voluntary capacity and do not receive any pay or remuneration.
Stephen Bowen – Executive Director
Stephen Bowen is a well-known and passionate human rights expert and social justice advocate.
Stephen is a barrister specialising in international human rights law and an academic with over 30 years’ experience, and has served as the Chief of Staff and Legal Adviser at the UN Special Coordinator for Sarajevo, and as Chief Human Rights Officer to the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. He is also a former Director of the British Institute of Human Rights and most recently completed his role as Human Rights Course Director at Kingston University, London. Bowen has also been a Visiting Professor of International Human Rights Law at Queen Mary, University of London.
Stephen has spent time with Amnesty International UK as Campaigns Director and as Director for External Affairs with Scope, one of the UK’s leading disability equality charities. He was also Legal Adviser to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in the Gaza Strip and is a former trustee of Manchester Pride. Today he is a trustee of Sheffield DocFest and a trustee of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health, a faculty of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Graham Roe – Chairperson
Graham is a passionate believer in human rights, the power of people to bring about societal and structural change, and a long time Amnesty International supporter. Graham has held multiple leadership roles nationally and internationally in the area of integrated fundraising, communications, advocacy and campaigns. These have included executive and non-executive roles with Oxfam Ireland and Oxfam International, Concern Worldwide, Action Aid, and with Amnesty International Irish section at the outset of his career in the not for profit sector. Graham is currently the Director for Marketing, Communications and Fundraising for Special Olympics Ireland, and believes in an inclusive society where sport and all other areas of society are open to all to thrive within, and contribute to.
Graham holds an undergraduate degree from Trinity College in History. As a leading practitioner for many years nationally and internationally, Graham he has been involved for many years with
Fundraising Ireland – now Charities Institute Ireland – contributing on evolving fundraising regulation, and helping to develop and deliver modules for CII’s education courses.
He holds a Diploma in Fundraising Management (honours) from Charities Institute Ireland, a Certificate in Charity Law, Trusteeship and Governance (with distinction) from the Law Society of Ireland, and an MA (honours) in Law.
Graham was first elected to the National Board in 2023
Seán Mulligan – Honorary Treasurer (Acting)
Seán has significant experience in leadership and governance roles and has been Finance Director with Tayto Snacks since 2014 having previously held similar positions with PepsiCo Ireland and Valeo Foods. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, a Chartered Director and holds a degree in International Business and Languages from TU Dublin. Seán has a keen interest in social justice and the defence of human rights.
Seán was first elected to the National Board in 2022
Lorraine Smyth
Lorraine Smyth is an e-Enablement and Digital Solutions Manager within Corporate HSE. Lorraine holds an MSc of Science from UL and a Professional Diploma in Human right and equality IPA. Lorraine has a long history as a human rights defender first joining Amnesty at 16.
Lorraine is now a member of the Wexford branch of Amnesty where she has worked on many campaigns including both Yes campaigns, the Ibrahim Halawa and the Stardust campaign. Lorraine is a public servant for the last 21 years and has worked to change culture in the HSE working on the Anti-Bullying task force. The Steering group for the National Staff Engagement Forum and the Women in Leadership Forum. Lorraine is a member of the LGBTQI+ Allies.
Lorraine has an interest in patient centred care and was project lead on the Covid Patient Monitoring App, allowing patients remain at home while monitored during the Covid Pandemic. Lorraine was also the Covid Laboratories Logistic Lead during Covid facilitating testing nationally and enabling forecasting on Lab capacity.
Lorraine has an interest in Sociotechnology, using technology for good.
Lorraine won Women in IT, Digital Leader of the Year and Innovator of the Year in 2021, she was also awarded Student Project of the Year at the Irish Healthcare Awards for her MSc Project Covid Patient Remote Monitoring.
Lorraine was first elected to the National Board in 2023.
Máille Brady Bates
Máille is an experienced solicitor specialising in Employment Law. In addition to her employment law practice, Máille carries out public interest legal work with a number of charitable organisations on a voluntary and pro-bono basis. Máille has a keen interest in human rights and public interest law and has worked with NGO’s such as FLAC, PILA, Human Rights Defenders, the Red Cross and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Máille is a member of the Amnesty HR Sub-Committee and sits as a Board Trustee on the Board of Voluntary Services International.
Máille was first elected to the National Board in 2022.
Fiona O’Connor
Fiona is a Director at Tom Smyth & Associates HR Consultancy where she provides legal advice and business risk support to both private and public sector industries. With over 15 years of experience specialising in employment law, HR and industrial relations, she has a deep understanding of workplace relations and the application of employment law.
She has advocated before the Equality Tribunal, EAT, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) as well as the Labour Court. While working with the Citizens Information Service she provided information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services and is committed to improving equality & social justice in all aspects of society.
Fiona is a graduate of the Law Society of Ireland (Employment Law) and UCC (Government & Public Policy and later Human Resource Management). She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) where she was a member of the Southern Regional Committee.
Fiona was first elected to the National Board in 2022.
Eavan O’Halloran
Eavan is an economist and international development specialist who worked for nearly 30 years at the World Bank, where she focuses on inclusive and sustainable policies and programs that target the poorest and most marginalized people. She has worked in a diverse set of countries across Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. She has deep expertise in analysing countries’ socio-political-economic contexts, designing and implementing sustainable growth strategies, and advocating for policies that have a strong focus on equitable development and poverty alleviation. She has worked closely with governments, international organizations, the private sector, NGOs and stakeholders across many cultures and contexts.
Born and raised in Dublin, and an emigrant for 30 years, Eavan returned to Ireland in 2022 and is committed to advancing human rights and social equity. She holds a Masters in International Economics and Relations from Johns Hopkins University, a Masters in Business Studies and a
Bachelor of Commerce from University College Dublin, and a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. She is a Fulbright Scholar and speaks fluent French and Italian, with professional-level Spanish.
Eavan was first elected to the National Board in 2025.
Mary-Michelle O’Connor
Mary-Michelle is a qualified solicitor, having practised as general counsel in the financial services sector for many years. She has vast experience in advising boards and management teams through periods of structural change, disruption, take-overs and investigations. She has advised on corporate transactions, corporate governance, contracts, data protection, employment law, litigation, property law and regulatory matters.
She has a keen interest in international and humanitarian law and has recently completed a Masters in International and Comparative Law from Trinity with a focus on international criminal law, humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law.
Mary-Michelle is a member of the National Board Property Working Group.
Mary-Michelle was first elected to the National Board in 2025.