Barry Hennebry is the CEO of Specialisterne Ireland. He leads the organisation in delivering its strategic objectives by empowering people and engaging effectively with stakeholders. With a strong track record of driving growth and leading strategic initiatives, Barry brings over 20 years of senior management experience.

Barry began his career in the construction industry, where he held Director-level positions, before moving into the public sector. He has since held senior leadership roles in Revenue, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. He also served as Deputy Director of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

Barry is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. He is committed to working with partners to foster more inclusive and understanding workplaces, with a particular focus on supporting neurodiversity.

Outside of his professional life, Barry enjoys playing golf at his local club in Portmarnock and has a keen interest in boxing. He is also a supporter of Manchester United and follows Irish rugby closely.

Barry believes strongly in the importance of values-driven leadership and is committed to building high-performing, inclusive organisations where people can thrive.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Business and an MSc in Finance.

Terry is a Business Development Manager with Specialisterne. She has a BSc in Business and qualified as an accountant, and previously worked in finance in the pharmaceutical sector. Terry then took an extended career break to stay at home with her family. Her son was diagnosed with autism at a young age; she describes navigating supports and school as challenging, as was learning how her son experiences the world. This was her biggest and most important education.

Terry joined Specialisterne in 2018, initially working in operations before moving to a strategic role in 2021. In 2024 Terry got a diagnosis of dyslexia, which greatly helped her to understand why she struggled with her job as an accountant – she could do it – but it was stressful.

Terry feels privileged to be working in Specialisterne with its diverse team, all of whom are so committed to creating inclusive workplaces. When she isn’t working Terry spends her time with family, friends and her dog. She loves being outdoors and reading, both of which ground and recharge her.

Megan is an Assessment and Support Lead at Specialisterne Ireland. She currently leads on our In This Together project supported by PEACEPLUS, facilitating social groups for neurodivergent individuals in the border counties. She also helps candidates with their interview skills and supports them in employment, facilitates trainings for companies and assists with Workplace Needs Assessments.

Megan holds a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Psychological Science – Clinical Stream, and more recently completed a programme in Leading Remote and Hybrid Teams. Her interest in neurodiversity was sparked by working as an assistant psychologist in secondary mental health, and she has also worked in social care, particularly in the homelessness sector.

In her free time, Megan loves being around animals, reading and gaming, especially playing PlayStation games.

Rachael works directly with neurodivergent candidates to support employment readiness through person-centred sessions. These sessions focus on building confidence, identifying strengths, and preparing for the job application process. She also partners with organisations to deliver training, workplace needs assessments, and tailored supports that help foster more neuroinclusive workplaces.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology through Science and a Master’s in Applied Psychology, Rachael has extensive experience supporting both neurodivergent adults and children. Her work is rooted in a strengths-based approach and a commitment to helping individuals and organisations to create environments where everyone can thrive.

Outside of work, Rachael is a qualified Pilates instructor. When she’s not teaching or attending classes herself, she enjoys going to the cinema, spending time outdoors on walks, and connecting with friends and family.

Lara is a Senior Research Officer at Specialisterne Ireland. Her role in covers leading research and policy analysis, which has various applications, including designing and delivering training for staff and stakeholders. She, with the CEO, is responsible for developing and writing grants. Additionally, she works on strategic planning.

Lara was a researcher for Specialisterne Ireland’s first international cooperation, the ‘Neurodiversity at Work’ Erasmus+ Project, co-funded by the European Union. She was elected the national representative for Ireland in the Quality Monitoring and Evaluation Committee within this consortium. Lara received her PhD in Literature from Trinity College Dublin, where she worked as a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Research Scholar funded by the Irish Research Council.

Hilary brings 20+ years across the charity sector and HSE specialising in mental health, autism and disability services and holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology.

Following her son’s diagnosis, Hilary left a successful career in Financial Services as a QFA to retrain in Psychology and Behavioural Science, establishing the first Early Intervention clinics and schools in Wicklow and South Dublin using evidence-based, measurable methods. Hilary is passionate about creating neuroinclusive environments and championing initiatives that empower neurodivergent talent.

At SPI, Hilary leads Governance, Compliance and HR combining experience with assurance. Outside of work, Hilary dances Salsa, Tango, practises Tai Chi and is currently learning Japanese.

Susan is a Senior Training and Support Executive at Specialisterne Ireland. 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.

With several years’ experience in workplace coaching, recruitment, HR and business management, Susan is passionate about working with neurodiverse individuals and supporting companies to create more inclusive workplaces for all. She holds a BA in Applied Psychology from UCC, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, and a Professional Diploma in Coaching with Neuroscience.

Susan also has a keen interest in empowering candidates to look after their wellbeing. She enjoys yoga, pilates and walking, and is a member of a book club.