Meet the WIN Board
Women’s Irish Network operates as a non-profit organisation, led by a dedicated voluntary board and a community manager. Explore our board members' profiles, and don't hesitate to reach out and connect with us!
Yvonne Maher - WIN Chairperson
Yvonne’s career started in Brussels, working in European affairs and communications for trade organisations and the private sector in the energy industry. Moving to London to work for international communications agencies saw Yvonne specialise in integrated marketing and communications for leading brands in the financial services, professional services and technology sectors.
Formerly Managing Director of Cognito’s London HQ, Yvonne is now the Chief Growth Officer for EMEA responsible for growing the business operations, international clients and talent.
Networking and connecting is Yvonne’s superpower and there is nothing she loves more than bringing people together to foster long lasting connections and friendships.
Yvonne recently took on the role of Chairperson for the Women’s Irish Network and her ambition is to inspire and motivate the next generation of Irish female talent through our powerful network, events and connections. She also believes strongly in supporting women and families and sees WIN’s work with the Irish Youth Foundation as a fundamental to improving the lives and opportunities of young Irish people in the UK.
She 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 and socialising.
Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn
Nuala Ginty - Community Manager
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.
Connect with Nuala on LinkedIn
Emily Shanks - Corporate Relationships & Sponsorship Lead
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.
Connect with Emily on LinkedIn
Christine Frith - Finance Lead
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.
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn
Sinead Dineen - Social Media, Comms & PR Lead
With a rich 12-year career in Public Relations and Marketing, 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.
Connect with Sinead on LinkedIn
Christine Bane - Strategy & Advisory
Christine, having worked in finance globally since 2012, is very much proudly aware of the reach and resounding success of the Irish diaspora from Luxembourg to New York.
Christine understands the connecting bond of the Irish at home and across the seas. She is an upholder of Ireland's cultural scene with fond memories of the Rose of Tralee to Ireland's economic efforts accompanying the trade mission delegation to the United States. You’ll see Christine at an American Irish Ball in Cleveland, Ohio, to finding a new Irish Cork friend climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a rendezvous over a pint of the black stuff and uisce beatha back on Dublin soil.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics & Statistics from University College Dublin and is experienced in credit and risk modelling.
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn
Andrea Willoughby - Event Producer
Andrea 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!
Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn
Tara Cronin - Advisory
Tara 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.
Connect with Tara on LinkedIn