Teresa Devlin is the CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (National Board).  She is a qualified social worker with 40 years experience in child protection work, in the statutory and voluntary sectors in Ireland and England.  Her interests lie in children’s rights, having previously been the Director of Policy and Research for the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY); and in particular in children’s right to be safe from harm. Over the last 10 years, whilst working for the National Board she has developed experience in two specific areas – creating safe environments for Children in the Church; and responding to allegations of abuse.

Teresa states she is not an “expert” but has lived experience.