Our People

Sarah Tecklenborg

Interim CEO

Dr. Sarah Tecklenborg was appointed Interim CEO in February 2024. Sarah joined CFI in December 2019 as Senior Research and Policy Coordinator, bringing extensive research and management experience with her. Since then, Sarah established Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) programmes, support groups such as the Pregnancy Support and Advocacy Group, and has been instrumental in campaigning for better CF care and access to medications. Sarah graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a BA in Microbiology, a MSc in Global Health and a PhD in Molecular Epidemiology.

Jolyn Mulvey

Finance & HR Senior Co-ordinator

Agata Adamaszek

Finance and Audit Senior Co-Ordinator

One of the longest members of staff, Agata joined CFI in 2008. In her role as Finance and Audit Senior Coordinator, she looks after the financial side of the organisation. Reporting regularly to the CEO, Staff & Finance Committee and Board, she works with the auditors to prepare annual Financial Reports which showcase CFI’s financial activity to the public in transparent way. Agata has a Masters in Economics from the University of Szczecin, a Diploma in Accounting & Finance from Dublin Business School and is an ACCA accounts technician.

Nicola Delaney Foxe

Communications and Awareness Raising Senior Co-ordinator

Nicola joined CFI as Public Awareness and Social Media Officer in Jan 2022, moving to the role of Communications and Awareness Raising Senior Coordinator in Sept 2023. Being self-employed since 2012, Nicola partnered with charitable, not-for-profit, public and private sector organisations and following three years experience as a volunteer PRO for her local GAA club, Nicola decided to change careers, graduating from DCU’s Masters course in Public Relations and Strategic Communications in 2021. Nicola has communications experience in-house and in an agency setting and has worked on many not-for-profit and charitable communications campaigns

Caroline Heffernan

CF Advocate

Caroline started working for CF Ireland in September 2007 as Patient Advocate on the Member’s Services Team. In her role as advocate she supports members from diagnosis through teenage years and into adult life. In addition to member advocacy, Caroline organises the annual conference and is involved with fundraising and raising awareness by visiting schools, colleges and medical institutes informing the public and future medical staff about aspects of living with CF. Previously Caroline worked for over 20 years as a liaison tutor for children with learning difficulties.

Rory Tallon

CF Advocate

Rory works as CF Patient Advocate as part of CFI’s member service team to help and support people with CF and families affected by CF through information, guidance, grants and advocacy. Rory joined CFI in 2016 having previously worked as a clinical data manager in a pharmaceutical research organisation for 20 years. Rory qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Industrial Microbiology with Chemistry from University College Dublin and an MSc in Biological Sciences from Dublin City University.

Fergal Smyth

Fundraising Manager

Fergal was appointed Fundraising Manager in 2015 having previously worked as Fundraising Manager for The Asthma Society of Ireland and following a long successful career in the Grocery Sector. He is responsible for developing and implementing the fundraising strategy for CFI. A graduate of Letterkenny IT (H-Dip in Marketing & Small Business Management) and Sligo IT (Diploma in Business Studies), in his free time, Fergal likes to play Traditional Irish Music. He is involved in voluntary work / fundraising associated with his music, including running the Seosamh MacGabhann Summer School.

Jude Chettiar

Digital Marketing Co-Ordinator

Jude joined CFI in July 2022 in the position of Digital Marketing Co-Ordinator within the Fundraising team. Prior to CFI, Jude worked in Member First Credit Union as a Marketing Executive and in Vodafone as a Data Analyst. Jude holds a Master’s Degree in Data Analytics and is currently completing his Masters in Digital Marketing from TU Dublin. Jude has experience working both in analytics and marketing field both in multinationals and small organisations. Originally from Mumbai, India, Jude has lived in Dublin for over 4 years now.

Hazel Doran

Fundraising Events Coordinator

Hazel joined CFI in July 2023 as the Fundraising Events Coordinator. She holds a degree in Event Management from TU Dublin, where she studied at the City Campus. Hazel served as the Vice President for Welfare and Equality at TU Dublin Student Union for a year before joining CFI .Born and reared in North Dublin, She is passionate about social justice and the charity sector as a whole. Hazel is looking forward to making a positive impact and is excited to contribute to CFI's mission

Ryan Michelle Abrams

Fundraising Executive

Ryan joined CFI in October 2023 as Fundraising Executive. She is a graduate from Muhlenberg College with a double major in Business and Theatre, as well as a minor in English. Ryan has always had a passion for helping others, including co-founding a non-profit organization focused in providing aid to schools and communities in Haiti. Prior to joining the CFI team, Ryan has held fundraising and marketing positions with companies in the United States, including the New York City Ballet. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Ryan has been living in Dublin

Juan Carlos Merchant Benitez

Fundraising Administrator

Carlos joined CFI in October 2022. Taking the position as Fundraising Administrator. He is a graduate from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in International Relations. Prior to joining CFI Carlos ran the family business commercializing and producing cleaning products and plastic containers used for sanitizers and antibacterial gel. He was working for several years at a children’s Camp in New York. During his free time Carlos enjoys traveling, hiking and sports. Originally from Puebla, Mexico.

Sarah Duggan

Fundraising Development Coordinator

Sarah joined the team in March 2024, following 8 months of volunteer work. Sarah is a Fundraising Development Coordinator at CFI and is responsible for the 65 Roses Day campaign, and managing all grant and trust opportunities. Shortly after graduating from DCU with a Honors Business Degree and a Masters in Human Resource Management, Sarah moved to California where she spent 10 years working in technology companies. Sarah returned home to Ireland in 2021.

Naisa Almeida

Financial Management Specialist

Naisa joined CFI in September of 2023 as part of the finance team. Naisa has three degrees - most recently obtaining a BA with Honours in Business Studies here in Dublin, complementing a degree in Library Science (transferred to an early career in Librarian Science in Northeast Brazil) plus a degree in Travel & Tourism. Naisa's passions outside of work lay in books & document preservation within library science, best demonstrated through her publication: https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/39863.