About Us
INSIDE EU is a non-profit organisation led by people with disabilities and those with lived experience of exclusion. This lived experience informs and shapes how we design and deliver our work across education, research and inclusion.
Our team includes internationally recognised experts in inclusion and education, alongside a wider group of practitioners and collaborators contributing to our work. We work across Ireland and Europe to support more inclusive systems and practices, particularly for people who face barriers to participation. We combine practical experience, collaboration and evidence-informed approaches to deliver high-quality, impactful and sustainable outcomes.
How We Work
We are a focused and collaborative team working across several key areas:
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Inclusive Education & Training
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European Partnerships & Project Development
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Research & Evidence
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Communications & Engagement
Our work is delivered through structured project management and cross-sector collaboration with a strong focus on quality, impact and sustainability.
We have extensive experience working across Erasmus+, CERV, and other EU-funded programmes, contributing to project design, implementation and dissemination in line with European quality and reporting standards.
Our Team
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Christian Sweeney
CEO, Project Manager, Researcher
Christian Sweeney is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, where he provides strategic leadership across the organisation's core areas of research, inclusion and diversity, and education. With a distinguished career in EU-funded project development and management,
Christian has been instrumental in building the Institute's portfolio of internationally recognised projects spanning Erasmus+ and a range of complementary EU funding programmes.
He brings deep expertise in non-formal education, community development, and evidence-based practice, and has played a central role in establishing the Institute as a trusted partner in European research and social innovation. Under his leadership, the Institute has developed and delivered impactful initiatives addressing some of the most pressing challenges in inclusion, diversity, and educational equity in Ireland, across Europe and beyond.
Christian is committed to ensuring that the organisation's work remains grounded in the lived experiences of the communities it serves, translating rigorous research into meaningful, real-world change for all.
Volunteers
Gabriel
Marketing
Gabriel lives in Brazil, his native country.
He is a Marketing student and holds a
bachelor's degree in History.
He has experience with marketing, inclusive education and accessibility.
Inclusive Education & Training
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Raymond
Head of Education and
Training, Project Manager
Anya
Facilitator
Raymond Sweeney FRSA leads the Institute's work on inclusion, accessibility, and non-formal education, bringing together decades of expertise in coaching, entrepreneurship, and inclusive learning design. A serial entrepreneur and internationally recognised expert, Ray has developed and delivered accredited, regulated qualification frameworks grounded in a bio-psycho-social model that addresses the emotional, physical, behavioural, and cognitive dimensions of human development. His work is particularly focused on reaching people with fewer opportunities and those from marginalised backgrounds, having coached over 17,000 individuals across multiple countries.
Ray holds qualifications across psychology, special educational needs, education and training, assessment, and business leadership, and combines this academic grounding with extensive practical experience as a coach, tutor, assessor, and project manager. He sits on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group of the United Nations Global Compact and holds Special Consultancy Status to the United Nations. A Visiting Fellow at UCSI University, Ray brings both policy-level credibility and grassroots delivery experience to the Institute's programmes, ensuring its work on inclusion and diversity is accessible, evidence-informed, and genuinely transformative for the communities it serves.
Supports the delivery of training and workshops across projects, contributing to inclusive and participant-focused learning environments.
European Partnerships & Project Development
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Adam
Head of Project Management, Technician, Trainer
Bio to follow
Giada
Project Manager, Trainer
Bio to follow
Louise
Head of Business Development & Partnership
Louise works closely with the CEO on organisational direction and European partnerships, contributing to strategic decision-making and the development of the Institute’s EU project portfolio. She was previously recognised as an award-winning social entrepreneur for initiatives supporting autistic people and their families with a focus on employment and community participation.
At INSIDE EU, she leads European partnerships and project development, working with organisations across Europe to design and deliver collaborative initiatives. She is responsible for strengthening external relationships, supporting organisational visibility and ensuring strong alignment with EU priorities, funding requirements and quality and reporting standards.
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Niamh
Administrator
Supports administrative coordination across projects and organisational activities.
Research & Evidence
Richard
Principal Research Fellow
Professor Richard Bailey is Head of Research at the Institute, where he leads the organisation's evidence base across its programmes in inclusion, diversity, and education. One of the most cited academics in his field globally, Richard brings an exceptional depth of scholarly expertise to the Institute's work, ensuring that every project is grounded in the highest standards of research rigour and intellectual integrity.
He has published extensively across physical education, sport, inclusion, and human development, and his work has informed policy and practice at national and international levels. Richard plays a central role in shaping the Institute's research methodology and in building its reputation as a credible, evidence-led voice in European and global debates on inclusion and social equity.
Communications & Engagement
Hannah
Head of Marketing & Communication, Trainer
Hannah Grieve is responsible for Communications and Marketing at the Institute, where she manages the organisation's public presence and ensures its work reaches the audiences that matter most.
She plays a key role in translating the Institute's research and project outcomes into compelling narratives across digital and print platforms, supporting dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and the broader visibility of the Institute's mission. Hannah is committed to communicating the value of inclusion and diversity in ways that are accessible, authentic, and impactful for all.
Collaborators & Project Support
Our collaborators contribute to project implementation, dissemination, digital development and stakeholder engagement activities across our programmes.
Lucia
UX Design & Communication
Supports user-centred design, digital accessibility, multilingual content and dissemination materials across projects.
Gabriel
Project Communications Support
Contributes to outreach and stakeholder communication with experience in inclusive education and accessibility.
Valerio
Digital Design Support
Contributes to interface design, prototyping and user-centred digital development supporting project delivery.
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Eleonora
Content & Engagement Support
Supports storytelling, content development and project dissemination activities.
Alexandra
Digital Communication Support
Contributes to online engagement, email communications and dissemination of project outputs.
Katie
Project Content Support
Supports the development of written materials for project implementation, reporting and dissemination.
Mission
To advance inclusion through evidence-based research and transformative programmes that empower marginalised individuals to participate fully and achieve equally in employment, education, sport, and all facets of society.
Vision
A fully inclusive society where everyone can participate and achieve.
Values
Inclusion
Creating environments where everyone is welcomed, valued, respected, and able to participate fully.
Equity & Fairness
Fair treatment, access, and opportunity for all people, recognising that different individuals and groups may require different levels of support to achieve equal outcomes.
Services Informed By Experts with Lived Experience
We are directed and managed by people with disabilities and fewer opportunities, ensuring our work is grounded in authentic understanding and addresses real needs rather than assumptions.
Evidence-Based Practice
We reject superficial solutions in favour of comprehensive, scientifically-grounded approaches that create genuine, lasting impact.
Cross-Sector Collaboration and Partnerships
Working with stakeholders, communities, and lived-experience experts to co-create meaningful change. We actively build European networks that amplify impact, share knowledge, and create systemic change.
Accountability & Sustainability
We maintain the highest standards in managing funding, deliver measurably on commitments, and build long-term capacity rather than short-term interventions—ensuring our impact outlasts any single project. We deliver EDI training in a way that is ethical, environmentally conscious, and focused on long-term, sustainable change rather than short-term compliance.
Digital Inclusion & Innovation
We use inclusive digital tools and blended learning approaches to build digital skills and drive innovation. This includes ensuring that digital elements make activities more inclusive and effective.