Trócaire executive director to stand down

Patsy McGarry

Justin Kilcullen is to stand down as executive director of Trócaire next October. He will have served 20 years in the post.

In 1975, having qualified as an architect, he began working in Tanzania before moving to Asia where he helped design and build refugee camps for Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees. He joined Trócaire in 1981 as Africa Programme Officer and later was Trócaire representative in Laos.

A past president of CIDSE , the international alliance of Catholic development organisations in Europe and North America, and of Concord the confederation of European development NGOs, he is currently European delegate on the Global Council for civil society development effectiveness. He is also a member of the National Famine Commemoration Committee here in Ireland.

In 2002 he was awarded the Robert Matthew Medal by the International Union of Architects for his work on human settlements.

Trócaire chairman Bishop John Kirby thanked him “for his extraordinary service to the organisation over 32 years.” His “combination of heart and professionalism made him an outstanding leader” , the Bishop said.

Mr Kilcullen said it had been “a privilege” to work at Trocaire. He had “never failed to be impressed by the generosity a nd innate kindness of people in Ireland who support Trócaire’s work each year” It had been, he said, “a great honour” to do such work on behalf of the Catholic Church and of the Irish people.