CEO of Shine, Nicola Byrne
Shine, a national organisation providing information and support to people and their families with self-experience of mental ill health, today announced the appointment of Nicola Byrne as the new Chief Executive Officer of Shine. Nicola succeeds John Saunders, who retired from his position as CEO earlier this year following 20 years’ service with Shine. Nicola will take up the role on 1st November 2021.
A registered social worker and an experienced leader, Nicola has worked in both the statutory and voluntary sectors for more than 25 years. Nicola is passionate about improving the experience and quality of life for those affected by mental ill health. She has managed and delivered services across the country with an ethos of placing service users and their supporters at the centre. She has achieved this by focussing on embedding quality services through evidence, collaboration and enabling innovation to improve staff and service users’ experiences. Nicola’s most recent position was to set up a Programme Management Office in the HSE to enable the delivery of service improvement and sustainable change, transforming how services are delivered. She is also a current serving Board Member of the Mental Health Commission.
Mark Synnott, Chairperson of the Board of Shine says: “The Board of Directors is delighted to have appointed Nicola Byrne as the new CEO of Shine. Nicola brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the impact of mental ill health on our service users and their families. Shine’s beginnings were driven by giving a voice to service users and their families we look forward to working with Nicola in continuing to provide our services to those affected by mental ill health and their families”
Commenting on her appointment, Nicola says “It is a privilege to be entrusted with this important role; to focus on the voice and needs of people experiencing mental ill health and their supporters. I look forward to advancing our vision of an Ireland where everyone affected by mental health difficulties has the right to recovery and the opportunity to achieve the best quality of life. Our staff have shown flexibility, innovation and commitment and I feel privileged to lead this organisation into its next phase of development”
Shine continues to work in line with their strategic plan, Making Change Happen, and are committed to developing innovative services to support all those affected by mental ill health, especially when faced with the challenges during and post the pandemic.
ENDS
Enquiries:
Ciara Corcoran, Communications Officer, Shine 086 605 4909 or ccorcoran@shine.ie