Our Team

Leda is Head of Programmes in A Lust For Life.

Leda’s background is in developing and delivering educational and well-being programmes, which is underpinned by her BA in Psychology and MSc in Mental Health from Trinity College Dublin. Leda is passionate about changing Irelands’ narrative and support system around mental health, in particular for Irish young people. This has been at the backbone of her educational and working career after losing a close family member through suicide. Leda has made it her mission is to empower young people to mind their mental health, to break down the barriers of stigma that surrounds mental health and to create a more welcoming society that acknowledges and supports other people’s challenges.

Pritesh is a co-founder of A Lust for Life and provides IT services to the organisation. Pritesh has a deep passion for technology and mental health and strongly believes in the mission behind A Lust For Life. He decided over 12 years ago to walk away from a successful career in banking and start a web design company where he could further build on his passion for technology. He has worked with many companies throughout various sectors to deliver bespoke solutions using unique programming skills along with a great eye for aesthetics and has contributed to many satisfied clients and a successful business over this period. Pritesh later expanded the business to include sports and personality management for a number of high profile athletes in the lead up to the Olympic Games. Pritesh’s insight into digital media strategy has been a key factor to successful sponsorship deals and is driven to deliver content which is engaging. Pritesh is working on developing further projects and products for both web based and mobile platforms.

Bernie has over 20 years’ experience in consulting, recruitment, executive coaching, marketing and business management. She began her career in brand marketing with Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard and L’Oréal in Paris, before her passion for people led her into a career in client services, executive recruitment and coaching, HR consulting, contracting and managed services.

Previously she was Managing Director and a board member of Alternatives, a leading marketing talent firm with extensive experience of leading teams, relationship building and working across industry sectors. She launched her own talent and coaching consultancy called We Love People in 2020 and co-founded the YayCanDo podcast in 2020 which is all about powering possibility.

Bernie is committed to helping people believe in themselves and possibility, to grow their self-esteem, resilience, and emotional intelligence, to proactively manage their mental health, to define their own success and leverage their talent & strengths to lead fulfilling lives & build sustainable careers throughout their lifetime.

Her interest in mental and emotional health and wellbeing stems from experiencing burn out several years ago, turning to food for comfort, which led to a compulsive overeating disorder, from which she is now recovered. She is also Mum to two fantastic teenagers, so A Lust for Life’s mission is very close to her heart.

She is a qualified executive coach and is undertaking a 4 years MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy in Turning Point Institute as a trainee psychotherapist.

She has also completed a Master’s in Philosophy and an International Postgraduate Diploma in International Marketing.

She relishes spending time with family and friends, being outdoors and is never happier then when she is in and on water where she can get her natural fix. Grateful member of the fantastic Avoca Hockey Club and Royal Saint George Yacht Club, where she is a novice laser dinghy sailor.

Ciara is the Creative Director of A Lust for Life.

Ciara has been working with the A Lust for Life team since 2017, and prior to that, has worked as a public relations and communications consultant for some of the country’s leading state agencies and organisations to produce communications campaigns and strategy on social issues ranging from housing, to the environment, to tourism, to overseas aid.

She specialised in youth communications and in designing educational programmes and experiential events for primary and secondary schools and colleges. Ciara has also spent many years working with some of Ireland’s largest non-governmental organisations, including Women’s Aid and the Irish Family Planning Association, working on organisational strategy, training, PR and communications.

Ciara has always cared deeply about our country’s mental health, having experienced mental health issues both herself, and in her friend and family circles, including losing a close family member through suicide. Ciara wrote her MA thesis on representation of mental health in the Irish Media in 2001, and has witnessed the hugely positive sea change in Irish culture around mental health over the previous two decades since.

She believes that storytelling and breaking the silence surrounding mental health is key to social change; but that this needs to be shored up by significant state investment in, and normalisation of, services for people experiencing mental health problems; as well as investment in positive mental health programmes and education, especially for young people.

Ciara is also podcast producer and self-confessed podcast and radio nerd, and most recently has been working with Niall Breslin to produce his hugely successful Where Is My Mind series, his Wake Up/Wind Down Spotify series. She was also the producer of the award-winning Where There’s A Will podcast series for A Lust for Life.

She is mammy to Ezzy and Seth (the humans) and Larry (the wheaten terrier), and lives with her husband and family in beautiful Kilkenny.

Dr. Eddie Murphy Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Advocate, Author & Adjunct Associate Professor, UCD School of Psychology. Dr Murphy is married to Carol and has two boys Oisin (12) & Darragh (10). Passionate about solutions for children’s wellbeing, emotional resilience and mental health, Dr Murphy is the Principal Psychological Author of the A Lust For Life Schools Wellbeing Programme. A former board member of A Lust For Life, he is a Mental Health Advisor and on the evaluation team of the Schools Wellbeing Programme. As a practicing clinical psychologist he is acutely aware children’s wellbeing and the need for proactive approaches. He is probably better known to you from his TV work where his practical, respectful and hope orientated approach has a strong solution focus. His passion and enthusiasm about wellbeing is anchored in evidenced based psychology and this evidence base informs the Schools Wellbeing Programme.

