Our People

Leadership Team

Ruth Shipsey

087 264 8245

A solicitor with over thirty years’ medico-legal experience, Ruth understands the medico-legal landscape and the challenges it creates for healthcare professionals and indemnifiers. Ruth promises to always try to arrange the best professional indemnity insurance in the market and is dedicated to ensuring that Medisec is respected as the membership organisation of choice for healthcare professionals by providing exemplary complaints and disciplinary support to members, while supporting and promoting optimum care for patients. Ruth is committed to ensuring that Medisec’s strong reputation of service to members is maintained and enhanced and she personally; alongside her team, makes herself available on a 24/7 basis to support members with their medico- legal queries and concerns.

Jennifer Connolly

Jennifer has worked in the insurance and reinsurance industry since 2006 and brings a wealth of experience of leading both small and large teams. As the regulated Finance and Compliance Officer, Jennifer is responsible for all financial aspects and reporting of the company including the monitoring of the company’s investment portfolio and ensuring the company’s legal and regulatory compliance with the Central Bank and the Consumer Protection Codes at all time. The Board of Medisec has also appointed Jennifer to act as Company Secretary, where she acts as a communicator, facilitator and advisor to the members of the Board.

Suzanne Browne

087 230 5425

Suzanne has over 20 years’ experience working in the sector of medical professional indemnity. Suzanne joined Medisec in 2001 with responsibility for the overall daily management of the company particularly in the development of a robust advisory and mediation service for members. Suzanne was appointed General Manager of Medisec in 2006 and has worked alongside the Chief Executive on all aspects of the company’s business. Suzanne became Chief Operations Officer in April 2013 with primary responsibility for overseeing the advisory, complaints and disciplinary services to members and for developing strategic procedures and policies with the Executive Team.

Niall Rooney

086 781 5615

Niall Rooney joined the Medisec team in 2018 with a wealth of litigation and healthcare experience gained over the past decade, advising and guiding medical professionals through every stage of medical negligence claims. Niall has considerable expertise advising medical practitioners in relation to all aspects of Medical Council complaints, Inquests, HSE and HIQA investigations. Prior to joining Medisec, Niall was a senior member of the Healthcare teams in Matheson and Eversheds Sutherland respectively, where he advised medical professionals and both public and private healthcare providers in relation to  high profile medical negligence claims and Medical Council complaints.

Aisling Timoney - Senior Legal Counsel

Aisling Timoney

085 780 8018

Aisling has over 10 years’ experience in healthcare law and medical negligence litigation, with rounded knowledge of the medico legal environment in Ireland and the particular challenges associated with regulatory and disciplinary proceedings. Having previously worked as In-House Legal Advisor to the Medical Council of Ireland, her particular interest lies in the regulatory sphere and in advising doctors who are the subject of regulatory complaints. She was the lead defence solicitor in a high profile Medical Council Fitness to Practise Inquiry concerning wrong site surgery and in subsequent successful Judicial Review proceedings which changed the landscape of regulatory law in Ireland.

Dee Duffy - Senior Legal Counsel

Dee Duffy

086 191 4157

Dee has worked as a healthcare solicitor since she qualified in 2012. Dee provides advice on a daily basis to doctors on medical, ethical and legal issues and supports doctors who are subject to claims or complaints.  She regularly presents on risk education, claim trends and best practice.  Dee has a strong background in all aspects of healthcare litigation and dispute resolution, having represented and defended a significant numbers of practitioners during her career. Dee has represented many medical professionals in disciplinary and regulatory matters, including Medical Council complaints, Fitness to Practise Inquiries and applications for suspension of Medical Council registration. Dee has acted on behalf of many practitioners at Inquests and Commissions of Investigations and HSE / HIQA inquiries. Dee also has experience in providing legal advice on all aspects of defamation and reputation issues. Dee previously worked as an associate in the Public and Regulatory Department of a leading law firm where she worked primarily for the Medical Council in investigating and preparing cases for Fitness to Practise Committees.

