Our Board

Anna Pringle

Chair of the Board

Anna has been involved with Sanctuary Runners since 2018, when she was inspired by participating in the Cork half marathon to help bring the movement to Dublin. Anna is actively involved in environmental issues, serves on the board of Friends of the Earth and has been a director of the NTR Foundation, which provided targeted financial support to climate action projects. She is also co-host of the Climate Alarm Clock podcast. Previously, she held senior human resources and communications roles in the corporate sector. Anna is a member of the Fairview Sanctuary Runners group, where she particularly enjoys the occasional road trips and celebration cakes!

Padraic Moran

Director and Company Secretary

Padraic is a Business Consultant specialising in technology governance and regulatory compliance in the Financial Services sector. With a long career in software and technology innovation, he has previously been a director of a technology venture fund where he held board positions with a number of investee companies, was the Founder and CEO of a financial services start-up, and held a number of executive positions with IBM. An enthusiastic if not particularly talented runner, Padraic has been involved with Sanctuary Runners since its inaugural event - the 2018 Cork marathon relay - and has been an active advocate ever since. Padraic is a member of the Corkagh group.

John Riordan

Director

John has been engaged with Sanctuary Runners since the very first event - the 2018 Cork City Marathon - an event which brought him back into the world of running and opened his eyes on the need for a better integration of asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland. John is a leading voice on Remote Work and is chairman of the board of Grow Remote, a community project bridging the disconnect between remote work and local impact in rural areas. John also serves on the IRFU Commercial & Marketing Committee as well as being on the board of three start-ups. Prior to retiring in 2021, John was Chairman of Shopify International Ltd, and previously worked at Apple Inc, and Virgin Atlantic Airways in a variety of Customer Service and Sales & Marketing roles. John is a member of the Cork group.

Sinead Walsh

Director

Sinead Walsh is Climate Director in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Prior to this she served as the EU Ambassador to South Sudan and Ambassador of Ireland to Sierra Leone and Liberia and the Head of Irish Aid in the two countries. Before joining the government, Sinead spent ten years in the NGO sector in India, Pakistan, Rwanda and South Sudan, mostly working with Concern. She has a PhD in Social Policy from the LSE. She is the co-author of Getting to Zero: A Doctor and A Diplomat on the Ebola Frontline. After returning from South Sudan in 2020, Sinead heard about Sanctuary Runners and joined our Poppintree group after COVID restrictions ended. She now runs, not particularly fast, in Fairview.

Sibusisiwe Mhlophe

Director

Sibusisiwe is from Zimbabwe originally and moved to Ireland in 2017 where she discovered her love for running! Her running story has taken her from tentatively taking on a leg of the Cork Marathon relay in 2018 to the Dublin City Marathon a few short years later - and also to joined Togher running club in Cork. In 2023 Busie graduated from University College Cork with a first-class honours degree in International Development and Food Policy – and as part of her Erasmus programme she studied at the University of Oulu in Finland in 2022. Since 2023 Busie has worked for Cork City Council. A proud supporter of Sanctuary Runners, in June, 2024 Busie travelled to Geneva to help launch the Global Solidarity Run with the Sanctuary Runners team. She says: “Joining the Sanctuary Runners remains the best decision I have ever made. Solidarity, friendship, and respect are not just words - they are values I have embraced and continue to cherish every day".

Our Team

Graham Clifford

Head of International Development

Graham is the founder of the Sanctuary Runners. He previously worked as a feature writer and broadcaster in Ireland, the UK and Australia and his work brought him to parts of the world enduring conflict, poverty and oppression. A passionate advocate for community integration he is also the founder of the 'One Town One Voice' Community Singing initiative and in 2020 co-founded the award-winning 'Translate Ireland' multilingual video messaging service. Graham's main focus is on the growth of Sanctuary Runners internationally, the expansion of the Global Solidarity Run and the establishment of Sanctuary Runners GB. He also oversees the communications strategy of Sanctuary Runners. His mantra in life is 'Be Sound'!

Berta

Communications and Advocacy Manager

Berta joined Sanctuary Runners in 2023 as part of the Tallaght group, drawn by the movement’s focus on community-building, inclusion, and wellness through sport. Originally from Barcelona, she has lived in Ireland for over 10 years, working in the non-profit sector on community engagement and intercultural initiatives. With a background in communications and public outreach, she supports projects that promote participation and connection across diverse communities. Berta is also involved in a volunteer-led drama group that uses theatre to encourage creativity and cultural exchange. Berta will usually sign up for a marathon or half-marathon the very next day after finishing one, despite swearing mid-race that she’d never do it again.

John Doyle

Head of Operations and Finance

John is an active member of the Limerick Sanctuary Runners, where he’s taken part in everything from running and mountain biking to hiking and post-race coffees with the group. John is also involved as a coach and administrator with local sports clubs, neighbourhood initiatives, and Community Games. Professionally, John brings a global perspective and a diverse background. An accountant by trade, with qualifications in IT, Project Management, and Economics, he has worked across the USA, Australia, Russia, and various parts of Europe. His career has spanned a wide range of sectors — including construction, aviation, professional services, IT, and waste management — giving him a rich mix of experience and insight that he brings to every project he’s part of.

Jennifer O'Brien

Community Development Manager

As Community Development Manager for the Mid-West, Jennifer helps support running groups in that region as well as identifying areas of demand for new Sanctuary Runner groups. Jennifer is a community development specialist, having worked in the area for over 15 years. She has previously set up the Southill Community Hub in Limerick and worked as the Rural and Community Development Officer with Clare County Council.

Annie Doran

Community Development Manager

As Community Development Manager for the East and North, Annie supports running groups in these regions and identifies areas for new groups. Annie has demonstrated her passion and commitment for community development through sport during her career spending 15 years working in the community and voluntary sector in Sports Development & Mental Health. Outside of her career Annie is a sports fanatic and has represented Ireland in compromise rules and triathlon, she is an All-Ireland football winner and an Ironman podium athlete who puts weighted value on connection through sport.

Noel Adabblah

Liaison Officer

Noel's work as Liaison Officer supports our groups and RDOs in reaching out to those in direct provision. As a dedicated Sanctuary Runner and talented athlete, Noel articulates the physical and mental health and social benefits of being part of a group to those who are seeking international protection and works to ensure the entire community is represented at Sanctuary Runners.