Team
Our BIAS team members
Mike McGing
Director of BIAS
Michael has over 35 years of experience within both the statutory/voluntary and the corporate sectors in a variety of management roles.
Mike is passionate about ensuring that the Irish community is not overlooked for services and entitlements, becoming the ‘Forgotten Irish’. A key aspect of the role is ensuring that the BIAS team feel valued, motivated and help those most in need in our community.
Suzanne Boraston
Head of Operations
Suzanne is responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the team. She works to support BIAS’s development and sustainability, to make sure that we can continue to deliver the highest-quality support to the Irish community in London.
Before joining BIAS, Suzanne worked for twelve years in a range of project coordination, communication and management roles in international environments, including at the Council of the European Union in Brussels.
Susan Pearce
Senior Welfare Adviser
Susan has worked with BIAS for over six years and has gained many amazing outcomes for clients, enabling them to access welfare entitlements and services. She enjoys the one-to-one nature of building a positive relationship with her clients. Before joining BIAS, Susan had worked with Citizens Advice for several years. Susan’s passion is ensuring that all clients get all the benefits that they are entitled to.
Martyna Turos
Welfare Adviser
Martyna is a welfare adviser with BIAS, with experience in supporting service users with welfare issues ranging across Universal Credit, Personal Independent Payments and Attendance Allowance, as well as many others.
Martyna also offers an outreach service, providing home visits to clients who need welfare support but would find it difficult to come to our offices. Having already gained many valuable outcomes for clients, Martyna works closely with service users to advise and empower them to access the welfare services to which they are entitled.
Shannon Dunn
Housing Adviser
Shannon joined BIAS after achieving a law degree. With experience supporting the provision of a variety of legal advice, Shannon offers an empathetic ear to each of her clients. She is passionate about providing the local Irish community with personalised and thorough housing advice as well as ensuring that the standards of their accommodation are upheld.
Jordan Cavanagh
Welfare and Housing Adviser (Haringey)
Jordan has a background in welfare and housing Advice, advocacy and support in both Ireland and Britain, having worked in Irish charities in Manchester and the North of Ireland for the last four years.
He comes from a large Irish family with roots in Monaghan and Dublin and away from work he is a keen sports fan, regularly attending GAA and soccer matches as well as other Irish cultural events.
Marie Albalous
Volunteer Manager
With a background in Migration Studies and experience in the charity sector, Marie oversees the volunteer project at BIAS. Passionate about supporting the local Irish community, she works closely with volunteers to make a meaningful impact.
Outside of work, Marie is an avid sports fan and loves travelling, discovering new places, and embracing different cultures.
Tracey Sweetland
Befriending Coordinator
Tracey comes from a mixed background of support and care roles in a variety of sectors. With strong Irish roots, Tracey was involved in the world of Irish dancing for forty years, as a dancer, teacher and founder of a dance organisation – until she decided to hang up her shoes, as they say!
Outside of work, you can find Tracey catching up with friends and family, visiting the theatre, reading a book and of course still dancing a jive or waltz on the Irish social dancing scene.
Tracey is keen to make a positive difference through the BIAS befriending scheme.
Maggie Hollowed
Active Ageing Coordinator (Brent)
Maggie has many years of experience delivering a variety of community-based health projects, including fitness classes and events across the borough. She enjoys being able to motivate and encourage participation.
Maggie runs BIAS’s two active ageing clubs in Brent and is helping to develop and expand their remit.
Nóra White
Active Ageing Coordinator (Haringey)
Nóra joined the team this year as the Active Ageing Coordinator for Haringey, and runs our new club in Hornsey. She has been working in Haringey’s community sector since moving to the borough from Dublin two years ago.
Sarah B
Finance Manager
Sarah is a management accountant and has many years of experience in both the corporate and the voluntary sectors. She has worked with BIAS for just a few months and is responsible for ensuring compliance with financial controls and monitoring BIAS grants, alongside the other day-to-day finance operations.