A Personal Journey to HUGG -Meet Ronnie O’Toole HUGG Chairperson
Ronnie O’Toole
Tell us a little about yourself and what drew you to HUGG.
I’m an economist by training, and live in Donabate where you’re never too far from the beach or nature. I’m a girl -Dad, with two girls Lisanne and Caeli, and a German wife Constanze. I speak enough German to make myself known, though I can mentally tune out of conversations too, a vital skill. Throughout my life I have always been involved in some or other charity, from when I was a boy in Raheny going door-to-door with my Dad on collections for the St. Vincent de Paul, in Trinity College working with young Down Syndrome adults, and in Donabate as coach at St Itas, our local football club. As I got older, I realised I could use the skills I had developed professionally as a Trustee, given the difficulty many great charities have in sourcing them. That was when I came across HUGG and, more importantly, Fiona, and my decision was made for me! I’ve been with HUGG for over three years now and feel very fortunate to be able to play a role in such a wonderful organisation.
Supporting HUGG’s Vision as Chair
As Chair of the Board, how do you see your role in supporting HUGG’s vision?
My role in HUGG is the first time I have served as Chair of a charity board, and I was fortunate to learn a great deal from my predecessors, Tom and Adam. Both brought immense experience to the role in supporting the vision of HUGG. Tom expressed it best when he said that the job of the Chair and the Board is to ensure that HUGG delivers on the promises it makes. The promise to those bereaved by suicide who place themselves in our care at the moment of their greatest pain. The promise to our staff, who bring such passion, compassion, and positivity to work every day in what is truly a vocation rather than a job. And the promise to those who fund us, that we will use their resources wisely and well. If, when my term ends, I can say that I have helped uphold these promises, I will know that I have succeeded.
The Challenges of Charity Governance
Good governance plays a big part in supporting sustainable growth and establishing trust with the public. What are the greatest challenges the board members face?
As a board we have two big jobs.
First, we’re the governance backbone. We’re the independent voice, the challenging voice, a group of dedicated professionals who can bring their varied experience and professional skills to make sure that the direction and management of HUGG is in the best interests of the service users, the staff, donors, regulators, and anyone with a stake in their success.
Second: we are a source of experience and specific knowledge that the staff can draw on, whether it is finance, fundraising, strategy, business organisation, IT, legal skills or otherwise. For a charity with a relatively small contingent of staff, our board needs to support the day-to-day running of HUGG. My own background as an economist gave me a lot of experience reviewing strategies for non-profit bodies and conducting evaluations of Government funding schemes. I have also worked on several projects relating to the work of the Charity Regulator. This gives me a strategic perspective to planning and management, an area where I believe many Irish charities could be better on.
Balancing these two jobs is important, and that’s one of my most important roles as Chair. For example, we have to support fundraising efforts by providing the names of possible leads and attending events, while maintaining critical oversight with the progress of the fundraising strategy. We have to help in the wording of policies and procedures, while making sure that these are proportionate and rigorously implemented in practice. And the same goes for other areas – like accounts, HR and others.
Finding Balance and Joy Outside of HUGG
Beyond HUGG, what brings you joy or balance in your life?
Pastimes are the greatest life hack. I’ve always had hobbies, whether coaching football, writing fiction, playing the Ukulele, learning Spanish or dog training, to name just a few. They’ve played an incredibly important role in my life. I like to apply all my energy and concentration into something that is fun and non-competitive, and sometimes even helps others in a small way. My hobby de jour is inline skating. I’ve only been doing it now for a year, though have a great local track I go to three or four times a week for an hour with headphones and blissful tranquillity. I’ve even done the London Late-Night skate with a hundred other skaters around the Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to blaring rave music. The feeling of gliding on skates gives me an inner peace which others must get from yoga, and a distance from the days hustle and bustle to allow me to do my best thinking.