About us Our Team Strategic Leadership Team Meet our Strategic Leadership Team Colin Hayburn, CEO Leslie Ann Scott - Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Carroll - Director of People and Organisational Development Pauline Flynn - Director of Finance and Corporate Services Sharon Hearty - Director of Policy and Development Deirdre O'Driscoll - Interim Director of Services ROI Neil McKittrick, Director of Services NI Colin HayburnCEO Colin graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1996 and qualified as a solicitor in 1998. He joined Almac in 2003 as a Legal Adviser and was appointed as General Counsel and Secretary to the Almac Board. For over fourteen years he has been an Executive Director at the international pharmaceutical giant Almac Group and his role has included leading on strategy, development and performance, governance across multiple jurisdictions, grant and funding opportunities and government liaison. He has been recognised for his contribution to economic development and philanthropy. Colin was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2022 for his services to philanthropy and economic development. Leslie Ann ScottChief Operating Officer A native of Derry/Londonderry, Leslie Ann followed her passion for youth work by volunteering with Extern Youth Services which fuelled an ambition to become a qualified Social Worker which included placement with Extern before becoming qualified. Relocating to Dublin in 2000 to work for the HSE, Leslie Ann quickly took up secondment to Extern to develop services in Dublin. Following a successful promotion to Programme Manager with Extern Ireland, Leslie Ann was instrumental in the development of Extern Services across the Republic of Ireland becoming Assistant Director of Services in 2016 and Director of Services from 2021. In April 2023, Leslie was appointed Chief Operating Officer for Extern NI and Extern Ireland. Jonathan CarrollDirector of People and Organisational Development Jonathan was appointed as Extern’s first Director of People and Organisational Development in 2019. He has worked in senior HR leadership roles for over 25 years in the retail, media and construction sectors for local, national and global organisations. Jonathan brings a wealth of expertise and experience to Extern of managing teams and change, creating and implementing HR strategies and people development initiatives which support organisational growth and transformation. Jonathan holds an MBA and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development. Pauline FlynnDirector of Finance and Corporate Services Pauline, who is from Belfast, is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. She attended Queens University Belfast and has a 1st Class honours degree in Accounting and Economics, and a postgraduate diploma in accounting. Pauline has held senior finance roles across a variety of sectors, managing a range of multi-disciplinary teams. For the last 17 years, she worked in two large charities, Director of Finance for Praxis Care, and Group Director of Finance & Corporate Services for Inspire Wellbeing. Sharon HeartyDirector of Policy and Development Sharon has over 30 years' experience in strategic and leadership communications across a range of sectors. Having begun her career at McCann-Erickson UK, she was Client Services Director responsible for the direction of some of the agency's leading accounts across the SME and public sector. Sharon moved client side and joined Phoenix Gas in Belfast as Department Head for Marketing, Communications & Corporate Affairs at Phoenix Gas. Sharon joined Extern in June 2021 as Head of Communications and Engagement and was appointed Director of Policy and Development in September 2022. Deirdre O'DriscollInterim Director of Services ROI Deirdre has worked in Extern since June 2007 and has held a variety of roles within Extern inclusive of Service Manager, Programme Manager, Assistant Director and currently Interim Director of Services ROI. Deirdre holds responsibility for Tusla, Department of Justice and HSE funded services. Deirdre has a wealth experience in the area of service delivery, people management, strategic development and contribution too and provision of leadership. She is passionate about the delivery of effective and high quality services. Deirdre’s prior experience in the residential care and homeless sector both in a professional and voluntary capacity has further served to invigorate her drive and energy to improve the lives of those most vulnerable in our society. Deirdre is originally from Kilkenny but is now living in Dublin with her husband and twin boys. She has an Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies and Diploma in Management and Employee Relations. Neil McKittrickDirector of Services NI Neil has worked extensively within the voluntary, community and charitable sector for over 15 years, including a number of leadership roles delivering strategic and operational outcomes across a range of projects supporting a variety of service users. Neil has held posts with the British Red Cross, Barnardos and, most recently, The Salvation Army, where he was Regional Manager (Ireland), responsible for overseeing homelessness services across Ireland where he embedded service delivery best practice, transformed the financial position of services and developed a management team into a collegiate group of empowered leaders. Neil was appointed MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list for his services to Humanitarian and International Relations and the community in Northern Ireland. Manage Cookie Preferences <148.105.251.16>