Clinical Risk

Lisa Lawless - GP Clinical Risk Advisor

Dr Lisa Lawless

Lisa graduated from UCD in 2006 with Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery degrees and completed post graduate GP training on the TCD/HSE GP Training Scheme in 2011. She holds post graduate Diplomas in Clinical Psychiatry from The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She has worked as a GP in North Wicklow and South Dublin. She currently works with the College Health Service at TCD and is the Sexual Health lead for the Healthy Trinity Committee. She is a former Director of Aware – Depression support and education services. Lisa is an Assistant Programme Director at the North Dublin City GP Training Scheme and has a special interest in medical education and health equity. She is a member of the Irish Student Health Association and the Medico – Legal Society of Ireland. Lisa has also completed an Advanced Diploma in Medical Law.

Clodagh McAllister - Dental Risk Advisor

Dr Clodagh McAllister

Clodagh graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1992 with a Bachelor in Dental Science. She holds post graduate diplomas in Conscious Sedation, Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP and an advanced diploma in Medical law from Kings Inns. She has worked as a General Dental Practitioner in private practice for over 30 years and was the principal dentist in her own Dublin based practice for the past 23 years. She recently sold her practice.

Since 2001 she has held a clinical lecturer’s position in the Dublin Dental School and University Hospital teaching students in advanced restorative dentistry. She is currently the chairperson of the GP committee within the Irish Dental Association. She is a past honorary secretary and past President of the IDA.

Suzanne Creed - Clinical Risk Advisor

Suzanne Creed

086 06 51685

Suzanne joined the Medisec team in September 2020. She has extensive experience in clinical risk management and education. She has been working in the field of medical defence since 2012. Suzanne has a clinical background with a wealth of experience in Ireland, UK and Australia across both primary and secondary care. Suzanne is currently undertaking a Masters in in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors in Edinburgh University.

She has worked with the ICGP minor surgery accreditation research project in 2016. During Covid 19 Suzanne “Answered Ireland’s Call” and worked as part of the HSE infection Control team.

Finance and Compliance Team

Jennifer Connolly - Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Connolly

Jennifer has worked in the insurance and reinsurance industry since 2006 and brings a wealth of experience of leading both small and large teams. As the regulated Finance and Compliance Officer, Jennifer is responsible for all financial aspects and reporting of the company including the monitoring of the company’s investment portfolio and ensuring the company’s legal and regulatory compliance with the Central Bank and the Consumer Protection Codes at all time. The Board of Medisec has also appointed Jennifer to act as Company Secretary, where she acts as a communicator, facilitator and advisor to the members of the Board.

Joey Hammon

Joey Hammon

Joey joined Medisec in February 2025 as Finance Manager, having worked in specialty insurance, reinsurance and captive insurance companies since joining the industry in 2006.

He supports the Chief Financial Officer in all financial aspects and reporting of the company, as well as all Central Bank compliance obligations.  Joey is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Wojciech Dworzynski

Wojciech Dworzynski

Wojciech is an industry qualified ACA and holds a Masters in Accounting from Dublin City University.  Wojciech is responsible for the daily functions of the finance team, financial control operations and reporting within Medisec. Prior to Medisec, Wojciech was a consultant responsible for the design and deployment of custom, complex financial and operational analytical models and reporting solutions for a range of international clients and across a number of modern platforms.

Mairead McElroy

Mairead has a number of year’s experience in a wide variety of financial roles. Mairead provides daily support to the finance function and assists in the financial reporting of the Company. Mairead qualified as a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Dublin.

Membership Team

Suzanne-Browne - Chief Operations Officer / Head of Membership

Suzanne Browne

087 230 5425

Suzanne has over 20 years’ experience working in the sector of medical professional indemnity. Suzanne joined Medisec in 2001 with responsibility for the overall daily management of the company particularly in the development of a robust advisory and mediation service for members. Suzanne was appointed General Manager of Medisec in 2006 and has worked alongside the Chief Executive on all aspects of the company’s business. Suzanne became Chief Operations Officer in April 2013 with primary responsibility for overseeing the advisory, complaints and disciplinary services to members and for developing strategic procedures and policies with the Executive Team.

