Meet the Board
Stuart Garrett, Mark McGowan and Dr. Roisin Plunkett initially founded CHEEERS: Developing Healthcare Together in 2015. Since then, six teams of allied and other health professionals have travelled to Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda (2015 - 2014).
Stuart first travelled to Uganda when he was 16 years old as part of a transition year programme at St. Andrew's College, Blackrock. Whilst studying to become a Physiotherapist at University College Dublin (UCD), Stuart also got involved with UCD Volunteer Overseas (UCDVO). Stuart volunteered on UCDVO's Haiti, India and Nicaragua projects and established the UCDVO project partnership between UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science and Kisiizi Hospital. Since graduating from UCD in 2011, Stuart has led several groups of UCD students to Uganda where they have undertaken their elective placement at Kisiizi Hospital.
Dr. Roisin Plunkett also visited Kisiizi Hospital as part of the St. Andrew's College transition year programme. Since then, Dr. Roisin has actively been involved in the establishment of CHEEERS: Developing Healthcare acting as Secretary and in 2015 (-2018), co-led a team of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda.
Mark McGowan travelled to Kisiizi Hospital in 2012. Mark has actively been involved in the establishment of CHEEERS: Developing Healthcare Together acting as Treasurer and in 2015 and 2016, co-led teams of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda.
Board of Trustees (2026/2027)
Chairperson: Conor Stout
Conor is a physiotherapist working in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. He has previously volunteered with UCD Volunteers Overseas and volunteered with CHEEERS:DHT in 2024.
Vice-Chairperson: Georgianna Taylor
Secretary: Joe Noonan
Joe Noonon is a pyshiotherapist who volunteered with CHEEERS:DHT in 2023.
Treasurer: Pat Leahy
Training Lead: Amy Rennie
Recruitment Lead: Roisin O'Grady
Róisín O'Grady is the Speech and Language Therapy Manager at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. She has a passion for rehabilitation and helping all patients increase their quality of life post accident, trauma, or illness. She volunteered with the CHEEERS:DHT programme trip to Kisizii in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learnings from this time in Uganda. Róisín joined the board in 2023 and is looking forward to continuing to support this wonderful charity in what ways she can in this role.
Fundraising Lead: Emma Pearson
Emma is a dietitian working on the Acquired Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury programme at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin. She first travelled to Kisiixi with the St. Andrew's College Project in 2013. She volunteered with CHEEERS:DHT in 2024.
Project Planning Lead: Ella-Louise Taylor
Ella-Louise is a Specialist Occupational Therapist working in inpatient psychiatric care, with a focus on neurodevelopmental difficulties, sensory needs and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She volunteered with CHEEERS:DHT in 2024.
Social Media & Communications Lead: Molly Kavanagh
Molly is a social media and public relations professional specialising in non-profit communications. She joined the CHEEERS:DHT board in 2023.
Board Member: Aine McCarthy
AIne McCarthy is an occupational therapist working in adult and paediatric neurorehabilitation in Dublin. She volunteered with CHEEERS:DHT in 2024.
Board Member: Laureen Gannon