Senior Management Team
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of support and services to victims and survivors in addition to undertaking the function of Accounting Officer and overseeing all matters relating to financial propriety and regularity and for all considerations of prudent and economic administration of the organisation.
The Chief Executive is currently supported at a senior management level by the Head of Corporate Services, Head of Service Development, and Head of Health and Wellbeing Services.
This senior management team is responsible for all aspects of service delivery including the following key areas of work:
Health and Wellbeing Team
- Best Practice in services and therapies
- Assistance and support to individuals and community and voluntary organisations
- Referrals and signposting to support and services needed
Corporate Services Team
- Corporate Governance of the organisation and service delivery models
- Corporate Services (HR, IT, Communications, Corporate Finance)
- Corporate Reporting
Service Development Team
- Monitoring and Evaluation of programme outcomes
- Programme Management of Victims Support Programme and PEACE IV
- Development of new and improved support and services
- Stakeholder Engagement
In This Section
Andrew Walker
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Walker joined the Victims and Survivors Service in October 2017, when he was initially appointed to the role of Head of Corporate Services.
Before taking up the post of Chief Executive Officer in 2022, Andrew held several senior management team positions within VSS, gaining experience across the organisation and the sector, and leading on a range of projects including the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (TPDPS), PEACE Programme delivery, and development of the Regional Trauma Network.
As Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for VSS, Andrew has overseen the design and implementation of an organisational restructure to enable effective delivery of support and services across an expanding remit – now including a major PEACEPLUS project, support/services for survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse, and for survivors of Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses. Andrew has also played a key role, alongside TEO, the Commission for Victims and Survivors, and C&V Organisations – in the co-design of a Strategy for Victims and Survivors for 2024-2034.
A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Andrew qualified as a chartered accountant in 2005, spending 6 years in private practice. Andrew joined The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) as Corporate Accountant in 2007, gaining 10 years’ experience in financial management and corporate governance in a public sector environment prior to joining VSS.
The CEO is supported in his role by:
Tara Lewsley
Head of Corporate Services
Tara Lewsley joined the Victims and Survivors Service in July 2018, when she was appointed to the role of Finance and Governance Manager. In this role, Tara supported the Head of Corporate Services in the area of finance & governance. More recently, from August 2019, Tara has held the position of Head of Corporate Services, taking responsibility for finance & governance and human resources.
A fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Tara qualified as a chartered accountant in 2010, having trained in private practice. Prior to joining VSS, Tara worked in senior management roles within the voluntary and community sector and local government in the areas of financial management and corporate governance.
Emma Dargan
Head of Service Development
Emma Dargan joined VSS as a Programmes Officer back in July 2014 and held the position of Programmes Manager from October 2016 to June 2022. Emma was appointed as Acting Head of Service Development in July 2022.
Emma is responsible for all aspects of the management of services and activities delivered through a range of Community Partner organisations. This includes contract management, governance, project support and reporting on achievement against performance targets and outcomes-based accountability.
Prior to joining VSS, Emma held various roles within the community and voluntary sector in the areas of programme management and the delivery of both EU and local Government funding programmes.
Nicola Nugent
Head of Health and Wellbeing
Nicola Nugent has been a Regional Health and Wellbeing Case Manager at the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) since January 2017, responsible for key aspects of the assessment, co-ordination, implementation and effective delivery of the VSS Health & Wellbeing Programme.
Nicola was appointed as the Health and Wellbeing Case Manager dedicated to survivors of HIA in November 2020.
She has over 10 years’ clinical experience working within the field of children and adult mental health services.
Prior to working with VSS, Nicola worked within the Health and Social Care Trust delivering support and services to those adversely impacted by trauma related events.