Andrew Merriman - Membership Advisor - Consultant Lead

Andrew Merriman

Andrew joined the Medisec Membership team in 2020. Andrew looks after all areas of the membership department, including new business, renewals, member queries and all aspects of policy administration.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and is a Member of the Insurance Institute of Ireland. He has over thirty years’ experience in the Irish Insurance industry, with both Insurers and Insurance Intermediaries across a variety of roles in claims, customer service, underwriting and audit.

Scott Fitzgerald - Membership Advisor - GP Lead

Scott Fitzgerald

Scott joined Medisec’s membership team in January 2020 and deals with all membership queries and processing of applications on a daily basis. Scott has over 5 years’ experience in the finance sector, including 2 years’ international experience that he gained while working in Australia for one of Ireland’s top banks in the financial crime sector and the main share registry in Australia. Scott is also a Member of the Institute of Banking. He holds the APA designation in Loans, Regulations and Savings and Investments. Scott is APA and CIP qualified with the Insurance Institute of Ireland.

Alex Russell - Membership Advisor - Dental Lead

Alex Russell

Alex joined the Medisec membership team in March 2022. He deals with all our members’ queries and requests as well as processing any policy changes. Alex holds a degree in Business Management from Technical University Dublin and a degree in Computer Science from National College of Ireland. He has five years’ experience in the insurance industry including an underwriting role in a multinational company. Alex is APA and CIP qualified with the Insurance Institute of Ireland.

Liam Li - Membership Advisor - Entity Lead

Liam Li

Liam joined the Medisec membership team in 2023. He deals with all membership related queries, prepares quotes and makes policy adjustments. Liam holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and a Higher Certificate in Real Estate Valuation. Liam is a member of the Insurance Institute of Ireland and is APA in Commercial Insurance and Private Medical Insurance. He has 12 years of experience in sales and operations in a large multinational insurance firm prior joining Medisec.

Emma O'Callaghan - Front of House and Admin support

Emma O’Callaghan

Emma commenced employment with Medisec in July 2022 as a receptionist, and PA to our CEO Ruth Shipsey. With a background in customer service, she has learned excellent communication skills and takes the time to listen to members with a genuine warmth. She is highly focused on maintaining a professional, helpful, and courteous relationship with our members. She is currently assisting the membership team and is APA qualified with the Insurance Institute of Ireland.

Board of Directors

Medisec is governed by a Board of Directors comprising medical practitioners and professionals drawn from complementary disciplines such as insurance, finance, law and communications to oversee the activities of the company and ensure its goals and objectives are met. The Board has accumulated a strong balance sheet through careful and prudent management of its affairs.

Brian Daly

Brian Daly is a non-executive director of Medisec Ireland CLG, having joined the Board of Directors in 2023.

Prior to joining Medisec, Brian was a Partner in KPMG where he worked for over 35 years, in Ireland and Canada. He advised a wide range of clients, primarily in the Financial Services sector, and served as Head of the Financial Services Practice in KPMG in Ireland and Head of KPMG’s Global Tax Insurance team. Brian also worked as a member of the Government’s Industry Advisory Group which assisted in strategic development of the IFSC.

He was a member of the Board of Financial Services Ireland which is the industry representative organisation within IBEC and is on the Board of the Institute of International and European Affairs.

Brian is a graduate of University College Dublin, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a Member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland.

Tom Browne

Tom Browne is a non-executive director of Medisec Ireland CLG, having joined the Board of Directors in 2023. Tom is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in the insurance sector in Ireland working with Irish Life, Zurich, Friends First and Aviva over 40 years. He gained significant industry and regulatory experience during that time and has an in-depth knowledge market issues relating to the financial services industry in Ireland.

Dr Daniel Crowley - Director

Dr Daniel Crowley

Dr Daniel Crowley graduated from University College Cork in 1980 and completed his GP training in the Cleveland UK GP Training Scheme in 1984. His post-graduation qualifications include MRCGP MICGP, Diploma Child Health (DCH) (RCPI), Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (DRCOG) and a Diploma in Sports Medicine(RCSI).

