Sophia is dedicated to meeting all Governance and Regulatory requirements for the Housing Sector and the Not for Profit Sector. Sophia is committed to attaining the standards outlined for Tier 3 Approved Housing Bodies by the Regulation Office for Approved Housing Bodies.
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In particular, Sophia prioritises adherence to the Financial, Performance and Governance Standards for Approved Housing Bodies as produced by the Regulation Office for Approved Housing Bodies.
Sophia is also committed to adhering to the Charities Governance Code which sets out a mandatory standard for governance in Irish charities.
Meet Our Board
Michael McCarthy
Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Michael McCarthy is the Director of Cloud Infrastructure Ireland, which focuses on the infrastructure policy issues that affect cloud providers. Michael is also the former C.E.O of the Irish Solar Energy Association. Michael is a former Labour TD and Senator and a former Chair of the Oireacthas Committee on Housing, a Member of the Oireachtas Public Accountant Committee and was Appointed Chairman of the National Oversight Audit Commission by Eoghan Murphy T.D when he was Minister for Planning, Housing and Local Government in 2018. Michael was reappointed to this role by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O Brien T.D in 2023.
Olwyn Enright
Director
Olwyn has been working in communications and public affairs since 2011. She is a Director at DHR Communications where she provides strategic communications and public affairs advice, specialising in the delivery of services to clients with a strong public policy interest.
Olwyn brings her experience as a former solicitor and TD to her role on the Board. She represented Laois Offaly and was a member of the Fine Gael front bench for nine years, as spokesperson on Education and Science and later Social Protection. She was a member of many Oireachtas committees including those related to her portfolios. She also served as a member of Offaly County Council and the Midland Regional Authority.
Fintan Fanning
Director
Pauline Byrne
Director
Pauline is Partner and Head of Planning at Brady Shipman Martin, a prominent planning, landscape, and environmental firm in Ireland. With over 20 years of experience, she specialises in large-scale master planning and strategic planning, including notable work in China. Pauline has expertise in urban planning strategies, policy development, major city initiatives, infrastructure projects, public transport, industrial development, and arbitration cases. She holds a Master's in Regional and Urban Planning from UCD and a B.Sc. (Mgmt) from Trinity College Dublin.
Michael Lee
Company Secretary
Michael Lee has been appointed as the Company Secretary for Sophia Housing. Michael is Deputy Chief Executive of the Advertising Standards Authority where his regulatory brief incorporates policy and advocacy, strategy development and execution, delivery of business objectives, finance, corporate affairs, brand management and operational effectiveness. His role includes company secretarial and governance responsibilities for the ASA Board and expansive secretariat undertakings for the ASA Independent Complaints Council. Michael also brings extensive experience to Sophia from his previous roles. At Adare HRM, he served as Director of HR consultancy, with a business development brief, specialising in HR strategy, employment law, dispute resolution and mediation. Over his 15-year tenure at FBD Insurance plc, and as a member of the senior management team, he held the position of Head of HR, incorporating organisational strategy, industrial relations/employee relations, and transformational change. Other roles included senior positions in defence litigation, settlement negotiation and operations, having worked previously with several other leading insurers and insurance brokers. Michael holds an MBA from the National College of Ireland.
Majella Gallagher
Director
Majella Gallagher is a HR professional with over 20 years experience in media and publishing . In addition to her role as HR Director of The Irish Times Group of companies, she also served as Managing Director of the Irish Examiner and Echo publications. Majella has a career history of successful leadership, particularly in the areas of managing and delivering organisational change, managing industrial and employee relations and in supporting diversity and inclusion. She played a key role in the acquisition and successful merger of the examiner group of publications, which now form an important part of the portfolio of companies, within the Irish Times Group.
Child Safeguarding Statement
Sophia Housing is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of all the children and young people with whom we work. Every member of staff has a responsibility and duty of care to ensure that every young person and child engaging with Sophia as part of the work of Sophia is safe and protected from harm within the meaning of the Children First Act 2015.
Please read our statement in full HERE
Complaints Policy
Sophia is committed to giving all residents and visitors the opportunity to make a complaint about the accommodation, the service provided or disputes they may have with other residents or staff. The Complaints policy provides a format for our residents and visitors so that any complaints can be dealt with and resolved quickly and that they have course to bring their complaint to a higher body.
Please read our complaints leaflet HERE