Ciara started her career as an Occupational Therapist in Mental Health, before completing a Masters in Public Health and a Masters in Business Administration, and moving into programme leadership roles in Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion, with a focus on improving outcomes for people living in areas of deprivation.
She has extensive operational service management experience across the NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary sector settings, in Mental Health, Homelessness, Prison Healthcare, Sexual Health Services and managing GP practices in areas of deprivation. She has managed Continuing Healthcare services and led the Mental Health Transformation and Delivery Programme for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.
Ciara worked in Ireland, Scotland and England before moving to Wales in April 2023 to take up the role of National Director for Mental Health in the NHS Wales Executive. This role includes leadership for the Strategic Programme for Mental Health team and the Suicide and Self Harm Programme team, giving her a unique opportunity to bring the clinical and the public health responses to suicide and self-harm together into one plan.
Ciara is a passionate advocate for reducing mental health inequalities and addressing service variation so that everyone has the opportunity to reach the same outcomes.
