People
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The Irish Education Partners team includes a wide network of homestay families, English teachers, guides, drivers and others, many of whom have worked with us for over 20 years. The core team in our city centre office includes:
Debbie Furness B.A. (Internship Manager)
Business graduate Debbie Furness brings many years of experience as a highly organised and motivated individual to her role as Manager of the Internship area. Having worked in the legal profession, Debbie’s attention to detail is a hallmark in the way all aspects of the Internship Programme are operated.
A seasoned traveller with international work experience, Debbie brings an empathetic understanding to the needs of the travelling student.
Noel Flynn B.A. Psychology (Operations Manager, Internships)
A graduate of psychology with a background in counselling and psychotherapy, Noel applies his knowledge and skills to understanding clients’ requirements and sourcing appropriate matches. Noel is also available as a support resource for clients and host organisations.
As a long time meditation practitioner, Noel provides a chilled out Zen presence in the office.
Raymond Walsh (Host Family Manager)
An experienced administrator, Raymond has worked in the travel sector since 1990. He manages all aspects of homestay accommodation, coordinating and supporting our national network of host families.
Raymond also manages homestay requirements for the MiniStay Operations department, liaising with families and international clients to ensure the best match. Like the rest of the team, Raymond is a keen traveller and enjoys discovering new places and meeting people from around the world.
Ann Walsh (Financial Controller)
Ann has extensive experience of accounts management, having worked with EMI Records for many years, before fulfilling this function in the transport industry. Following this, Ann worked in hostel and hotel management before moving to Irish Education Partners.
Ann takes care of the financial administration of the company, including payroll, invoicing and client account management.
James O’Neill (Business Development Manager)
With over 25 years experience in the public sector, James brings a wealth of experience to both operational and managerial roles. With a high level of commitment to client requests plus many years of negotiation skills James applies a practical approach to his role as Business Development Manager.
Debbie Flynn (Managing Director)
Debbie Flynn has 30 years business and management experience, primarily in the tourism and travel industry. Debbie is founder and Managing Director of Irish Education Partners and also holds directorships across a range of other companies in the tourism and leisure sectors.
Debbie’s primary role in these companies is one of motivator, trouble-shooter and financial analyst. Her people management skills and focus on ‘the bottom line’ lead to incisive and rapid development of solutions. She also specialises in the development of optimal strategic direction and applies her coaching skills to expedite the realisation of organisational goals.
Karen Henry B.A., M.Sc. (Marketing Services Manager)
Karen Henry has specialised in project management and the design and implementation of e-business systems, primarily in the tourism and leisure sector, for ten years. Karen has international experience in programme management in the telecommunications industry, with subsequent experience in the areas of e business, strategic marketing and new product development.
Karen has worked closely with Irish Education Partners since its foundation, and is involved in the development and management of business and marketing systems in the organisation. In 2006, Karen was conferred with a Masters Degree in Education Management, specialising in information and communication technologies.
