Mary is a passionate advocate for values-led and impact driven philanthropy and social investment. She has over 25 years' experience of working in and consulting to civil society organisations and has been responsible for driving numerous capital campaigns and large scale philanthropic and corporate investments across the charitable sector. Having worked in philanthropy roles in both Trocaire and Dublin City University’s Educational Trust, in 2002 she established OKC (formerly O’Kennedy Consulting) and the team now works extensively with charities, social enterprises, education, sports and cultural organisations, to initiate and grow philanthropic, corporate and multi-channel donor relationships.  Mary also provides guidance to individuals, families and corporate partners on effective philanthropy.  

Mary is a previous recipient of the National Award for Outstanding Contribution to Fundraising and was also short-listed for an IMAGE Business Women of the Year Award.  She is also co-founder and Director of CCI Executive Search, a specialist NFP sector recruitment company, focused on ensuring that organisations recruit and retain great teams. She is also a director of the arts and cultural jobs platform Creative Careers.  

Mary was the Founding Chair of Fundraising Ireland (now Charities Institute Ireland). She is the current Chair of EU Consult, the European Association of Civil Society Consultants, and previously served as Ireland’s Ambassador for the International Fundraising Congress. She is the Irish Advisor to the Global Leadership Foundation, founded in 2006 by Mr. FW de Klerk, and is also on the Board of the Seamus Heaney Estate.  She currently sits on the Capacity Building Sub-Group for the Government’s National Philanthropy Policy.  

Connect with Mary on LinkedIn.