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Meet The Team

Barry Hennebry

CEO

Terry Gleeson

Strategy and Business Development Manager

Megan Carroll

Assessment and Support Executive

Sarah Coan

Assessment and Support Executive

Hilary Martin

Administration & Compliance Manager

Sinead O'Brien

Senior Assessment and Support Executive

Susan Cullen

Training and Tutoring Support Executive

Sinead Ryan

Assessment and Support Executive

Melissa Mooney

Business and Support Executive

Robert Cosgrove

Accountant

Board of Directors

Dr. Sheila Gilheany

Chair

Karen Ferris

Director

Peter McKenna

Director

Aoife Kelly Gibson

Director

Aidan Keogh

Director

Adam Harris

Patron

Vincent Brennan

Director

Barry Hennebry

CEO

Barry Hennebry is the CEO of Specialisterne Ireland. Barry leads our organisation to achieve our strategic goals through its people and stakeholders. With a proven track record of driving growth and spearheading strategic initiatives, Barry brings over two decades of senior management experience. 

Barry has worked in the construction industry and more recently in the public sector with senior management roles in Revenue, the ODCE, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and as Deputy Director of the CCPC.

Barry is passionate about diversity and inclusion and working with partners to create a more understanding neurodiverse workplace.

Barry has a BA(Hons) in Business and a MSc in Finance. 

Terry Gleeson

Strategy and Business Development Manager

Terry is a Strategy and Business Development Manager. Terry leads our work to implement our Strategic Plan, enabling us to plan for future growth. Ensuring we evolve and develop to meet the needs of our candidates and our Business Partners. Terry has a BSc in Business and qualified as an accountant, she previously worked in finance, in the pharmaceutical sector.

Terry joined Specialisterne in 2018 initially working in Operations before moving to a Strategic role in 2021. Terry is passionate about working with neurodiverse individuals and helping them to reach their potential.

Megan Carroll

Junior Assessment and Support Executive

Megan is a Junior Assessment and Support Executive who works with candidates on CV building and interview skills development. She works with candidates on a one-to-one basis to provide ongoing support through employment.

Megan holds a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Psychological Science. Megan has experience in the homeless sector and in mental health. Working as an assistant psychologist sparked Megan’s passion for neurodiversity, and in particular supporting individuals reach their potential in employment.

Sarah Coan

Assessment and Support Executive

Sarah is an Assessment and Support Executive here at Specialisterne Ireland. Her role requires her to support candidates refine their CV, develop interview skills, and explore employment opportunities.  Sarah also plans and creates posts for the Specialisterne Ireland social media and assists with workplace needs assessments to help ensure successful employment outcomes. Sarah has recently graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and is currently pursuing a Masters in Applied Developmental Psychology. She has much experience working with neurodivergent individuals in both educational and recreational settings, and is passionate about neurodiversity.

Hilary Martin

Administration & Compliance Manager

Hilary is the Administration & Compliance Manager at Specialisterne Ireland. Hilary has over 20 year’s experience working within the charitable sector & the HSE in the areas of Disability, Autism and Mental Health Services. After establishing a successful career in the Financial Services sector, Hilary became interested in creating positive social impact together with a commitment to address the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals. Guided by a personal connection, Hilary established and operated some of the first Early Intervention Clinics in Dublin & Wicklow employing multi-disciplinary teams specialising in Psychology, Behaviour Science, Language and Social Skills development.

Hilary manages the administrative function within Specialisterne Ireland covering Compliance, GDPR, Training, HR and IT. Hilary is also the Designated Liaison Officer (DLP) under the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children; Children First Act 2015. With a passion for advocating inclusivity, Hilary is dedicated to ensuring the charity’s mission is realised through effective practices and rigorous compliance standards.

Hilary holds a Bsc.(Hons) Psychology and is a qualified Charter Insurer in Life, Pension and Investments.

Sinead O'Brien

Senior Assessment and Support Executive

Sinéad is a Senior Assessment & Support Executive responsible for assisting candidates with CV development, interview preparation and continued support through employment. She is also involved in running the mentorship programme where Specialisterne connects mentors with candidates to provide a uniquely dynamic learning partnership.

Sinéad comes from a psychology background having completed an MSc in Work and Organisational Psychology. Previous to this, she completed a BA in Psychology and Sociology. Sinéad completed Front Line Management training with the Irish Management Institute during her time in Specialisterne. Her short-term work as a special needs assistant sparked her interest in neurodiversity.

Susan Cullen

Senior Training and Support Executive

Susan is a Senior Training and Support Executive at Specialisterne Ireland. She has several years’ experience in workplace coaching, recruitment, HR and business management. She supports and empowers our candidates to gain and maintain meaningful work by providing them with a one-to-one coaching service, ongoing support and confidence building strategies.

She also collaborates with our partner companies and facilitates them with their recruitment, on-boarding and retention needs through the variety of services offered to them. Susan is passionate about working with neurodiverse individuals and also supporting companies to create more inclusive workplaces for all.

She holds a BA Degree in Applied Psychology from UCC and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management. She has also completed a Professional Diploma in Coaching with Neuroscience.

Sinead Ryan

Assessment and Support Executive

Sinéad is an Assessment and Support Executive who helps candidates refine their CVs, develop interview skills, and navigate employment opportunities with confidence.


With a strong foundation in social care and education, she holds a postgraduate and Master’s degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. Sinéad has worked extensively with neurodivergent individuals and those with intellectual disabilities, supporting children, adolescents, and adults in accessing essential services and opportunities for growth.

Melissa Mooney

Business and Support Executive

Melissa is a Business and Support Executive who assists in the administration of the day-to-day services Specialisterne provides to candidates and employers.

Melissa holds a BA in Applied Languages with Political Science and has worked extensively in the supported employment space, particularly in coaching and supporting neurodivergent individuals into employment. Shaped by her own lived experience as a neurodivergent person and a lifelong passion for inclusive employment, Melissa has also been a public speaker at neurodiversity awareness events across Ireland, including events run by AsIAm, Dublin City University and the University of Limerick.