Management
team
OUR management team
Self Help Africa’s management team supports the Board in the achievement of its objectives.
David Dalton
Executive Director
David is the Executive Director, responsible for day-to-day operations and management of the organisation.
After working in the commercial sector in IT and the hotel industry, David worked in Ethiopia with GOAL as Assistant Country Director in the mid-90s and later headed the organisation’s Human Resources department overseeing a staff of over 1,500 employees.
David then took on the role of CEO of Plan Ireland, an international children’s organisation and part of the Plan international federation, for more than nine years. He grew the organisation substantially and became a member of Plan’s Global Leadership Team.
David joined Self Help Africa as Executive Director in November 2016. David holds a Business Degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway as well as a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from University College, Dublin. He has also served as a board member of NGOs Dóchas and Comhlámh.
PETER MCDEVITT
CFOO
Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
He has over 20 years’ experience working at senior management level in international NGOs. In addition to being responsible for the Finance function in Self Help Africa, Peter also chairs the Programme Management Boards of the our Challenge Fund programmes in Kenya (AgriFI) and Zambia (EZCF).
Prior to joining Self Help Africa he worked as Head of Internal Audit and subsequently CFO in GOAL.
He also undertook interim country management roles in GOAL including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.
In a voluntary capacity he has been Chairman of Show Racism the Red Card, Director/Treasurer of Carmichael and Finance and Audit Committee member of Clúid.
He currently serves as Treasurer of Dóchas, the Irish Association for Non-Governmental Development Organisations. Peter has also worked in senior financial management roles in FTI and ESB International.
Peter holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from Dublin City University.
Orla Kilcullen
programmes DIRECTOR
Orla has 20 years professional experience in project management, including 12 years in emergency and development in South America, Asia and Africa.
She has provided project management support in the successful implementation of a varied portfolio of programmes, covering agricultural production, natural resource management, nutrition, community mobilization, value-chains, post-harvest technology, construction and support to people with disabilities as well as in the private sector across mobile telecommunications projects.
Orla joined Self Help Africa in 2010 and has held a number of roles, becoming Programmes Director in October 2015 with overall responsibility for the strategic direction and management of SHA country programmes.
Orla holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Management.
Colin lee
INTEGRATION MANAGER
Colin is a humanitarian professional with 28 year’s leadership and management experience at field and HQ levels, including 14 years in Beirut covering the Middle East.
Proven competencies in NGO operational start-ups, organisational consolidation and transformation in dynamic contexts. Producing quality briefs (Political & Humanitarian) with ability to articulate messaging to donors and international media.
Strategic design and leadership of programmes including refugees, displaced and host populations.
He joined as Integration Manager following the merger of Self Help Africa and United Purpose in Autumn, 2021.
MARTHA HOURICAN
HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Martha is from Dublin but grew up in Brussels and has spent most of her adult life in New York.
She spent several years in Sri Lanka and Guatemala, where she worked in overseas development.
In late 2009, Martha became Director of Business Development for Self Help Africa in the US and oversaw the successful establishment of the organisation in New York and Boston. She grew the organisation’s US public funding.
She is responsible for developing and implementing a fundraising strategy, overseeing a fundraising team, donor database and all fundraising activities in Ireland and the UK.
Martha graduated with a BA in History from Trinity College Dublin, and an MA in Development Studies from University College Dublin. She is the recipient of the 40 under 40 Irish American Award from the Irish Echo in 2013.
Helena Škember
Regional Director
Helena was born and raised in Split, Croatia. Due to her love of the sea, she studied marine biology and nautical science and postgraduate studies in fisheries, but she has also always been passionate about languages and international development. After graduation, she worked as a translator for a Spanish NGO that was providing humanitarian assistance to war-affected areas of Croatia.
Over time, Helena progressed to Project coordinator first in Croatia and then in Macedonia as her first international post. It marked the start of more than 20 years of international experience leading and setting-up development and emergency-response programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia and Central & Eastern Europe. Professionally active in five countries and in four languages (English, Portuguese, Spanish and Croatian). Designed and managed innovative projects in social accountability, health, climate change adaptation, livelihood, WASH and nutrition, natural resources conservation, mainstreaming human rights, gender and disability.
Helena occupied positions of CD, Cluster lead, and Interim International Programme director and is currently Regional Director for Southern Africa and Brazil and CD for Mozambique with UP/SHA.
damien healy
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Damien is a CIMA qualified Finance Manager, adept at producing high quality financial and management reports, and preparing analysis of business unit performance.
He has worked in various leadership roles, and was formerly Finance Manager with GOAL Global for five years.
Damien has proven leadership skills and ability to create clarity, generate energy, and deliver results; ensuring that underlying processing, review, and controls have been completed in accordance with best practice; ability to connect, collaborate and coach effectively with others in a multi-cultural, multi-location team environment, from junior to most senior levels.
He enjoys working with business partners from different disciplines, supporting them with commercial recommendations and insights to control costs and explore opportunities.