National Bereavement Forum 2026
This is the 8th National Bereavement Forum (NBF) hosted by the Irish Hospice Foundation, with the first forum taking place in Dublin.
The Forum brings together individuals and organisations from across Ireland with an interest in bereavement care, offering a valuable opportunity to learn, share, and connect.
This event is for anyone involved in the provision of bereavement support nationwide. Previous attendees have included both staff and volunteers from across the statutory and NGO sectors — among them bereavement CEOs, bereavement service managers, chaplains, social workers, nurses, end-of-life coordinators, counsellors, psychotherapists, academics, and many others.
Speakers
James O'Hagen
James O’Hagen is Head of Health Equity and Inclusion Programmes and Partnerships at LGBT Ireland, where he leads initiatives to improve health and social care experiences for LGBTQI+ people across Ireland. He coordinates the LGBT Champions Programme, supporting professionals to deliver more inclusive care, and led the development of Ember, a community-driven guide, produced in partnership with the Irish Hospice Foundation and the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, that empowers LGBTQIA+ people and health and social care professionals to navigate end-of-life planning and care.
Dr. Amanda Roberts
Dr. Amanda Roberts, PhD is currently seconded to a new role within the Irish Hospice Foundation, where she is responsible for managing a HSE National Palliative Care Office commissioned project to develop bereavement service provision in Specialist Palliative Care in Ireland.
Previously, Amanda served as Bereavement Development Manager at Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), leading a range of national and local initiatives to strengthen bereavement care capacity. With over 20 years’ experience in the bereavement sector, she holds a PhD in Psychology and has dedicated her career to research, education, and service development in this field. In her role in bereavement development at IHF, Amanda has managed national collaborative projects, including the development of a national bereavement care framework and a bereavement support core competency framework.
Sinead Shannon
Sinead Shannon is a research consultant and public management scholar with over two decades of experience spanning academia, policy development, and applied research. She holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, where her research examined governance networks and the role of shared identity in collaborative effectiveness – work that directly informs her approach to evaluating how multi-organisational partnerships function in practice.
Her career has included research and leadership roles at the Department of Health, Age Friendly Ireland, the Ageing Well Network, and ALONE, where she led projects developing national ageing indicators, evaluating community-based health initiatives, and contributing to evidence-based policy. Most recently, she led the evaluation of the Irish Hospice Foundation’s Local Bereavement Networks, exploring the governance and sustainability conditions that allow bereavement support to take root at community level.
Eimear Shields
Eimear Shields is a Clinical Nurse Manager working as a National Organ Donor Coordinator with the HSE, since 2020.
Prior to this, she worked as a Clinical Nurse Manager with over 26 years’ experience in paediatric theatre at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
In her current role, she coordinates the clinical and logistical procedures involved in organ donation, ensuring the safe retrieval and transplantation of organs. She also supports donor families who are experiencing sudden and traumatic loss during the organ donation process.
Eimear recently completed a Master’s in Bereavement and Loss, with a particular focus on improving information and support for children and adolescents, who are often overlooked during the organ donation process.
Dr Geena Kelly, MB BCh BAO MRCPI MSc
Geena Kelly is a Registrar in Palliative Medicine working in the West of Ireland. She works across inpatient hospice, acute hospital and community settings, and has gained international experience working in Australia. She achieved her MSc in Loss and Bereavement in association with the Irish Hospice Foundation, and is passionate about providing bereavement care for both families and healthcare staff.
Liz Counihan
Liz Counihan is Healthcare Chaplain working in an acute hospital setting, with 7 years’ experience supporting patients, families, and staff through illness, loss and bereavement. I hold a Master’s degree in Loss and Bereavement and bring a strong interest in compassionate, person-centred care, particularly at end of life.
Avril Easton
Advocacy & Policy Manager, Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF)
Since 2021, Avril Easton has had responsibility for driving political engagement, shaping the advocacy agenda, and leading policy submissions in Irish Hospice Foundation. She has also led on the dissemination of research for several projects on a range of issues relating to dying, death and bereavement.
Prior to this, Avril worked with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, where she was responsible for leading the advocacy work, particularly to ensure the voices of people with dementia and their carers led to systemic change.
Avril holds a degree in Sociology and Social Policy and a Master’s in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin.
Philip Hyland
Philip Hyland is a psychologist and a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University in Ireland. Philip’s research focuses primarily on the area of traumatic stress studies. His work focuses on understanding the nature of posttraumatic stress reactions, the causes of these mental health problems, and the impact they have on people’s lives. He is the Deputy Statistical Editor for the Journal of Traumatic Stress and is the Chair of the International Trauma Consortium.
Rev. Ben Robin Lucent
REV. Ben Robin Lucent is an interdisciplinary theatre-maker, storyteller, and facilitator specialising in sensory-led, autism-affirming theatre for neurodivergent children. An autistic artist and ordained Interfaith Minister, Ben brings lived experience to his practice, creating participatory work that centres children’s agency, authentic engagement, and imaginative access. Before moving fully into the arts, Ben spent over fifteen years in public libraries, leading creative community programmes, managing cultural funding, and facilitating groups ranging from environmental youth collectives to knitting circles and artist co-ops. His formal training in English, Media and Cultural Studies (IADT), and his Master’s in Library and Information Management (Robert Gordon University), underpin his inclusive, participatory, trauma-informed, and decolonial approach.
Colette Lynskey
Colette Lynskey Psychotherapist /Supervisor, MIACP.
Colette has Bsc in Psychotherapy and MA in Bereavment studies with special interests in complicated grief and mindfullness. Colette has many years of experience working in community based suicide bereavment organisations. Her work involved first responce meetings with families , counselling individuals and facilitating specialised groups following their experiences of traumatic loss. For the past eight years Colette worked with the HSE National Counselling Service , During this time she helped to develop and deliver an 8-week Bereavement group program for clients presenting with complicated grief issues. Colette is currently working in private practice .
Ethan Levins
Ethan Levins is the founder of S’port for Grief, a youth-focused social initiative that uses sport as a tool to support young people through grief, loss and emotional wellbeing challenges. Developed from Ethan’s own lived experience following the loss of his father at age 16, S’port for Grief aims to create safe, inclusive and community-centred spaces where grief can be understood and supported through sport, connection and conversation. Ethan recently led S’port for Grief to UK and Ireland recognition through winning the Enactus UK & Ireland World Cup Qualifier.
What Previous Attendees Have Said
"A very interesting day, with a good mix of speakers and activities. Very well put together but a lovely friendly feel to the day."
"I found all the sessions exceptionally helpful, with really thought-provoking insights, & great suggestions & guidance for enhancing our own organisations."
"A day well planned with ease of pace and very informative. A lovely opportunity to link in person with colleagues and friends from around the country."
"Very good opportunity to network and find out in real time the various initiatives being undertaken by a wide variety of organisations."
Questions?
If you have any queries about National Bereavement Forum, please email [email protected].
