Staff

Margaret Walker

Chief Executive Officer

Margaret Walker is a committed association management and public affairs professional with over 20 years’ experience in the field.  She has worked with scientific, medical, family and patient associations at the European and international level.  Most recently Margaret was Executive Director at the European Psychiatric Association (EPA). 

Margaret has a Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities, a BA (Hons) in Humanities, as well as a Diploma in Gender and Development. She is a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and is co-chair of the European Society of Association Executives’ Leadership Circle. 

Shelly Cordner

Project Manager

Shelly has extensive experience in the UK charity sector, with expertise in relationship management, fundraising, project delivery, and managing both online and in-person events and training. She has worked with health charities supporting individuals with Parkinson’s and arthritis. Since joining IPWSO in early 2021, Shelly has been responsible for overseeing IPWSO’s online event programme, along with coordinating workshops, meetings, and conferences in both virtual and in-person settings. Additionally, she provides support to several IPWSO Boards and Committees.

Nora McNairney

Project and Operations Manager

Nora is based in Northern Ireland and has spent over 20 years working in membership-based organisations supporting various functions including operational, secretariat, policy, public engagement and continuous professional development. For 15 years Nora was Manager of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland and was responsible for delivering local, national and international academic conferences. Nora joined IPWSO as Project and Operations Manager to develop our Project ECHO® programs, and managing our International Conferences is a central part of her current responsibilities.

Gill McNeill

Fundraising and Communications Manager

Gill has an extensive background in PR, fundraising, design, marketing, print and latterly in digital marketing and social media, spanning some 42 years. A freelance journalist and a firm believer in lifelong learning, she is educated to Masters level and also holds a BSc (Hons) Horticulture, PgDip Marketing (CIM), HND in Graphic Communication and NJTC Level 4 in Journalism.

With particular relevance, involvement within the charity sector for the past 17 years, brings tailored experience in fundraising, sponsorship and events, complemented with editorial and content, copywriting, proofing, design, publishing and print-management.

Honorary President

Board of Trustees

Advisers

Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board

Professional Providers and Caregivers Board

Famcare Board