Dr. Malie Coyne is a Clinical Psychologist, Bestselling Author, and Adjunct Psychology Lecturer at University of Galway, who sits on the Mental Health Advisory Panel for the A Lust for Life charity, and is Psychological Lead for their Mental Health Schools Programme. Malie also works as Clinical Supervisor for the innovative SilverCloud digital mental health platform. Malie released her award-winning book “Love in, Love out: A compassionate approach to parenting your anxious child” with Harper Collins Ireland in July 2020. With her considerable experience of working with clients throughout the lifespan, Malie is fast becoming one of the leading voices in compassionate self-care in Ireland. Through her advocacy work, public speaking and print, radio and television contributions, Malie shines a light on mental health issues and promotes meaningful wellbeing and work-life balance. Malie lives in Galway with her husband and two little ladies. For more of her work, see www.drmaliecoyne.ie or follow Malie on Twitter and Instagram (@maliecoyne) or Facebook / Linkedin (Dr. Malie Coyne).

Real Nation was founded in 2000 by former teacher Aidine O’Reilly (B.A., H.Dip, M.Ed). Over the past 20 years, Real Nation has evolved to become an award-winning specialist Educational and Behavioural Change agency employing nearly 50 staff. Some of Real Nation’s projects include Food Dudes (Bord Bia), SuperTroopers (Laya Healthcare), AIB Future Sparks, SEAI One Good Idea, Our Word Irish Aid Awards, to name a few. Real Nation work with psychologists, educators, and project managers who specialise in key areas across four departments – Education, Experiential, Events and Design to service and support our campaigns and initiates.

Sasha King is an award-winning film director and producer. She is also a qualified drama teacher with a Masters’s degree in Mental Health from Trinity College. Sasha’s most recent film VICKY was nominated for an ICCL Human Rights Award, distributed by Element/Volta Films and showing in cinemas nationwide. Another award-winning feature film Sasha directed, AKRON, won 11 festivals across the USA and was distributed by Hulu and Wolfe. AKRON has been described as a game-changer in LGBTQIA filmmaking. Sasha is the director of the video content for The A Lust For Life school programmes. She is passionate about making film content that pushes for progressive change in how Ireland supports its young people in the areas of Mental Heath.

Dr. Victoria Harris is a Humanistic & Integrative psychotherapist in private practice who specializes in using creative techniques for emotional healing. Dr. Harris has trained in child psychotherapy and play therapy and researched the use of creative techniques in psychotherapy. She works with children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Harris has two children (Theo & Cara) and is a trained yoga teacher. She is also a children’s middle-grade fantasy author, with a focus on using the power of metaphor to promote resilience. Dr. Harris believes strongly in early intervention and using creativity as a tool for healing. She enjoys spending time in nature, especially in West Cork, Ireland. It is here surrounded by the rugged beauty of the landscape and the local folklore that she finds the inspiration for her books.

Linsey McNelis is an Accredited Play Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and Attachment Play Practitioner with a private practice in Galway. After completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology Linsey dedicated four years to working as a special needs educator. During this time, she discovered the immense potential of play as a medium for expression and learning. In 2008, Linsey began her training in Play Therapy, driven by a desire to help children overcome challenges in a secure environment while fostering self-awareness and building self-esteem.

Linsey is also deeply committed to promoting infant mental health and the significance of early attachment relationships in a child’s development. She has completed training in three Attachment programmes- Baby Bonding, Heart to Heart and Parent Child Attachment Play, all designed to strengthen family relationships through play. Linsey currently facilitates training in these programmes in Ireland, in collaboration with UK-based Clear Sky Children’s Charity.

Louise Shanagher is a mindfulness teacher, children’s therapist and author from Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Louise has a BA and MSc in Psychology and further qualifications in Mindfulness, Psychotherapy and Play therapy. Louise originally trained as an Organisational Psychologist and went on to specialize in teaching mindfulness and mindful self-compassion. Louise is the author of Ireland’s first series of mindfulness books for children the “Mindfully-Me” series, the new “Kindfully-Me” series and is the co-author of Ireland’s first mindfulness curriculum “The Mindful Heart” curriculum. She is also the creator of “Creative Mindfulness Kids” Practitioner Training. Louise is deeply passionate about sharing mindfulness and compassion practices with others and has introduced tens of thousands of people to these practices. She wholeheartedly believes that mindfulness and compassion practices have the potential to transform people’s individual lives and society for the better. Louise passionately believes that all children should have the opportunity to learn mindfulness and compassion based practices and feels this will help them lead happier and healthier lives.

Piquant is a full-service creative agency. We are ambitious. We look at the bigger picture and create tailored pieces that speak to your audience. We listen, we create, we communicate.

A Dublin born and based film production company who focus on the exploration of the human condition through the lens of music, travel, food and the untold story.

Serial Entrepreneur Andrew Jenkinson is Director and Co-founder of Interactive experience company vStream, and XR experience specialists vStream Health. Andrew holds a BSc in Computer Applications from DCU and a Masters in Innovation & Technology Management from The Smurfit School of Business. Prior to founding The vStream Group of companies with childhood friend Niall O’Driscoll, Andrew was a founding member of Irish software startup SteelTrace which was acquired by US Multinational Compuware for $20M in 2006. Andrew has received significant award recognition including Internet Marketer of the year, Entrepreneur of the year (European Business Awards) and Irish Times Innovation Awards. Andrew is a keen musician, father of 3, and loves anything with an engine!

