Mary is currently reconfiguring Age & Opportunity in research and evaluation frameworks that will highlight our effectiveness and increase our capacity to support and influence public policy development in relation to older people.

Over the last 15 years Mary led the expansion of our Go for Life Programme into a full national programme, creating volunteer leadership in physical activity at a local level and developed a grant scheme which now supports over 1,000 groups annually. She also commissioned research on older people and physical activity in Ireland and developed targeted initiatives to reach otherwise disadvantaged groups.

Prior to working with Age & Opportunity, Mary worked as a producer and director in television, working specifically on adult education programming.

Mary has a Certificate in Equality Studies, an MA Communications and Cultural Studies and a BA Communication Studies.

Contact: +353 (0)1 805 7732 / Mary.Harkin@ageandopportunity.ie