Meet the Team

Ben has a Master’s in Development Practice and began his current role as Programme Support Officer in October 2023. Upon graduating from an undergraduate degree in International Business Management with French, Ben decided to pursue a career in the Not-for-Profit sector having spent time volunteering in food bank programmes, thus witnessing firsthand the inequality and challenges that people face in the world today. He originally joined Plan as an Intern in March 2023 having recently completed a Master’s in Development Practice and began his current role as Programme Support Officer in October 2023. In his free time Ben enjoys playing and watching sports (particularly football) and has become the latest member of the office to take on running marathons (just half marathons for now, maybe a full marathon one day!!).

Linda joined Plan International Ireland in September 2015 after responding with Plan International in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea West Africa to the Ebola crisis. An experienced aid worker, Linda has over six years’ experience working across Africa in countries such as Tanzania, Sudan and Niger. Linda holds a Degree in Civil Engineering and a Higher Diploma in Education. More recently, she finished a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development at the University College Dublin. In her spare time Linda likes to knit, hike and has been known to run the roads.

Deirdre joined Plan International Ireland in July 2017 and has many years’ experience working in the international development sector. An early posting with VSO as a teacher in China influenced her career progression, working in project management in Ireland with African students, international development workers, migrant women and asylum seekers. She spent 6 years in Ethiopia, managing emergency and livelihoods programmes and working as a gender advisor for fields in East Africa. Deirdre has a Masters in Development Studies and also in Management (Community and Voluntary Sector) and has been involved in managing Certificates in Leaders for Change and Project Management at the National College of Ireland.