KDSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Historical Background to KDSC and Board
Kimmage Development Studies Centre (KDSC) at Kimmage Manor, Dublin traces its existence from 1974 when the Holy Ghost Fathers (now known also as the Congregation of the Holy Spirit or the Spiritans) first offered a programme in development education. The early years of the programme catered mainly for newly ordained members of the congregation and other religious on sabbatical leave - aiming to provide training in cross-cultural skills and approaches and to immerse participants in up-to-date theories in socio-economic disciplines before they embarked upon their first overseas missionary postings, or (in the case of some) returned to their various ministries. There was no other formal programme in development studies at this level in Ireland during that period, and so it soon became a popular programme for non-religious participants too - given the emergence of several new development agencies and the growth in numbers of professional overseas development workers. Gradually it was reshaped into a programme particularly suited to the career needs of this group, including, through the acquisition of academic accreditation in 1980, a place from which recognised qualifications could be obtained. The Development Studies programme was initially given statutory accreditation in 1980 from the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), and this has continued to the present day, although the NCEA has been succeeded in its statutory functions by HETAC (Higher Education and Training Awards Council).
Board of Directors
To assist the full-time Director and staff of the Centre in pursuing its goals, a Board of Governors was formally established in 1991 by the chief stakeholders of the Centre, namely the Spiritan Congregation, with places reserved for representatives of other key agencies, such as Development Cooperation Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs). This Board acted in an advisory capacity for the Trustees (Spiritan Congregation) and the Centre operated as an unincorporated body under a Constitution from 1991 to 2006.
In 2005 a decision was made to seek a separate legal identity for the Centre and thus in February 2006 the Kimmage Development Studies Centre was formally registered with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) in Ireland. (Company No: 414814) Subsequently, KDSC successfully sought recognition as a Charity with the Revenue Commissioners (CHY 16985).
A Board of Directors was established by the Members (Trustees drawn from the Spiritan Congregation). The present composition of the Board consists of a Chairperson (a member of the Provincial Council of the Spiritan Congregation) and nine other members. The names of the current membership is as follows:
- Fr Brian Starken CSSp (Chair)
- Ms. Anne Cleary
- Fr Daithi Kenneally CSSp
- Dr. Jim Kinsella
- Dr. Maeve Martin
- Mr Brian Moroney
- Fr. Richard Quinn CSSp
- Sr. Ursula Sharpe
- Fr. Elochukwu Uzukwu CSSp
The Executive Director of Kimmage DSC, Mr Paddy Reilly, currently acts as Company Secretary. Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (Irish Aid) are invited to Board meetings with observer status.
