CHI Board
Meet the CHI Board
Page contents
On this page you will find information about:
Dr Jim Browne, Chairperson
Former President of NUI Galway, Engineers Ireland, and the Irish Academy of Engineering. A number of past roles in a variety of Boards, including the Irish Universities Quality Board, the Saolta Hospital Group, Galway University Foundation, and the Board of the Central Applications Office.
Ms Mary Cryan
Former Human Resources Director with the Brown Thomas Group, and former Employer Member of the Labour Court. Board Member experience also includes: the Employment Equality Agency; Dublin Institute of Technology; and the National Employment Rights Agency.
Dr Ruben Diaz
Ruben Diaz, M.D., Ph.D. is the Deputy CEO for International Affairs at Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital and the Secretary General for European Children’s Hospitals Organisation (ECHO).
As Deputy CEO for International Affairs for Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's Hospital, he supports the hospital’s collaborative efforts with different international healthcare and public institutions in all areas of mutual interest. As the Secretary General for ECHO, Ruben manages this organisation that brings together leading tertiary care children’s hospitals across Europe. Ruben is a M.D., Ph.D graduate from Washington University Medical School at Saint Louis, USA, and completed both his paediatric residency and paediatric endocrinology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). He had been part of the BCH medical/research staff and Harvard Medical School faculty for 15 years. Prior to his current roles, Ruben held different leadership positions, including Chief of the Endocrine Division, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Knowledge and Training Officer at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. He remains in practice as a Paediatric Endocrinologist and is a member of a clinical research group focused on diabetes and metabolic regulation.
Ms Mary Donovan
Ms Mary Donovan was appointed to the board on 5th March 2024. Ms Donovan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Fellow of the Irish Computer Society. She is an independent business consultant specialising in strategy development, business transformation and integration, working with Ireland’s global food companies. Mary is the previous Chair of the Board of The Coombe Hospital and member of its Finance and Nominations Committee and a non-executive director of the Bons Secours Health System and chair of its People and Culture Committee. Previously, she has been a non-executive director of the Irish College of General Practitioners and Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee. Mary was also a former senior executive in the Diageo PLC global business.
Ms Catherine Guy
Catherine is currently CEO of NiftiBusiness. Catherine is an experienced solicitor and former managing partner of ByrneWallace Law Firm in Dublin. She is a Chartered Director and is an Independent Non-Executive Director of the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) and of Bord Na Móna.
Dr Gavin Lavery
Former ICU physician, President of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland and Clinical Director of HSC Safety Forum (NI). Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Trainer and former Clinical Assessor for the Health Foundation. Graduate of the Advanced Training Programme at the Intermountain Institute for Healthcare Delivery and Research.
Ms Brigid McManus
Experienced public sector leader. Former Secretary-General, Department of Education and Skills. Currently she is also a member of the Governing Body of the National College of Ireland and chairs its Risk Committee, chairs the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee, chairs the National Inland Fisheries Forum and is an external member of the University of Galway Audit and Risk Committee.
Ms Orla O'Brien
Orla O’Brien was appointed to the Board in January 2025. Orla is currently Chief Executive of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and has spent 35 years working in the Irish healthcare system. A former registered children’s / general nurse, she is an experienced healthcare leader having held several leadership and executive roles across the health system, from acute healthcare to the Department of Health. Orla holds a BSc, MSc, and a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance. She is a Chartered Director and a member of the Board of the European Blood Alliance where she holds the role of Treasurer.
Ms Eleanor O’Neill
Ms O’Neill has more than 30 years’ experience in Digital Transformation roles in technology multinationals, Symantec, Visio, Microsoft, Marrakech and Digital Equipment Corp. Ms O’Neill also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Coillte, and the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Ms O’Neill is an Engineering graduate of NUI Galway. In addition, she has post graduate qualifications in Cybersecurity from UCD and Corporate Governance from the Institute of Directors Ireland.