Dr Aviva Cohen
PhD University of Essex, Mental and Moral Science (BA Mod), Trinity College Dublin
Managing Director of Research & Hope Ltd.

Dr Cohen has worked for more than 20 years as a researcher, university lecturer and senior communications consultant. She has written a series of publications in highly respected journals, including an entry in the Freud Encyclopaedia. Her doctorate combines philosophy, psychoanalysis, psychology and the history of psychiatry in order to explain the nature of consciousness. As a lecturer, she taught a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, psychoanalysis and communications.

Five years ago, Aviva discovered that her husband, karate master Steve, had suffered a devastating stroke. When standard medical treatments had run their course, she used her skills as a researcher to uncover additional treatment options for Steve. As a consequence, he has regained movement, cognitive ability and speech to a significant degree. His progress has astonished everyone, including his doctors.

Dr Rory Hafford
(MSc Medical Science), Dip Acupuncture, Dip Naturopathy

Dr Hafford has been one of the top names in medical writing/reporting for more than 25 years. The author of three highly acclaimed medical books (Killing the Magpie; Man Trap; Medical Communications), last year he set up his own healthcare company, R+A Medical Communications, which specialises in select training for healthcare professionals. He is also the founder of the Stress and Wellness Clinic, which approaches ailments from a holistic/naturopathic focus. Both companies are housed in a purpose-built facility in the heart of Dublin. Rory has edited and written for some of the leading medical publications in Ireland, including the RTE Health website (editor), the RTE Guide (Health Editor), Medicine Weekly (Deputy Editor), The Star newspaper (Health Editor) and Irish Medical Times (the 'bible' as far as Irish medicine is concerned). He lectures regularly in Irish hospitals and healthcare facilities and is a much sought-after specialist speaker. He comes at the business of healthcare from both the biomedical model and the complementary model. He has been involved with the set-up of this website on a consultant basis.

Dr Stefan Storrie
PhD Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin, MSc Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, BA Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin

Dr Storrie is a researcher and university lecturer in theoretical philosophy. He specialises in theories of experience, spatial perception and cognitive science. Stefan’s PhD explores the importance of embodiment for spatial experience and geometrical knowledge from both scientific and historical perspectives. He has a series of publications in highly rated journals on foundational issues in geometrical knowledge and space perception. As a lecturer, he has taught a wide range of subjects in theoretical philosophy and the history of ideas.

Jessica Harris
MA Music Therapy

Ms Harris began her career as an oboist, studying at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and the Royal College of Music in London. In 2008, Jessica began her training as a music therapist at the University of Limerick, where she completed her MA in 2010. She has particular experience of working with adults with acquired brain injury and people with intellectual and developmental disability. In 2010, she joined the company Music Therapy Ireland and is currently running the Dublin clinic.

Paul McDonnell
BA (NUI, Hons)

Paul McDonnell is a digital media creative, web developer and marketing consultant. Paul was co-founder in 2000 of the Dublin-based creative agency One Productions. He served as both client account manager and head of Digital Media until 2006, when he moved to public relations and training firm Carr Communications as head of the new Digital Media unit. He left Carr Communications in 2010 to pursue a selection of contract-based consultancy positions.

Paul has developed web strategies, web projects and offline marketing and advertising campaigns for a large number of national and international clients.