Governance
CyberSafeKids: Governance
While we aim to be as sustainable and self-sufficient as possible, we also benefit from the generosity of others. It is important to us that we are as transparent and accountable at all times.
Governance
CyberSafeKids is a registered charity.
While we aim to be as sustainable and self-sufficient as possible, we also benefit from the generosity of others. It is important to us that we are as transparent and accountable as we can be, and that we strive to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, as enshrined in our organisation’s Values.
- CyberSafeKids is fully committed to achieving the standards contained within the 'Statement of Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public' and has formally discussed and adopted the Guidelines at a meeting of the governing body in 2018. We confirm our commitment to the principles set out in the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public.
Our Board consists of passionate people who are experts in their individual fields including law, accounting, education, cybersecurity and organisational management. Together, they help to ensure the good governance of CyberSafeKids. For each trustee, we publish a bio and the date when they joined the board on our website.
Our audited annual accounts for the year ending 31/12/20 can be downloaded by clicking here.
The salary for our CEO was set at €60k per annum, on a pro-rata basis, however in 2017 due to lack of funding, she received a salary of approximately €31.2k. No other staff member received a higher salary than this. We will continue to publish our accounts on our website on an annual basis.
We confirm that our organisation complies with 'The Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary and Charitable Sector in Ireland' and has, since 2019, attained the Charities Institute of Ireland 'Triple Locked' membership.
Our Board
Our board help to ensure the good
governance of CyberSafeKids
Our Board consists of passionate people who are experts in their individual fields including law, accounting, education, cybersecurity and organisational management. Together, they help to ensure the good governance of CyberSafeKids.
Orla McDermott
Board Member
Orla is an experienced internet infrastructure specialist, having worked in eircom for 13 years on the rollout of many of the networks that makes up today’s internet in Ireland. Taking time out from industry to raise her two young children, Orla is a keen advocate of promoting internet safety and education for parents and their children. She joined the board in January 2021 and is looking forward to providing a meaningful contribution to the promotion of a safer internet in Ireland.
Avril Ronan
Chairperson
Joined our board in September 2015. Avril is Head of Internet Safety for Trend Micro, Ireland. As a pro-technology parent, she is best known for rolling up her sleeves, working closely within the community educating the public about online safety, responsibility and digital literacy and focusing on youth and community empowerment online. She speaks regularly with parents and teachers, and introduced the Be-smart Internet Safety Academy in 2011. She was instrumental in launching “What’s Your Story?” in Ireland; an annual video campaign designed to give youth a voice and role in positively influencing their peers online.
Steve Kehoe
Board Member
Steve joined our board in 2021. Steve is a serial entrepreneur. He is a Patent holder in the USA and Ireland and is currently a Partner in Kaneast, Chief Growth Officer with Remote Signals, Interim CEO with Zatori and adviser to startups, especially in the tech space. He was the founder of Tracknstop and sold his share in 2018. He was also the CEO of a tech job site, IT Appointments, which was sold to Monster TMP in 2001. Steve is married with three children and 4 grandchildren.
Derval Blehein
Board member
Joined our board in November 2016. Derval is a seasoned HR professional with a reputation for delivery across a variety of HR disciplines and in a variety of industries. Derval is currently working for LinkedIn at its EMEA headquarters in Dublin, and is passionate about enabling employees to maximise their potential. As a parent of young children, Derval is also passionate about enabling and empowering children to maximise their online experience in a safe and responsible manner. Derval will provide guidance to CyberSafeIreland on the creation of an organisation that remains true to its vision, mission and values.
Joe Carthy
Board member
Joined our board in September 2015. Professor Joe Carthy was appointed Dean of Science in UCD in 2011. He has a strong record in winning funding for research activities and together with colleagues has been awarded more than 5.4 million Euro for research projects. He is the founding Director of the UCD Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigation which has established strong links with international law enforcement agencies and international organisations such as Europol and Interpol. Joe was a director and former chair of Camara, a not-for-profit which strives to improve education in disadvantaged communities.
