Aoife Kirwan: Lived Experience and Patient Organisation Engagement Project Officer – National Neurorehabilitation Strategy
Aoife is the Lived Experience and Patient Organisation Engagement Project Officer supporting a partnership between the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to support the implementation of Ireland’s National Neurorehabilitation Strategy. Her role focuses on ensuring that the voices and experiences of people living with neurological conditions and patient organisations inform the development and delivery of neurorehabilitation services.
Aoife has over ten years’ experience working in the neurological sector, supporting people living with neurological conditions through information, engagement, advocacy and collaboration with patient organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers. Prior to joining the partnership, Aoife worked with MS Ireland across information, advocacy and research, developing resources, supporting engagement initiatives and contributing to work aimed at improving supports and services for people living with multiple sclerosis and their families.
Aoife is passionate about lived experience and patient organisation engagement, co-production and ensuring that lived experience is embedded in the development of health and rehabilitation services.
Contact Aoife at akirwan@nai.ie
Nicola O'Malley: Research and Policy Officer
As Research and Policy Officer, Nicola works closely with the NAI staff team, member organisations, healthcare professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders to inform and support the development, implementation and evaluation of research and policy initiatives aligned with the National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy.
Nicola is a graduate of the University of Limerick with a BSc and PhD in Physiotherapy. In line with this, she has nine years of clinical experience, eight years of which were dedicated to the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation. In addition to this, she has nine years of research experience completed in the field of rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions. Nicola has completed extensive training across a range of research methods including evidence synthesis, participatory health research, and qualitative and quantitative research.
Nicola is extremely passionate about the provision of timely, high-quality, person-centred and evidence-based services to people with neurological conditions and is keen to contribute to research and policy to progress this.
Contact Nicola at nomally@nai.ie
