Our Members
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Dublin City Interfaith Forum employs one full term person.
Support for the role is provided by the community members and volunteers. They are representative of the following faiths and communities: Christianity, Jewish, Islam, Bahà’í, Hindu, Sikhism and Buddhist.
Our Members
Alison Wortley
Alison is former secretary National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ireland
Alison is a Medical Scientist by profession and a former Secretary General of the Baha’i Community in Ireland. She has worked in the area of community building and the promotion of religious tolerance for many years.
Alison is the current Treasurer of Dublin City Interfaith Forum.
Sr Sheila Curran
Justice Coordinator for the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI)
Sheila Curran RSM, is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy and the Justice Coordinator for the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI) She holds a Doctorate in Practical Theology, an MA in Biblical Studies and an MA in Equality Studies. Prior to working in AMRI Sheila worked in Peru, in South America for many years.
Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson
Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough.
Dr Jackson was deaconed in 1986 and ordained a priest in 1987. He served his curacy in Zion Parish, Dublin, and lectured at Trinity College and the Church of Ireland Theological College (now Institute) before taking up the post of College Chaplain at Christ Church College, Oxford, from 1989 to 1997. From 1997 to 2002, he was Incumbent of St Fin Barre’s Union and Dean of Cork. Dr Jackson also plays an active role in the wider Anglican Communion, especially in the areas of ecumenism and inter–faith dialogue. He was elected Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough and was enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on 8 May 2011.
Damian Jackson
Member of the Adelaide Road congregation of the Presbyterian Church
Damian is from Dublin, a member of the Adelaide Road congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The focus of his PhD study is in migration and integration, specifically how different influences (popular culture, media, government, faith background) compete and combine in our unconscious in the formation of our attitudes to people of other cultural and faith backgrounds. He also likes cycling, photography and is a keen tennis fan!
John Mathews
Treasurer and member of Indian Orthodox Church in Ireland
John is serving as the Parish Secretary to the Indian Orthodox Church in Dublin. He travelled across the republic to identify the community and encouraged the community to come together and organized few other churches of the Indian Orthodox Community in Ireland.
He works closely with the Network of Orthodox Churches in Dublin and is a member of the Dublin Council of Churches. He worked closely with the Parish Integration Project and maintains contacts with various Indian Organizations, Clubs and the Embassy of India.
Deepak Inamdar
Member of Hindu Cultural Centre of Ireland
Deepak is now retired from Irish Civil Service. He worked in different capacities with various organisations, community and others viz. India Club, EU’s Migrant Forum, National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), Know Racism, etc. He is representing Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland (HCCI).”
Swami Purnananda
Spiritual director and founder of the Éire Vedanta Society.
Swami Purnananda has been a Vedanta monk of the Ramakrishna/Vivekananda tradition for many years. The Swami is well versed in Vedanta and Yoga philosophy and practice and is currently the spiritual director and founder of the Éire Vedanta Society in Ireland and president of the United Cultural Institute in Zimbabwe.
Hilary Abrahamson
Member of Jewish Progressive Community
Hilary is very interested in interfaith dialogue and getting involved in organising interfaith events. She enjoys learning and engaging with other cultures and faith traditions and works tirelessly within her own community to promote dialogue and understanding of other faiths.
Shaheen Ahmed
PR–Coordinator of the Islamic Cultural Centre
Shaheen Ahmed, originally from Pakistan, has lived in Dublin since 1981. Naturalised as an Irish citizen in 1984, Shaheen has worked tirelessly for Muslim integration in Ireland over the last 30 years. Holding positions such as President of the Pakistan Welfare and Cultural Association of Ireland, PR–Coordinator of the Islamic Cultural Centre and General Secretary of the Muslim Primary Education Board, Shaheen has worked extensively with successive governments and various bodies on behalf of the Islamic community.
Educated first at Islamia College Civil Lines and Punjab University Lahore in Pakistan, Mr Ahmed holds an MBA from the Michael Smurfit College of Business in UCD. He comes from a strong sporting background, having played competitive badminton in Pakistan, Germany and Ireland, as well as top cricket for a number of Irish teams.
Shaheen Ahmed is a family man, with an Irish wife and four children.
Mudafar Al Tawash
Administrator, Islamic Foundation of Ireland
SMudafar Al Tawash has a doctorate in agricultural science and is a graduate of UCD. He worked in relief and development area. He likes to travel, meet and help people worldwide. Mudafar is a practising Muslim and interested to work with minority communities. He likes swimming, walking and travelling.
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Hajar Al–Kaddo
DCIF Youth Coordinator and member of Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland
Hajar is a humanitarian aid worker, European youth representative and a researcher. With a passions for humanitarian aid, migrants and development, youth empowerment and training, sustainable energy and the environment. Hajar is a creative team player with a diverse range of skills acquired through an accomplished academic background, problem solver, a technical and logical thinker and a researcher. This, blended with experience and knowledge of NGOs and the third sector, has enhanced her leadership, management and programmes skills.
Hajar is an active member of DCIF where she leads the Forum’s Youth Board.
Imam Jameel Mutoola
Imam, Dublin City Mosque, Talbot Street, Dublin 1
Jameel is the Imam to Anwar–E– Madina, the City’s first mosque on the northside and also, the first Sufi mosque in the State. Interfaith dialogue and action was part of Jameel’s life in his native Mauritius and now he relishes the opportunity to be a member of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum and engage with people from different faiths and cultures.
Our Members
Ladan Samali
My name is Ladan Samali and I have the privilege of representing the Bahai community on the Dublin City Interfaith Forum. I am originally from Iran, however, I have called Ireland my home for over 35 years now. My husband is from Donegal and we have two teenage children. In my professional career I have previously worked in engineering, manufacturing and management consultancy for several global corporations who have a presence in Ireland. However, I have recently refocused my education, training and career aspirations on the area of education and support centred on Neurodiversity and Inclusion and more specifically Autism. I am an avid runner, reader, and I am involved in many community activities including community sponsorship programmes for migrants and Cardiac First Responders.