Governance & Board

Chairperson

Annette Palmer is a management consultant with over 20 years experience with large, global organisations.

A former partner in Accenture UK, she has spent much of her career managing complex business change programmes across Europe and the USA. 

On leaving Accenture, she established ATB Palmers Ltd as an independent consultancy firm.   Over a five year period, Annette continued in management consultancy working for FTSE 100 organisations in London.  

Originally from Cork, Annette graduated from UCC with a BA in Psychology and Sociology and a postgraduate in Business from the Smurfit School of Business at UCD.  

Annette moved with her family to Switzerland in 2012.  There she joined the Board of the International School Basel Region AG where she later became the Chair.   

Annette supported Cali in various ways during its startup phase, and ultimately joined the BoD of Cali as Chairperson, "Since my first interaction with the founding members, staff and students, I have been impressed by the ambition, innovation and pure determination to change the quality of life and learning for young adults with profound disabilities.    It is a privilege to be a part of such a great initiative” 

Director

Carol is mother to Stephanie, who has been happily attending Cali full time since opening day.

“I have watched in awe as Stephanie developed into a wonderful bright and beautiful young woman. This didn’t happen by accident. Stephanie's school had an 'anything is possible' attitude that enabled their students to succeed beyond all expectations. Cali has been created to provide opportunities for these young adults to continue to prosper."

This mindset of anything is possible, and turning roadblocks into challenges is what has been core to Carol's career as a valuer of Fine Art and Antiques for corporate, state and private clients throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe.

She values the opinion and skillset of others and embraces collaboration to deliver the best outcomes.

She brings that mindset and experience to Cali to help develop a service that will enable Stephanie and others to continue to achieve success, an excellent quality of life and happiness at the core."

Carol studied at The London College of Furniture and Griffith College.

She is an Associate Member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI), Arts & Antiques Division.

Director

Emir is Mum to James who is a very happy Cali student.

A PhD qualified Chemist, she previously worked in the tightly regulated Pharmaceutical Industry, managing a high containment facility which produced the drug substance for clinical and commercial supply.

Emir managed the production team and also supported the recommissioning of the facility after a refit and upgrade.

Emir gave up her role to become James' carer.

She is delighted to have the opportunity with the Cali team in developing this new type of Learning Day Service,  a place where our young adults can be nurtured and thrive.   

Director

Renée Dempsey Clifford has a long standing commitment and interest in the disabled community and is Independent Chair of the Disability Stakeholder Group tasked by the Minister for Disability to monitor the delivery of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy.

She is also Chair of the ActionAid Ireland Board.

Renée is a former civil and public servant, experienced as a national representative at international fora including the EU, UN, OECD, IEA and IAEA.

She is the former CEO of the Equality Authority and former interim CEO of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, former co-Chair with Japan of OECD Climate Technology Initiative, former Ministerial appointee to the Board of the National Disability Authority and member of the alumni of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies. 

Director

Michael G Tutty spent a lot of his working career in the Irish Department of Finance up to 2000, where he reached the position of Second Secretary General in charge of Budget and Economic Division.  

From October 2000 to July 2004, he was Vice-President of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

He was appointed Commissioner for Energy Regulation in Ireland in October 2004 and was appointed as Chairman of the Commission in October 2008. He retired from this position in May 2011 on reaching the compulsory public sector retirement age.

He was appointed by the Government as a member of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council from September 2015 to end-December 2019.  

He has been involved in many voluntary activities in recent years including 9 years on the Board of Peamount Healthcare, three years as Chairman, and Hon Treasurer of the Irish Donkey Society, Allenwood Day Care Centre and TCD Association and Trust (Kildare and Wicklow Chapter}.

Born in Dublin but now living in Kildare, he holds Masters Degrees in Economic Science from UCD and in Strategic Management in the Public Sector from Trinity College.

Director

Patrick Crawford comes from a brick & mortar and the digital worlds. In a career spanning 40 years, he started in engineering, moving through the ranks of General Motors and other motors distributors in sales and marketing, until he became Head of Chevrolet Ireland in 2013. 

In addition to these roles, Patrick was joint founder of three successful internet/digital start-ups and held a Directorship in iGuide building Enterprise Level Smartphone solutions for multi-nationals.  

Educated in Bolton Street College of Technology and Trinity College Dublin, Patrick is a creative, self-motivated executive with commercial and operations experience with an entrepreneurial mind-set, bringing this extensive experience to the Cali board.

In addition, he is General Secretary of the Irish Ford Dealers Association and an advisor to the Ford Dealer Network and Ford Motor Company. Patrick holds similar roles advising Volvo Cars Ireland and their Volvo Dealer network. 

Patrick is heavily involved in Leinster Rugby as Chair of the AIL Senior Clubs Committee and Leinster’s Commercial & Marketing Committee. He is Past President of St Mary’s College RFC and in addition he finds time to play music in a group for charity events and social occasions.