Dr Crowley worked as Concern Volunteer in Ethiopia during the Famine in 1985. Following his return to Cork in 1986 Dr Crowley commenced full time General Practice in CarraignabhFear & Ballyvolane Co. Cork. He was team doctor to the Cork Minor GAA Teams from 1998 to 2002 and is a current council member of the National Association of General Practitioners.

Dr Íde Delargy - Director

Dr Íde Delargy

Dr Íde Delargy is a GP with over thirty years’ experience in general practice both in the UK and Ireland. She currently runs her own practice in Blackrock, Co Dublin and has a mixed GMS and private practice. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in London (FRCGP Lon) as well as a Member of the Irish College of General Practitioners of Ireland (MICGP). She also holds a Diploma in Leadership in Healthcare (RCPI) and a Diploma in Workplace Conflict Resolution. Íde has extensive experience in the area of substance misuse and holds a number of national representative roles including Director of the Substance Misuse Programme at the ICGP and National GP Co-ordinator for the HSE Addiction Service.

Of special interest to Íde is the health and wellbeing of all doctors and to this end she developed the Practitioner Health Matters programme (PHMP). This is a strictly confidential and independent service which provides assessment, treatment and support for any doctor, including hospital doctors and GPs, who may be experiencing stress, mental health problems or substance misuse problems.

Mary Dooley - Director

Mary Dooley

Mary Dooley is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, an MBA graduate of Trinity College Dublin. Mary has been a senior executive in the private and public sectors for over 30 years and has held Chief Financial Officer positions with: Warner Communications, Bristol Myers, St. James’ Hospital and NUI Galway. Her experience includes financial and business strategy, corporate governance, intellectual property, risk and investment funds management and technological, commercial and capital developments.

She has also held directorships and audit committee membership of other commercial, cultural, charitable and public enterprises and has chaired a number of them.

Brian Neilan

Brian Neilan is a non-executive director of Medisec Ireland CLG, having joined the Board of Directors in 2018. With over 30 years’  experience in the international insurance and reinsurance industry, Brian has recently retired as a Partner from PwC where  he worked primarily in the Insurance sector with a variety of clients. He gained significant industry and regulatory experience during that time and has an in-depth knowledge of regulatory and other market issues relating to the financial services industry in Ireland.  Brian is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

Professor J Mark Ryan - Director

Professor J Mark Ryan

Professor J Mark Ryan MB, BCh, FRCR (London), FFRRCSI, EBIR, FCIRSE is a Clinical Professor at Trinity College Dublin, and an Interventional Radiologist at St James Hospital Dublin.

Professor Ryan graduated in Medicine from Trinity College Dublin in 1988, and trained in Radiology, obtaining Fellowship qualifications from The Royal College of Radiologists in London (FRCR), and from The Faculty of Radiology of The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FFRRCSI). He completed Specialist Fellowship Training in Interventional Radiology and Abdominal-Cross Sectional Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.

He was an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina from 1998-2004. He is a Fellow of the Cardiovascular Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (FCIRSE), and holds the European Board of Interventional Radiology (EBIR) qualification.

Professor Ryan specialises in delivering minimally invasive oncological and endovascular treatments for many forms of cancer, urological obstruction, portal hypertension, liver disease, and for bleeding and thrombotic disorders.

Professor Ryan has been actively involved in academics and clinical research for over 25 years, during which time he has published and presented more than 175 peer-reviewed scientific papers, editorials, and articles, has lectured in Europe, Asia and the USA, and been on Faculty for international conferences including The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), The International Symposium on Endovascular Therapies (ISET), The Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology Society of Europe (CIRSE),The European Congress of Radiology (ECR), Global Embolization Symposium and Technologies (GEST) and European (ECIO) and World Congresses of Interventional Oncology (WCIO).

He is a Non-Executive Director and medical volunteer for Operation Childlife (www.operationchildlife.com), a children’s healthcare charity working in Vietnam, Tanzania, Mongolia and Jordan.


