Team
Our team and organisational structure
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
Operations Manager
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.
Declan Ganly
Advice Manager
Declan has worked supporting members of the Irish community in England and Wales for the past 14 years, and brings an array of skills and experience in improving services and helping people reach objectives and achieve progress.
As our Advice Manager, Declan ensures that our clients receive high-quality advice on issues including benefits, pensions, housing, debt, passports, returning to Ireland and social care assessments.
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.Â
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.
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.
Alasdair Murty
Housing Adviser
As BIAS’s Housing Adviser, Alasdair guides clients through the re-housing process, helping them get set up on the housing list, appeal banding decisions or put in grant applications for white goods and flooring.
He can also help clients challenge damp & mould/disrepair in their homes, make homelessness applications, and secure emergency accommodation or relocation to Ireland.
Alasdair liaises with external agencies to resolve issues such as rent arrears, Council Tax Support, Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.
Ellen Stafford
Community Engagement Manager (p/t)
Ellen has worked in variety of management roles over many years, including a leading South East London Irish Charity. Ellen brings skill and experience to her management of community-based services. She ensures that our services support the Irish Community to maintain health and wellbeing.
Ellen enjoys meeting and supporting many of our club members and line manages our active ageing coordinator and volunteer manager.
Ersilia Russo
Volunteer Manager
With a background in the NHS social prescribing team and experience in delivering community projects, Ersilia manages BIAS’s volunteer project.
Ersilia is passionate about psychology and dedicated to community wellbeing. Outside the office, you’ll often find her immersed in a book, enjoying a cappuccino or eating a slice of pizza – and yes, she is from Italy.
Ersilia is thrilled to be a part of the BIAS team and is eager to make a positive impact on our volunteer programme while engaging with our community.
Susan Holland
Befriending Coordinator
Susan comes from a teaching background, with over 20 years’ experience of both primary and secondary schools within the London area. Susan teaches Physical Education and really enjoys working with children and adults alike.
Susan is proud to be working with BIAS, especially in the volunteering sector, as she has already seen the Befriending Scheme in action and the benefits it brings to all those involved. She is keen to continue to help develop its growth.
In her spare time, Susan coaches at her children’s football and hurling clubs and loves spending time with her family. Her parents are/were both from Ireland and she regularly returns there when she can to visit family and friends.
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.
Maggie Hollowed
Active Ageing Coordinator
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 the two BIAS active ageing clubs and is helping to develop and expand their remit.