John Fitzsimons
Board member
Joined our board in March 2016. John Fitzsimons is the founder and Managing Director of Fifth Story, who help businesses connect and develop their true social purpose. Previously John was CEO of Camara Education, a social enterprise that uses technology to deliver 21st century skills and improve education in disadvantaged communities around the world. John has split his career working between the commercial sector and the charity sector working in Ireland, the UK and Africa. John has a Degree in Electronic Engineering from University College Dublin, an MBA from Smurfit School of Business and is currently completing an Executive Coaching course also in Smurfit.
Geraldine Cashman
Board member
Joined our board in May 2020. Geraldine is a qualified accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland. She has over 18 years of Finance and Commercial Finance experience in both private and public companies across eCommerce, technology private equity and telecommunications industries. She is currently working as a Senior Accounting Manager for LinkedIn at its EMEA Headquarters in Dublin.Geraldine has a passion for teamwork and is a strong proponent of the power of teamwork and culture as the keys to business success. She is very interested in the areas of coaching and mentoring and was recently awarded a Diploma in Coaching with Neuroscience.
Mick Moran
Board member
Joined our board in October 2018. Mick Moran is a member of An Garda Síochána who formerly worked as Assistant Director in charge of the Vulnerable Communities team dealing with all aspects of Human Trafficking, People Smuggling Networks and Crimes against Children. This team manages the development of the International Child Sexual Abuse database (ICSE) and the implantation of the victim identification discipline in global policing. He has a MSc (Hons.) in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation from University College Dublin and currently teaches on that course.
Mary Mitchell O’Connor
Board member
Former Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael TD, Mary Mitchell O'Connor was Minister of State for Higher Education from 2017-2020 and joined our board in October 202o. Previously Mary was Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the 32nd Dáil. She was elected to the Dáil on her first attempt in the 2011 General Election and re-elected in 2016. Mary was an elected County Councillor in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown from 2004 to 2011. Mary retired from 16 years serving in politics following the General Election 2020. Mary comes from Milltown, Co. Galway, was School Principal in Scoil Cholmcille in Skryne, Co. Meath before taking the reins of The Harold School in Glasthule, Co. Dublin, a school of more than 650 pupils. She has an Honours Masters Degree in Education and Management. Mary is a qualified Life Coach and Mentor. She lives in Dublin, Ireland and is a mother of two sons.
Mona O’Moore
Special Advisor
Mona O’Moore is Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin and Adjunct Professor to the School of Education Studies at DCU. She is the Founding Director of the National Anti-Bullying Research and Research Centre, formerly of Trinity College Dublin but now located within the School of Education Studies at DCU. Former Professor and Head of School of Education in Trinity College Dublin, she is a Graduate of Trinity College Dublin and gained an M.A. (Child and Educational Psychology) from University of Nottingham and a Ph.D (Psychology) from University of Edinburgh. She has written widely on the subject of bullying including: School Bullying: A Guide of Parents and Teachers(Veritas,2010), Bullying in Irish Education: Perspectives in Research and Practice (Cork University Press, 2013) and Understanding Cyberbullying: A Guide for Parents and Teachers.
Brian O’Neill
Special Advisor
Joined our board in September 2015. Moved to advisory role April 2020. Brian O’Neill is Director of Research, Enterprise and Innovation Services and Dean of the Graduate Research School at Technological University of Dublin (TUD). He has published extensively on his own research areas, and leads the Irish component of Net Children Go Mobile research. He is a member of Ireland’s Internet Safety Advisory Council and is national coordinator for EU Kids Online. He was appointed as an Independent Assessor to the ICT Coalition for a Safer Internet for Children and Young People in 2013 and was Chair of the government’s Internet Content Governance Advisory Group until 2014. He has published extensively on his own research areas, and leads the Irish component of Net Children Go Mobile research. He is a member of Ireland’s Internet Safety Advisory Council and is national coordinator for EU Kids Online. He was appointed as an Independent Assessor to the ICT Coalition for a Safer Internet for Children and Young People in 2013 and was Chair of the government’s Internet Content Governance Advisory Group until 2014.
