We promise to put our clients' and candidates' interests ahead of our own, acting with honesty, professionalism and integrity.

Mary O’Kennedy

DIRECTOR


Mary has 20 years’ experience of fundraising for and consulting to the not-for-profit sector.


In 1998, she started her career in the sector, working for Trocáire in Honduras and subsequently at their Dublin office. In late 1999, Mary moved to work with the DCU Educational Trust, holding specific responsibility for major donor engagement. In 2002, she established OKC, formerly O’Kennedy Consulting, now recognised as one of the leading consultancy firms in the sector.


Mary was the founding chair of Fundraising Ireland, the professional network for fundraisers in Ireland (now reconstituted as Charities Institute Ireland). She is a past chair of EU Consult, the European Association of Consultants to and about the not for profit sector, and was also Ireland’s Ambassador for the International Fundraising Congress (IFC) run by Resource Alliance until 2017.


In 2013, she was presented with the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Fundraising, and she was also shortlisted for an IMAGE Business Women of the Year Award.


In early 2014, Mary, along with business partner Bruce Tait, launched a new specialised Executive Search and Recruitment company for the not-for-profit sector CCI. In 2017 Bruce and Mary acquired Creative Careers, specialising in recruitment for the arts and cultural sector.


Bruce Tait

DIRECTOR


Bruce Tait has worked in the voluntary sector for over 28 years and is a Fellow of the Institute of Fundraising and a Fellow of the Employment Recruitment Federation in Ireland. Following roles as Director of Fundraising and Chief Executive at several national charities, Bruce become a consultant working with not-for-profit organisations in Canada, the USA, Sweden, the UK and Holland. He set up Bruce Tait Associates in 2007 which provides consultancy and is also Scotland’s largest charity recruitment agency.


Bruce joined with Mary O’Kennedy in 2014 to set up CCI and has worked with the team to deliver top quality Recruitment and Executive Search campaigns for dozens of Irish non-profits. Bruce is a former Chair of the Institute of Fundraising Scotland and has served as a Chair and a Trustee on the Board of numerous charities in the UK and Canada.

Laura Patten

HEAD OF RECRUITMENT


Laura Patten joined CCI in 2015 after returning home from South Korea and Spain. She is CCI’s Head of Recruitment and as such she leads the team and oversees all aspects of the services that CCI Executive Search offers, with a primary focus on account management, client engagement, and sourcing, screening, and shortlisting of candidates.


With over 8 years' recruitment experience specifically in the not-for-profit sector, Laura has successfully recruited CEOs, Directors, Heads of Department, and Board members as well as many roles at the Manager and Officer levels. She has worked with a variety of organisations and causes including large and small charities, social enterprises, educational organisations, and arts and cultural institutions. Previous clients include the Irish Cancer Society, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Shine, Age Action, Charities Institute Ireland, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, the Abbey Theatre and Dogs Trust.


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Liz McEntee

SENIOR RECRUITMENT ASSOCIATE


Liz is a Senior Associate for CCI. As a highly skilled and experienced not for profit leader, Liz brings a successful track record to CCI, having recruited a wide range of roles with CCI’s sister organisation, BTA, in Scotland. 


Over the last year she has led successful campaigns to fill Chief Executive roles with DVVA (Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action) and Beannachar Camphill Community, as well senior fundraising and philanthropy roles including the Head of Development and Alumni Relations with the University of Dundee. Liz has had a long career in the not-for-profit sector, including roles as a charity director, board member and chair.

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Jane Trenaman

SENIOR RECRUITMENT ASSOCIATE


Jane started working with CCI in late 2023 and has led a varied career with two decades of experience spanning the commercial and non-profit sector. Prior to joining the non-profit sector, she spent a decade working in consumer insight across the automotive, design and telecoms industries, and then brought this expertise to a range of public engagement & fundraising leadership roles. Over the past 12 years, she has worked with several non-profits to drive organisational, CRM and fundraising strategy - in capacities as non-executive director, senior management team member and consultant.


She has strong experience in executive recruitment and has placed leadership roles from CEO level to the wider senior management team.  With her unique breadth of fundraising experience, she has a strong understanding of income generation across the sector, from individual giving to corporate fundraising, and chairs Fundraising Director Networks in the UK and Ireland.

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Priscila Hidaka

ADMIN AND FINANCE OFFICER


Priscila is new to CCI in 2023 and has experience in academic research, translation, customer relations, and process improvement. Currently supporting the Head of Recruitment and wider team as Admin and Finance Officer, Priscila is involved in process improvement, client and candidate relations, database management as well as the day-to-day management of the job adverts.

“When I went in search of a new role, I knew of CCI’s reputation for partnering with the leading organisations in the charity sector. When I applied for the role with Charities Institute Ireland, I was very grateful for the help that the CCI team provided. They were quick, efficient, approachable, knowledgeable and able to answer my questions quickly. They communicated with me at every stage and made the process so smooth. And I got the job! As CEO of Cii, I know that the Board greatly valued the quality and efficiency of the recruitment experience and highly recommend CCI Executive Search.”

Aine Myler, CEO, Charities Institute Ireland

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