Appointments to the Social Workers Registration Board:

The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has appointed/reappointed the following persons as members to the Social Workers Registration Board.

Rachel Delaney

Ms Rachel Delaney qualified as a social worker in 2013. After she graduated, Rachel worked in a number of child protection roles in Ireland and in the UK. In Ireland she has also worked as a social worker in the disability sector and adult safeguarding. In 2020, Rachel moved to her current position as a senior social worker in The Alders Unit (child sexual abuse service). Rachel has a particular interest in social justice, child and youth participation and advocacy.

Mary Kennedy

Dr Mary Kennedy is an Assistant Professor in Social Work and Programme Director of the Professional Master of Social Work (PMSW) at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin (UCD). Mary is a graduate of UCD’s PMSW programme and holds a PhD in Social Work, with extensive practice experience across adult mental health, child and family services, and medical social work. Prior to joining UCD, Mary held lecturing positions at Southeast Technological University and Trinity College Dublin. Since 2023, she has served on the Social Work Registration Board of CORU, contributing expertise in social work education, professional standards, and workforce development.

Owen Blee

Mr Owen Blee is a registered dispensing optician actively engaged in professional practice. He brings over 20 years of experience in the practice, governance and management of community-based eye care services, including senior leadership and board-level roles. He holds postgraduate qualifications in ethics, governance, health systems, health policy and business administration.

Christopher Martin

Mr Chris Martin is a financial regulatory lawyer, currently working in-house in financial crime. He previously worked as a partner in a Dublin law firm, in the Central Bank of Ireland, and was the judicial fellow to Justice William McKechnie. He is a director and council member of the Compliance Institute, and chair of the Central Steering Committee, and co-chairs the Blockchain Ireland legal and regulatory working group. He also acts as a supervisor for the Law Society of Ireland's Masters in Advanced Law, and has acted as the internal examiner for the post-graduate diploma in regulatory law in practice.