WIN Team
Meet the women behind the Women’s Irish Network; a volunteer-led team committed to connecting, supporting and inspiring Irish women in London through meaningful events, partnerships and community.
Yvonne Maher
As former Managing Director of Cognito's London headquarters, she now serves as Chief Growth Officer for EMEA, driving business growth, international client relationships, and talent development across the region.
Networking and connecting is Yvonne's superpower—there is nothing she loves more than bringing people together to foster lasting connections and friendships.
As Chair of the Women's Irish Network, Yvonne is committed to creating a vibrant community where Irish women feel empowered, supported, and deeply connected to their heritage. She sees WIN's partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation as fundamental to improving the lives and opportunities of young Irish people in the UK.
Yvonne holds a degree in Business Studies and German from Trinity College Dublin and is a certified executive and life coach. She speaks fluent German and French and loves travelling, running, swimming, and socialising.
WIN Chairperson
Nuala Ginty
Nuala is a communications, media relations, and digital marketing professional with many years of experience in agencies and with brands across the arts, music, events and festivals, entertainment, higher education, local authority, and youth sectors.
A tactical planner with a keen eye for news working with diverse stakeholders at the most senior levels. Creative, versatile, positive, and self-motivated, with proven media relations and crisis management skills, Nuala brings a human approach to working with brands, organisations, and start-ups.
Community Manager
Members LeadEmily Shanks
Emily is a Director of Sales for a global consultancy firm, hiring and training graduates and deploying them into roles within Investment Banking.
Emily is a Queen's University Belfast graduate and qualified lawyer who after almost 10 years in private practice, joined Irish Consulting and Technology firm First Derivatives and moved to London where she worked initially as an on site legal and regulatory consultant to some of the largest financial institutions in the world, including Citibank and State Street. Emily, then moved into business development and sales, designing and delivering solutions for clients and has gone on to build a similar practice for another firm working in Europe, US and Asia. Emily has been a regular over the years at WIN events and will be helping secure sponsorship for future events for this vital community.
Sinead Dineen
Marketing LeadWith a rich 14-year career in Marketing and Public Relations, Sinead brings a genuine love for digital storytelling and a knack for connecting with people.
Her career has spanned several sectors from retail to finance and charity work in the UK, showing her versatility and down-to-earth approach to her work. Today, she’s the go-to freelance marketing manager for several brands, helping them find their voice and presence online. Her role is all about guiding brands to make some noise in the digital space in a way that's authentic and engaging. She's got a toolbox filled with skills from social media strategies to event planning.
When she's not busy working her digital magic, Sinead’s heart is in volunteering. She lends her skills to charitable causes, believing in the power of media and digital marketing for good. It's this blend of professional expertise and personal passion that makes her an invaluable part of our team. Sinead believes in building genuine connections on and offline and creating content that sticks with you long after you’ve scrolled past it.
Christine Bane
AdvisoryChristine Bane is an Advisory professional with over a decade of international experience across finance, risk, and governance. She brings a structured, analytical approach to complex decision-making, grounded in practical delivery within global financial institutions.
Proudly Irish and London-based, Christine values the strength and connectivity of the Irish diaspora as a living professional network spanning borders, industries, and generations. She is passionate about creating spaces where Irish women can connect with clarity and purpose, both at home and abroad.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics & Statistics and has built her career advising on credit, risk, and strategic transformation. Her interests include governance, leadership, and the role women play in shaping influence at senior levels.
Outside of work, Christine enjoys culture, food and wine, and community engagement, and is actively involved in supporting Irish-led initiatives and mentoring emerging talent.
Finance LeadChristine Frith
Second-generation Irish, Christine grew up in Germany and came to London over 20 years ago. Her bond to her Irish roots in West Cork remains strong and she is passionate about helping women regain their confidence in the workplace after a career break.
After a successful career in Investment Banking, Christine took a career break to have her three boys. Following this she set up her own business supporting small businesses with their book-keeping and administration.
Andrea Willoughby
Events LeadAndrea started her career in PR working in TV and at the Edinburgh Fringe, representing top entertainment talent.
Moving to London a decade ago, she moved into the event space supporting organisations from Amazon to Zipcar with everything from corporate training days to team-building retreats and showstopping Christmas parties.
She also works with hand-picked brands on their sales strategy. In her spare time, she loves gigs, live music, comedy shows, and quality experiences with friends.
In her world, you may not often sit still but there's never a dull moment!
Tara Cronin
AdvisoryTara is a proud Kerry woman living in London for over 20 years. She is proud to have been involved in WIN since its inception, with Nessa O’Neill & Trish McEntee being major influences in her career choices, and is also a great supporter of the Irish Youth Foundation (UK),
This has lead Tara to become the Fundraising & Events Manager for ICAP, which provide counselling and psychotherapy and which is also a WIN beneficiary through IYF (UK) grants. Previous roles saw her working with Michelin-Starred Chef Richard Corrigan, overseeing events at his London restaurants.
Tara also chairs the Darkness into Light Committee in London. Since bringing the walk to London 6 six years ago, it now attracts over 1,500 walkers a year. In her spare time, Tara spends her time in Killarney with her family.
WIN is a membership organisation. 100% of your member fee goes to the IYF: the only national charity in Britain specifically aimed at helping disadvantaged young Irish people and their families. Annual membership £100 every 12 months.
Join WIN Here.
WIN is a membership organisation. 100% of your member fee goes to the IYF: the only national charity in Britain specifically aimed at helping disadvantaged young Irish people and their families. Monthly membership is £10 per month.