A long-time community advocate, Angela had worked in the sector for over a decade prior to her setting up Teac Tom. Her own tragic story of dealing with suicide helped her to identify the huge need for a community-based approach to dealing with mental health. After the loss of her son, Angela spent a number of years working with a multinational financial company while at the same time setting up & formalising the structure of Teac Tom. In 2016 she was appointed full-time CEO of the organisation & has been committed to its mission & development ever since.

Angela & Teac Tom have become an integral part of the communities in Kilkenny & Laois and she has been recognised locally & nationally for her work in the community. In 2014 she was named Kilkenny Person of the Year. In 2019, Angela was a finalist in the Laois Person of the Year Awards & was the national winner of the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Award in the Social Enterprise category.

Teac Tom has won the Laois Community & Voluntary Awards twice, in 2018, 2021 & 2024

Angela holds a BA in Business, Enterprise & Community Development, a BA in Social Enterprise, Leadership & Management, & a Women in Leadership from Oxford University.

Angela is a native of Kilkenny & a proud mother to five children & nan to two beautiful grandchildren.

Nicola is a start-up consultant and business mentor. Nicola is passionate about social entrepreneurship and works with individuals, businesses and marginalised communities to empower their ability to establish strong frameworks for change from the beginning.

A long-time advocate for mental health, Nicola joined the Board in 2020 and brings a wealth of expertise in management and strategy from her years in the construction industry.

Paul is the Director of Student Experience in UCC, a position he has held since 2018. Previously he held the role of Head of Student Counselling and Development. Paul has served as Chair of Student Affairs Ireland (SAI) and VP of the European Council of Student Affairs. In June 2022, the 6th Global Summit of Student Affairs and Services will be held in UCC with a particular focus on intentionally progressing the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals.

Paul is a strong advocate for the holistic development of students as an integral part of education. Paul brings his expertise to lead on Teac Tom’s Community Engagement and Education Outreach Strategy. He is a member of the Board since 2020.

Alan has been involved with Teac Tom since its foundation in 2014. His song 'Survivor' was recorded and launched on The Late Late Show as Teac Tom’s first ever fundraiser. Alan has a BA in Social Science from University College Cork. During his time in UCC he was elected as Students' Union President 2018/2019 representing over 20,000 students in all areas of welfare, education, campaigns and entertainment. Currently Alan is in his final year of studies at Oxford Brookes University in the UK, where he is working towards an MA in Occupational Therapy.

Alan serves as a director on the Board and brings his experience and expertise to support the mission and values of the organisation.

Patrick brings lived experience, resilience & a powerful voice of hope to the Board of Management of the Thomas Hayes Trust. Patrick has journeyed through addiction & recovery, emerging as a passionate advocate for those facing similar struggles.

He has shared his story publicly at events such as the Drugs Awareness Symposium hosted by the Good Shepherd Centre, where he highlighted the importance of accessible support & early intervention for those affected by substance misuse. Drawing from personal experience, Patrick actively encourages individuals to seek help & reminds them that recovery is not only possible but within reach.

Patrick is determined to make change through outreach, awareness & compassion. His commitment to supporting others aligns closely with the Thomas Hayes Trust’s mission to offer immediate, non-judgmental support to those in crisis.

Patrick’s voice on the board ensures the Trust remains deeply connected to the realities of addiction & recovery in our local communities, helping to shape services that are informed, empathetic & effective.

Caroline Devoy contacted Angela Hayes following the tragic loss of her sister. Caroline's son Jamie had read about Angela's incredible story. 

Following a visit to Teac Tom, they felt it would be the right charity to receive the funds raised in memory of her sister.  Caroline remains active in advocating & fundraising for Teac Tom.

Caroline approached Angela in 2016 with a proposal to help the people in Laois and with the help of counsellor Paschal McEvoy, Liam Kelly & Fr. Kelly, they created Teac Tom Laois; a safe place in Stradbally for individual & family counselling.  Caroline now serves on the Board & brings her personal lived experience of tragic loss & her experience in Social Care to support the mission & values of the organisation.

Grace O’Neill brings over four decades of experience in healthcare & addiction recovery to her role on the Board of Management at Teac Tom. A retired HSE professional with 42.5 years of service, Grace has worked as a facilitator with Aiséirí in Wexford & Kilkenny, as well as with Aislinn in both Ballyragget & Tallaght. Her longstanding dedication to supporting individuals & families through recovery & mental health challenges is evident in her work. Grace has known Angela Hayes for many years, having met through their shared work in Aislinn & was proud to support her from the beginning when Teac Tom was founded. Deeply inspired by Angela’s passion for helping others, Grace continues to volunteer her time & expertise to the organisation