Karen Leigh is the CEO and Founder of Sensational Kids. She is an award-winning Social Entrepreneur who is passionate about Social Enterprise and making a difference to the lives of children with additional needs. Inspired by her vision of a better future for children with additional needs based on her own experience of being a parent to children with additional needs, Karen has led Sensational Kids from foundation in 2007, directly impacting the lives of over 7,000+ children from all over Ireland. Karen completed the Social Enterprise & Governance Programme at the DCU Ryan Academy and has a Diploma in Management and Employee Relations from the National College of Ireland. Karen is also a voluntary founding director of SERI (Social Enterprise, Republic of Ireland). Under Karen’s leadership Sensational Kids has won several awards Rethink Ireland; Growth Fund Awardee (2020-2022) Ireland Funds Flagship Awardee (2018) Social Innovation Fund Ireland; Social […]
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Marie Brennan joined Sensational Kids’ Senior Management Team in 2020 as Head of Marketing and Business Development. In her role, Marie is responsible for creating the marketing strategy for the organisation and thus, growing the number of children who benefit from the services at Sensational Kids. With over 14 years’ experience in marketing and PR, Marie brings a wealth of retail marketing knowledge having joined from Newbridge Silverware where she oversaw the brand’s marketing and communications strategy for seven years. Prior to that, Marie worked in public relations both internationally for Edelman PR in the UK and the US and in Dublin based agency, Elevate PR. Marie is a busy mum to four children, Doireann, Róise and twins, Conn and Ruairí. Conn happens to have Down’s syndrome. As a mum to a child with additional needs, Marie fully understands the challenges and therapies that are required to ensure children with […]
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Shelagh O’Rourke joined Sensational Kids as Retail Manager in February 2021. With over 20 years of retail management experience, Shelagh brings a wealth of knowledge to the retail arm of the organization. Prior to joining Sensational Kids, Shelagh worked with Mothercare for 16 years managing several stores in the Leinster region as well as overseeing stock acquisition. In her new role, Shelagh will oversee the organisation’s three retail stores as well as manage the online Play, Develop & Learn store, which provides a range of resources and toys suitable for all children including specialist items to target a particular need or diagnosis. Shelagh has also previously worked with Brown Thomas among several other retailers and ran her own clothing company for a time. Shelagh is mum to two children and has a passion for toys and resources to help children develop and learn through play.
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