Ruth Shipsey - Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director

Ruth Shipsey

087 264 8245

A solicitor with over thirty years’ medico-legal experience, Ruth understands the medico-legal landscape and the challenges it creates for healthcare professionals and indemnifiers. Ruth promises to always try to arrange the best professional indemnity insurance in the market and is dedicated to ensuring that Medisec is respected as the membership organisation of choice for healthcare professionals by providing exemplary complaints and disciplinary support to members, while supporting and promoting optimum care for patients. Ruth is committed to ensuring that Medisec’s strong reputation of service to members is maintained and enhanced and she personally; alongside her team, makes herself available on a 24/7 basis to support members with their medico- legal queries and concerns.

Advisory Panel

Medisec is assisted by a long-standing and vastly experienced GP Advisory Panel. The Panel  meets on a quarterly basis to review procedures and developments in general practice and to consider other issues of concern to our GP members.

The Medisec team are in regular contact with the Panel regarding issues arising from an advisory, claim or indemnity perspective. The Panel also contributes to Medisec’s risk and education publications and plays an important role in advising on what constitutes normal GP practice for inclusion under the professional indemnity insurance policy.

Professor Walter Cullen - Advisory Panel

Professor Walter Cullen

Walter Cullen is Foundation Professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick Graduate Entry Medical School and a practising GP at Abbey River Practice in Limerick City.

A graduate of UCD, Prof Cullen completed the Eastern Regional Specialist Training Programme in General Practice in 1998 and from then until 2009, worked as a GP in Dublin’s South Inner City and as a Lecturer in General Practice at UCD School of Medicine. He is Member of Royal College of General Practitioners and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and was awarded a MD degree in 2005.

Dr Joe Gallagher - Advisory Panel

Dr Joe Gallagher

Joe Gallagher is a partner in a GP practice in Gorey Co Wexford. Dr Gallagher graduated from TCD in 2003 and completed his postgraduate GP training on the South East GP Training Scheme in 2010. He undertook a MD in the diagnosis of heart failure in UCD and is a Clinical Professor in the Dept of General Practice in UCD. He is the ICGP/HSE Integrated Care Lead for Cardiovascular Disease. He has an interest in global health and his practice is partnered with a clinic in Malawi.

Professor Andrew Murphy - Advisory Panel

Professor Andrew Murphy

Andrew Murphy is a principal in a semi-rural practice in Turloughmore, County Galway and Foundation Professor of General Practice at NUI Galway. He is an ICGP Examiner and former Board member and Chair of Research of the ICGP.

Dr Raymond Walley - Advisory Panel

Dr Raymond Walley

Professor Raymond Walley is a Director of Medisec Ireland Limited. He is a UCD Associate Clinical Professor. He was elected for a three year term from 2019 as First Vice President CPME – European Doctors. He is a full time General Practitioner based in North Dublin and a GP Trainer on the HSE DML (UCD) Training Scheme.

Dr Walley is a past President of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and past Chairman of its GP Committee. He continues to be a member of the IMO Council and GP Committee. He is a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and of the ICGP. He was awarded a FRCGP from the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK in 2019.

Dr Walley graduated from UCD in 1987 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degrees and went on to complete a Diploma in Obstetrics from RCPI. He has a Certificate in Aviation Medicine and has practised as an Aviation Medical Examiner in Ireland. He completed his postgraduate GP training on the NHS East Sussex GP vocational Training Scheme in 1993. Dr Walley has a Diploma in Medical Management (RCSI / IPA) with a focus on change management.

Lisa Lawless - GP Clinical Risk Advisor

Dr Lisa Lawless

Lisa graduated from UCD in 2006 with Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery degrees and completed post graduate GP training on the TCD/HSE GP Training Scheme in 2011. She holds post graduate Diplomas in Clinical Psychiatry from The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She has worked as a GP in North Wicklow and South Dublin. She currently works with the College Health Service at TCD and is the Sexual Health lead for the Healthy Trinity Committee. She is a former Director of Aware – Depression support and education services. Lisa is an Assistant Programme Director at the North Dublin City GP Training Scheme and has a special interest in medical education and health equity. She is a member of the Irish Student Health Association and the Medico – Legal Society of Ireland.

Ruth Shipsey