Meet Our Trustees- Cathy Gaynor

Cathy is a a Board member for two development charities. Luckily for us, Oxfam Ireland was one. The similarities between Oxfam Ireland’s values and her own made the decision an easy one.

“For me, Oxfam Ireland was a clear choice as I have long observed and  admired Oxfam’s holistic approach which encompasses social justice not just overseas but also in our policies and practices in Ireland,” Cathy notes.

“When I did join the board, it was even more obvious to me that Oxfam Ireland is an organisation that genuinely strives to live its values,” she continues.

Hearing from partners about the impact of Oxfam Ireland’s work in different countries is just one of the rewarding aspects of Cathy’s role.

She loves hearing “how they are making progress in so many key areas such as gender and environmental justice, collectively overcoming challenges and steering a path through often complex contexts.”

Cathy identifies the “time-bound nature of development assistance when tackling so many deeply embedded issues” as something that can be difficult in her role at Oxfam Ireland.

Some issues she notes are “global changes which are leading to ever shrinking space for civil society and lack of conviction, cohesion and solidarity in facing global challenges.”

“Raising our voice to highlight these issues and support positive change has never been more important,” says Cathy. Despite the challenges, it is the people Cathy works with and for that make the role worthwhile. “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to associate with so many wonderful and committed people,” notes Cathy.