Meet the team

Laura joined the Board of Childhood Cancer Ireland in 2014, after her daughter Isobel was diagnosed with cancer at only 21 months old. Laura played a committed role on the Board of Directors for almost seven years, before becoming the first CEO of the charity in late 2022.  

Having experienced a child’s diagnosis, treatment and the long-term effects first hand, Laura is passionate about supporting families and survivors at all stages and to establishing and delivering programmes that will ensure the long-term wellbeing of families and survivors. She believes that increased public awareness of childhood cancer will ultimately lead to more funding and research, early diagnosis, improved survival rates and fewer side effects from treatment. Laura has a background in financial services. 

Dr Mairead Brennan, Principal Clinical Psychologist has 10 years of experience of working within Psycho-Oncology services across children, adolescents, young adults and adults. She completed her Clinical Doctorate training in University of Galway in 2015.  

Mairead completed psycho-oncology specialist placements during her training and worked in Cancer Care West in Galway for eight years, during which time she developed a hospital-based service within the Galway Clinic and a community-based family service within Cancer Care West.   

Since 2023, in collaboration with Childhood Cancer Ireland, Mairead has developed and co-facilitated a one-day Psychoeducational Workshop for Parents following their child’s cancer treatment.  

Having worked in the not for profit sector for 17 years, Rebecca brings experience of administration, operations and charity governance to the Childhood Cancer Ireland.