Paula is the Charity Co-Founder, Chair and acting CEO of A Lust for Life. Paula began her career in London working in financial management with Marks & Spencer plc., having graduated from UCD with a BSoc Sc and MEcon Sc. As a Senior Executive/Partner with Accenture plc., she led complex, global transformation & outsourcing programmes. Paula went on to become COO of The Work Foundation, a UK ‘think tank’ focused on the future of work and the knowledge economy. As an independent consultant in the UK and Ireland, Paula has worked in senior interim strategic planning/transformational leadership roles, e.g., as interim Global Director of Programmes for Clarks and interim Global Head of Solutions for Mind Gym. In parallel to her role at A Lust for Life, Paula continues to work on client engagements with EY Ireland, as part of their Advisory practice.

One of Ireland’s most prominent mental health advocates, Niall is Co-Founder and Creative Director of A Lust for Life.

He has produced and written several documentaries about mental health and performance psychology and has worked closely with government and the EU parliament to further influence the discussion on and development of future policy in mental health and wellbeing.

With a  degree in Economics and Sociology from University College Dublin, a Higher Certificate in Performance Psychology from IADT and a Masters in Mindfulness Based Interventions from the School of Psychology in UCD, Niall continues to extend his work further internationally. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and IADT.

A former Gaelic footballer and Leinster rugby player, Niall is also a musician, multi-platinum selling song writer, music producer, public speaker and documentary maker. He is author of the bestseller “Me and my mate Jeffrey” (which he wrote about his journey with his mental health) in addition to more recent children’s books ‘Magic Moment’ and ‘Take Five’ which centre on using identifiable stories and characters to provide mindfulness tools to young children.

Niall has also recently launched ‘Where Is My Mind’, a new podcast series which talks about the impact our society has on us – and how we can deal with it through mindfulness practice and meditation.

Áine started her career as a trainee accountant, then changed direction and qualified as a general and paediatric nurse. After a number of years in nursing she went back to fulltime education where she completed an honours degree in Behavioural Sciences. Áine worked for two years in the area of child psychiatry following which she went on to work for the ISPCC as the Childline Manager and the Director of Services. In August 2007 Aine was appointed CEO of the National Parents Council Primary (NPC).

Áine was appointed to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) by the Minister for Education and Skills; served on the Board of the Children’s Rights Alliance and was appointed to the Teaching Council in April 2016 and served on the first fitness-to-teach hearing panel.

Áine has served on a number of Department of Education and Skill’s committees, is a member of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety and represents NPC on the European Parents’ Association. In December 2017 Áine was awarded a Masters in Executive Leadership by the University of Ulster.

Áine believes all decisions in schools should be child centred and that this will be best achieved by fostering positive relationships between parents and schools, and by ensuring the voice of the child is included. In 2018, Áine oversaw the expansion of NPC’s remit into providing services and support for parents of children in the early years’ education.

Darina holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Trinity College, Dublin.  Her doctoral research was focused on the development of childhood anxiety.  Upon completion of her studies in 2014, she took up a post at the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, where she worked on various national research projects, such as the evaluation of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Programme.  In 2016, she joined DCU’s Institute of Education (IoE) as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Assessment, and in 2019, she was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the IoE’s School of Human Development.  She lectures in Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and quantitative research methods on the B.Ed., M.Ed., and PME teacher education programmes and her research interests include child development, wellbeing, and the assessment & measurement of complex competencies.

Tom is a chartered Clinical Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland. He completed his professional doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College Dublin (UCD), after completing a research PhD in the area of cognitive neuropsychology. Tom has worked across a number of clinical settings with both children and adults e.g., Child and Adult Mental Health Services; Primary Care; and Disability Services (on the 0-18 team). He is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland investigating psychotic experiences in adolescents, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University College Dublin investigating the effectiveness and efficacy of remote psychological interventions.

Martin O’Connor in a clinical psychologist working in Primary Care Psychology Services. He has completed the UCD School of Psychology PhD Research Programme and Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology. Martin’s research interests include evaluating the efficacy of psychological interventions and investigating their processes of change.

Emma Hoctor is a Clinical Psychologist with a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from UCD. She has experience working with children, teenagers, and adults in primary care, hospital, and mental health settings. Emma is passionate about promoting a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing including a focus on nutrition and exercise. She takes a compassionate approach to her work and is interested in giving voice to the lived experience of participants in individual and group interventions.

Tomás Timmins is a primary teacher with experience teaching a range of classes in both English medium schools and Gaelscoileanna. He graduated from St. Patrick’s College, DCU with a Bachelor of Education and Gaeilge. Tomás recently completed a Master of Education (Teaching and Learning) in DCU. His research interests include pupil wellbeing, mental health and physical health. As part of his masters thesis, Tomás evaluated the strengths of A Lust For Life and its impact on the children from an educational perspective.