Helen is a Senior Research Fellow and Assistant Director of the Research Evidence in Policy, Programmes, and Practice (REPPP) project.  REPPP is a research collaboration between the School of Law in University of Limerick and the Department of Justice aimed at improving the evidence base in relation to youth crime and youth justice reform in Ireland. REPPP’s research activities are informed by, and in support of, the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027.

Helen is responsible for supporting REPPP project, including financial monitoring and reporting, and leading the No Wrong Door research project.  No Wrong Door is exploring the needs of young people at risk of being in contact with the justice system with the view to identifying potential collaborative service delivery responses based on the “No Wrong Door” principle and youth-centred wrap-around services.

Helen has over 20 years’ experience managing research, monitoring and evaluation projects and implementing social inclusion programmes in community settings. 

Prior to joining UL in 2023, Helen worked, for 16 years, for PAUL Partnership – the Local Development Company for Limerick City where she held the roles of Co-ordinator of Research, Monitoring and Communications and Co-ordinator of Social Programmes.  Helen was responsible for the development and management of PAUL’s community development programmes, including the management of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, delivered in collaboration with 9 community organisations across the city. 

Helen’s areas of expertise include management of community development initiatives, strategic and operational planning, policy development, governance and compliance, analysis of local area census data, managing performance monitoring and evaluation systems, compiling monitoring reports for funders, qualitative and quantitative research, and the management of externally commissioned research and evaluation projects.