Meet the Team
Putting Olden is Golden into Action
Our international board is made up of a multicultural team with various heritages from around the world. We combine our cultural perspectives into spearheading global change for the elderly, campaigning worldwide for the idea that celebrating your golden years should be more than just talk. Our current campaigns in Ireland and Africa have taught us that even the smallest change can make a big difference. We provide dedicated support at the grassroots level when and where it is needed, working with communities to ensure their elderly are visible and valued.
Executive Team, Olden is Golden Africa - Tanzania and Ireland
The programmes in Tanzania and Ireland are served by teams of dedicated volunteers who have a wealth of prior experience working with the elderly and the NGO sector locally and Internationally.
Board of Trustees
Mr Ronan O’Neill
Board of Trustee and Treasurer, Ireland
Ronan is a qualified Accountant with over twenty years’ experience in the INGO sector with nearly ten years of it working in developing countries in Africa and Asia.
He has held various finance job roles during the course of this time with well known INGOs, having particularly strong experience in the areas of charitable accounting, donor compliance, and governance.
Ronan was also a board member previously for three years in a missionary overseas development organisation and is currently on the audit committee of another organisation, also in the same sector.
Mr Farai Mupasiri
Board of Trustee and Treasurer, Africa
Farai Mupasiri is an accomplished finance professional with over 8 years of post-qualification experience in fund accounting, financial reporting, and private equity/real estate fund management. Farai is a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant currently working as a Fund Manager with Apex Fund Services.
He is also board member of **Black and Irish**, an organisation focused on promoting visibility and representation of Black and Irish communities, Farai is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse space within both the finance industry and the wider community.
Ms Suzanna O’Coineen
Board of Trustee, Director and Chairperson, Ireland
Suzanna O’Coineen is a proud mother and grandmother, living in Ireland since 1981.
Born in the summer of 1955, Suzanna was brought up on a small dairy farm on the New York side of the Canadian border. It was here in the extreme winter climate that she learned self-sufficiency. She won a scholarship to Clarkson University and graduated in 1977 with a BScCE with a speciality in Structural Engineering, which she put to use in the Nuclear Power industry until 1979 when she took a career break to sail the Caribbean.
Adventures in the sea led to marriage to an Irishman in 1981 where she has resided ever since and has Irish citizenship. Suzanna has worked in Ireland in various capacities while successfully rearing her 3 lovely daughters. While family has always taken first priority in Suzanna’s life, she has also worked as an engineer and in the IT business as well as a journalist, publisher, and recently as a scrap metal dealer.
Suzanna also studied 3 years and qualified as an Amatsu Therapist in 2012. She is currently retired and busier than ever, working in the film industry, minding grandchildren, and with her local and online churches.
As a committed believer in Jesus, Suzanna’s life-long ambition has been to finally achieve her goal of learning unconditional love for all of God’s creation. Toward that end, and at the very least, Suzanna hopes to leave this world in at least as equal a condition as (if not better than) when she found it.
Mr Emile Dinneen
Board of Trustee and Chairperson, Africa
Emile Dinneen is an Irish film director who grew up in Uganda. He made his first film in Southern Sudan while studying the cattle raiding traditions of pre-Christian Ireland, traveling to the front lines of the country’s 20 year civil-war and living amongst the semi-nomadic Atuout tribe. In 2006, he began teaching children breakdance in Kampala and laid the foundations for a breakdance school.
Mr Menelick Erick
Board of Trustee and General Secretary, Africa
Alongside his commitments as our general secretary for Olden is Golden Africa,, Mr Erick is the programme director with the East Africa Chamber of Commerce Europe, Africa Markets. He is also the founder of
Carlitos Tech.
Mrs Julie Barker
Board of Trustee and Community Outreach Officer - Health
Julie is a public health professional and a recruitment consultant. She provides a steady voice and experienced hand within the board. Her role as an Elderly Community Outreach Officer ensures we can always firmly align to our promise of putting the saying ‘Olden is Golden’ into action.
Mrs Mary Tonga
Board of Trustee and Treasurer and Elderly representative,
Olden is Golden Africa, Kilimanjaro branch, Tanzania.
Mary is a retired teacher who transfers her skills in inspiring young minds into helping the elderly to live life to its fullest. On top of this she has been a Chairperson and assistant chairperson for Utukufu Women Credit Union also known as Viccoba for over 10 years. She is also a Chairperson for family affairs department in her local Church - KKKT Lutheran in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Mrs Grace Temu
Board of Trustee and Assistant Secretary and Elderly representative,
Olden is Golden Africa, Kilimanjaro branch, Tanzania.
Grace is a retired nurse and as a nurse she advocates for healthy living and advises her fellow elders on the importance of leading a healthy and active life suitable for their ages. Her knowledge benefits not only her fellow elders but the wider community.
Mr Albert Mshiu
Secretary and Elderly representative,
Olden is Golden Africa, Kilimanjaro branch, Tanzania.
Albert is a retired man with a wealth of prior experience working with International NGOs. Prior to this he was a teacher for nearly ten years.
He brings a much needed experience to Olden is Golden Africa programme in Tanzania.
IT Support Team
We’re glad to be supported by a team of volunteer IT experts who care for our technological needs both internationally and locally in Africa and Ireland.
Bob
IT Support, Global
Winston
IT Support, Africa
Advisors
Dr Marlyn Morris
Advisor
Dr. Morris is a distinguished Strategic Development Planner, Curriculum Developer, and Certified Professional Coach with over 30 years of experience in education, policy development, and institutional strengthening.
She holds a Ph.D. in Planning and Development Studies from University College London and several advanced degrees, including law, education, and urban development planning. A visionary transformation leader, Dr. Morris has worked extensively across the Caribbean, Canada, and internationally as a consultant for organizations such as the UNDP, World Bank, IDB, CDB, and UN-Habitat.
Her work empowers youth, women, and immigrants through specialised training in leadership, entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, and sustainable development. As a UN Women Expert Trainer for the Caribbean, she contributes to advancing gender equity and ending violence against women. Dr. Morris is also an expert in legislative review, climate adaptation planning, and stakeholder engagement. Her passion lies in transforming lives and building community capacity through education and enterprise.
Ms Susan Bipa
Advisor
Ms Bipa is a dynamic and proactive executive with over 15 years' experience in the development sector helping organisations in strategic planning, institutional development, and partnership building. She’s committed to strengthening organisational strategies, policies, processes and operational systems bringing a fresh thinking to work and creating a strong sense of purpose and collaboration.
A highly experienced, multidisciplinary, and team-oriented leader, she has a traceable and rare combination of both executive leadership and hands-on programs development and management.
She is also recognised as a transformational and strategic leader with skills in motivating teams, coaching, team building, and mentoring. Susan brings great experience in programs and operations including administration, human resources, financial management, risk management, and compliance. She’s passionate about transforming lives of vulnerable populations by spearheading impact at scale, making change work for millions.