for everyone living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
for everyone living in Ireland with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
for everyone living in Ireland with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
FASD Ireland Advisory Board
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Aliy Brown
ButtonParent of someone living with FASD
Aliy is mum to three young people, all have a history of prenatal alcohol exposure; alongside early childhood trauma and disrupted attachments having been care experienced.
Aliy has a BA Honours in Social Policy, and is a Chartered Manager, with a wealth of lived experience both in the work place and through life’s ups and downs.
Aliy has been parenting and working within the field of FASD for the last 11 years. Until September 2022 she was the FASD Project Manager and FASD Lead for Adoption UK, having set up and established the FASD service for parents/carers and professionals supporting families - FASD Hub Scotland - funded by the Scottish Government and run by Adoption UK.
She has a background in project management having worked previously for charities both in the UK and overseas
Married for more than 20 years in her free time, she enjoys many creative craft activities including sewing, hand spinning and knitting. Aliy describes herself as an FASD Advocate an #ExpertByExperience.
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Tristan Casson-Rennie
ButtonCo-opt : CEO
Tristan is Co-opt to the Advisory Board as CEO and founder of FASD Ireland, Tristan decided to start the organisation on 9th September 2021 - which also happened to be World FASD Awareness Day.
Tristan is also the Regional Director for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This unique partnership works really well as everyone Tristan speaks to about one, always learns about the other!
A qualified Interactive Hypnotherapist (IANLPC), Tristan particularly enjoys working with clients coping with early years trauma and stress anxiety.
Dad to three boys, two living with FASD, Tristan has first hand experience of the challenges faced by families and carers when trying to get the best outcomes for their child.
Tristan is no stranger to volunteering and advocating in education, having spent four years as a SEN Governor at a Primary School.
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Al Coates
ButtonSocial Worker
Al and his wife Paula adopted three children in 1999 and went on to be Foster Carers for a local authority for two children. They went on to adopt them in 2008 and their sibling in 2013. Their children are now 27, 25, 24, 16, 15 and 9.
Al left his career in construction in 2008 to be a stay-at-home parent and subsequently trained to be a social worker qualifying in 2013. Since then Al has worked within Fostering and moved to be an Independent Social Worker in 2015 specialising in fostering, supporting adoptive parents and managing challenging and aggressive behaviour.
Al has also campaigned to raise issues in relation to adoption and continuously worked with the Department of Education (DfE) in England since 2015 in various voluntary roles. Al also trains across the sector including police forces, youth justice, education, social care and families in a broad range of associated issues and is an NVR advanced practitioner.
Since qualifying Al has also been an active blogger and is the founder and co-host of “The A&F Podcast”
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Michelle McMahon
ButtonEducational Psychologist
Michelle has been an Educational Psychologist for the past ten years.
Michelle currently works in the public sector in Galway. Michelle gained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin, a Master’s degree in Atypical Child Development and a Doctorate in Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology both from Queen’s University Belfast.
Michelle is a Chartered Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
Michelle is interested in how best to support children and young people who have FASD in the school setting. She is also keenly interested in nurture, attachment and trauma-informed practices.
Michelle is a mother to a busy toddler, an avid reader and a proud Cavan woman.
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Louis Mulqueen
ButtonSecondary School Principal
Louis has thirty-seven years’ experience in educational settings.
A past student of St. Flannan’s College, Ennis, he went on to study Health and Physical Education and Geography at the University of Limerick, qualifying with 1st Class Honours.
Louis taught PE and Geography in St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon for twenty-three years. Concurrently he lectured in the University of Limerick in the areas of Sociology, Geography and Pedagogy.
He has held the position of Principal in Rice College, Ennis since 2008. He has been continually endorsed for his qualities in the areas of education, public speaking, curriculum development, leadership and management.
Louis is well known in sporting circles where his leadership, mentoring and coaching skills have proven highly successful in the Clare, Galway and Cork club and inter-county hurling world.
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Mike Taylor
ButtonGovernance, PR and Fundraising
Mike has an extensive level of experience in corporate governance, public relations, and fundraising.
He currently sits on the Board of Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) and a number of other non-profit organisations both locally and nationally.
A consultant in strategic counsel by trade, Mike studied Law, Political Science and Sociology at NUI Galway and currently works in the public sector.
Mike lives in Kilkee where he spends a lot of time working in the community through Loop Head Together and in his role as a Peace Commissioner.
“FASD Ireland is a fantastic organisation that I am proud to support through this advisory role. This Clare based social enterprise provides an invaluable level of advice and support to both families of people with FASD and public bodies, State agencies, and educators. FASD Ireland and the FASD Hub Ireland provide an importance public service in creating awareness around FASD and how we as a society still have much to create equality for people with disabilities.”
We are also delighted to have the time, ear, patience and experience of even more amazing volunteers
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Professor Raja Mukherjee
ButtonExpert Medical Advisor
Professor Mukherjee is an Adult Learning Disability Consultant Psychiatrist for Surrey and Border’s Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, with interest in the management of developmental disorders across the lifespan.
In September 2009 Raja launched the first NHS based specialist Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders behavioural clinic completing his PhD on the subject of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in 2014.
He acted as an invited advisor to the British Medical Association (BMA) board of science, the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) all related to FASD.
Raja is a member of The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standards group for FASD. He is currently the UK representative to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored initiative to consider the research criteria for FASD.
He is currently Clinical Lead for Adult neurodevelopmental services provided by Surrey and Borders including Adult ASD and ADHD services across Surrey, Hampshire and Portsmouth. He is an executive committee member of the RCPsych SIG on neurodevelopmental disorders.
Raja is Honorary Professor at the University of Salford.
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Rob O'Connell
ButtonFASD - What's da Craic Podcast co-host
Rob joined FASD Ireland as part of his University studies in January 2023. He was a 2nd year Arts student at University of Limerick, studying Geography and Linguistics - and also has an interest in Pyschology. Rob was responsible for developing the FASD Hub for Ireland, which provides support, advice and signposting to services for anybody living, caring or working with FASD.
After joining the team, Rob said "I knew that drinking through pregnancy can cause problems. But I was so unaware of the extent until I got the excellent training from the team. Being Irish, I am fully aware of the drinking culture that surrounds us. I think it is really important that we raise awareness and educate people about FASD. I am really looking forward to being a part of the team and making a difference!"
Rob is from a small town in North Clare. In his spare time he enjoys sport and plays Rugby with Ennis RFC in the winter, and Gaelic Football with St. Breckans in the summer.
Rob enjoyed his time with FASD Ireland so much that once his placement was complete, he agreed to continue being a co-host and contributor to FASD - What's da Craic on a voluntary basis.
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