About Us

We’re a mix of regular Irish people (volunteers and staff) wanting to do our part to help Ukrainians through this crisis. We have grown quickly from our humble beginnings in March 2022 and now have a team of over 20 great people - paid staff and volunteers - working on matching, supporting hosts, lobbying and growing our operations. Many of us have hosted, or are currently hosting, Ukrainian guests in our own homes. Our Ukrainian team members are all living in host homes.

Our governance structure, case studies and detailed budget are in place and available on request.

Founding Board

Get to Know Us

We have appointed a small, highly motivated volunteer board with the expertise and drive required to steer us through incorporation, start up, company registration and to build our overall impact.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Meet The Team

Angie Gough

CEO

A social entrepreneur with wide experience in Business Development and Event Management at Special Olympics, BBC Children in Need and Self Help Africa. Former interim GM and current Board member at Dublin Youth Theatre and founder of The Artskickers Awards. Passionate about people and community and the power of individuals to make a change.

Hosting 2 families and a cat in Dublin, with husband Myles, 3 kids and dog (it’s a big house). Hear their story, as told to RTE's Ray Darcy

Catherine Quinlan

Matchmaking Team Lead

Catherine returned to the workforce after raising her family and working part time in her family business as an administrator. She had previously worked as a medical secretary for many years. In May 2022 she received her first Ukrainian family into her home and they have since moved on in their journey. Over Christmas she received a guest for an emergency stay for two nights and this stay has evolved into the guest staying indefinitely. She lives in Wexford with her husband (Mark), three children and two dogs.

Jill Robinson

Interim Host

Support Lead

Jill has worked in advertising and sales for over 15 years. She has extensive experience in fundraising, events and volunteering for Childline and various charities supporting the homeless. Jill led the development of our matching process and has supported over 50 matches, while assisting a number of Ukrainians to navigate life in Ireland.

Now providing emergency and short term hosting, Jill, husband Andy and 2 daughters have hosted two families in Maynooth who have moved into onward accommodation.

Patrick Gillespie

Project Manager - Volunteers

Patrick joined the team as a Project Manager looking after the volunteer strategy for HIH. Returning to the workforce from a sabbatical, he has previously worked as a professional firefighter, business owner and ops manager in the logistics world. He is a solo parent and recently moved to Ireland from Melbourne, Australia. During his spare time he attempts to play football and explore his new surroundings.

Caroline Pierce

Host Communications Lead

A communications professional and linguist, Caroline is a trained interpreter. With previous experience in foreign affairs and international development, she developed a love for Ukraine while living in Kyiv in 2021.

Caroline has been working with our Hosts since October 2022 and develops our communications and community network programmes.

Maisie-Jane Lunson

Communications and Marketing Support

Maisie-Jane takes care of our social media and administration and works alongside our host support team. She joined HIH in April 2022 and has been hosting with her family since early last year. She has a passion for content creation and music. Alongside her dad, she released a song “Heavy Lifting” in support of HIH and inspired by “our instinct to help those around us in times of need” which they performed at our Solidarity show in the Abbey Theatre and on RTÉs The Late Late Show. You can have a listen to the song on YouTube or Spotify

Bronwen O'Malley

Matchmaker

Bronwen O'Malley has been a volunteer for Ukrainian families since February. She began hosting a Ukrainian family in April and through this became involved with Helping Irish Hosts. Bronwen became a member of the matching team in the beginning of August. She is a midwife with a particular interest in helping mothers and babies fleeing the war. Bronwen lives in Galway with her husband and five children and would describe herself as creative, artistic and passionate about helping others.

Dervla Byrne

Host Support

Dervla joined the team in HIH in October 2022; Dervla has a background in education, customer service and animal welfare and is an active volunteer in many community based organisations. She lives with her family in Co. Wexford where they have been sharing their home with a Ukrainian family since March 2022. As a host herself, she has excellent insight into the huge positives & challenges facing hosts & guests alike.

Antonia Madigan

Matchmaker

Antonia joined HIH in October 2022. Her background is in Primary Teaching with a focus on intercultural and equality-based education. Away from her role as a host now, she is a mommy to 3 small people. When not absorbed in parenting and matchmaking, she loves to throw on her AirPods and run the roads and trails around Lough Derg and her adopted hometown of Killaloe.

Ger Harvey

Host Support

Ger is a member of our Host Support team, and has previously been a matchmaker. She studied Sociology at university and has a keen interest in social justice. Having worked in residential support for over a decade she brings her communal living expertise to the team. She also teaches yoga and loves getting out into nature with her dog Stella.

Muireann Raleigh

Volunteer Matchmaker

Muireann is a mom, volunteer and host. She has volunteered with HIH since the early days. She loves the sea, tennis, animals and her family (and maybe in that order)!!