Fiona Conway
Special Advisor
Joined our board in March 2016. Moved to advisory role in April 2020. Fiona is a qualified accountant, Chartered Institute of Management Accounting, with over fifteen years’ experience working in the Internet, Technology & Utilities sectors both in Ireland and overseas. Fiona worked mot recently for LinkedIn at its EMEA headquarters in Dublin in the area of Financial Planning. Working in partnership with her sales business leaders, she specialised in providing the key information required to ensure the business increased its growth and margins.
NEW: 2020 Annual Report
Released on September 9th 2021.
Despite the challenges of 2021 and the global pandemic, we have produced a detailed overview of the data we collected from children in academic year 2020-21 in our annual report.
The report highlights our observations on trends, risks and opportunities, as well as recommendations for a safer and smarter online world for children and young people.
2019 Annual Report
In September of each year, we launch our Annual Report for CyberSafeKids. The report includes extensive data we have collected from pupils, teachers and parents who have participated in our educational programmes. Each report also contains our recommendations for Government.
2018 Annual Report
In September of each year, we launch our Annual Report for CyberSafeKids. The report includes extensive data we have collected from pupils, teachers and parents who have participated in our educational programmes. Each report also contains our recommendations for Government.
2017 Annual Report
In September of each year, we launch our Annual Report for CyberSafeKids. The report includes extensive data we have collected from pupils, teachers and parents who have participated in our educational programmes. Each report also contains our recommendations for Government.
2016 Annual Report
In September of each year, we launch our Annual Report for CyberSafeKids. The report includes extensive data we have collected from pupils, teachers and parents who have participated in our educational programmes. Each report also contains our recommendations for Government.
Complaints
Date reviewed: 30.08.19
Our Commitment to You
CyberSafeKids is committed to ensuring that all our communications and dealings with our members, the general public, our supporters and all who engage with us are of the highest possible standard. We listen and respond to the views so that we can continue to improve. CyberSafeKids welcomes both positive and negative feedback. Therefore we aim to ensure that:
- it is as easy as possible to make a complaint, where the need arises;
- we treat as a complaint any clear expression of dissatisfaction with our operations that calls for a response;
- we treat every complaint seriously, whether made by telephone, letter, email or in person;
- we deal with any complaint quickly and politely;
- we respond accordingly – for example, with an explanation or apology where we have got things wrong, and with information on any action taken, etc;
- we learn from complaints, use them to improve, and monitor them at Board level.
What to do if you have a complaint?
If you do have a complaint about any aspect of our work, you can contact CyberSafeKids by email. In the first instance, your complaint will be dealt with by our Marketing & Admin Officer, Aoife Keogh. Please let us know how you would like us to respond, with relevant contact details.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +353 (0)1 254 9986
What Happens Next?
If you complain in person or over the phone, we will try to resolve the issue there and then. Similarly, if you complain by email or in writing we will always acknowledge your complaint within 7 days, and do everything we can to resolve it within 21 days. If this is not possible, we will explain why and give a new deadline.
All complaints will be logged in our ‘complaints register’ and tracked until they are resolved. The complaints register is reviewed by the board of directors annually.
What happens if the complaint is not resolved?
If you are not happy with our response, you may get in touch again by writing to CyberSafeKids’ Chief Executive Officer on [email protected]. If you are still not satisfied with the outcome, you are invited to contact the Chair of the board who will ensure that your appeal is considered at Board level. She will respond within two weeks of this consideration by Board members.
Acting on Results
We will do everything we can to put things right and will review our procedures where necessary to stop problems happening again.
Your Voice
We hope you agree that most of the time we do provide a good quality service. We value all feedback from those who engage with us and would also like to hear from you about what you think we do well. This process for lodging complaints does not apply to CyberSafeKids’ staff or volunteers, who have a separate procedure for lodging any complaints.
This process for lodging complaints does not apply to CyberSafeIreland’s staff or volunteers, who have a separate procedure for lodging any complaints.