Vicki Mooney, resides in Lanzarote with her 3 children, is originally from Dublin, Ireland. She has lived with obesity since childhood which greatly affected her life growing up. In 2005 Vicki had bariatric surgery and lost half of her body weight which was the beginning of her treatment and management journey. Vicki was a founding patient council member with EASO from 2013 and became ECPO executive director in 2019 upon its independent patient led launch. As well as volunteering as chair of the board of ICPO, Vicki is also GOPA co-chair presently and works on various global obesity and NCD projects.

Vicki is Chair of the Board of Directors of ICPO

Susie Birney lives in Dublin. Living with a food disorder called ARFID she understands that there is not only one cause for obesity and not one treatment which will always work. Type 2 Diabetes and other co-morbidities have been health barriers for her since her 30’s. Since 2016, Susie has been a patient representative with the ASOI and an Irish representative with ECPO. This led to the start of creating a national patient led organization ICPO from 2018. She shares her experiences to help to improve the lives of those who live with obesity.

Susie is the Executive Director for ICPO a volunteer position.

Linda Smyth lives in Co. Kildare. She is a keen walker, hiker, loves to swim and leisure cycling. She likes to travel and learn about other cultures. Linda is keen to help support and improve the lives of those who struggle with weight and obesity. She believes that support is vital for everyone, and the more people have someone else to turn to outside of their usual circle of family and friends, the better for them to learn how to cope with what they face on a daily basis.

Linda is treasurer and Board of Director for ICPO.

Gerry Barrett. Lives in Meath. He has been tackling his obesity since 1987. Thinking he could do it on my own his weight always came back with a vengeance. Since being referred to the Weight Management team in Loughlinstown hospital, Dublin Gerry has not looked back, he is too busy looking forward after a successful gastric sleeve operation. Understanding now that the disease of Obesity never goes away, Gerry has learned so much more about the disease and how to manage it since becoming a member of ICPO. His wish is to always be there to help others understand the same.

Bernadette Keenan lives in Wexford. Growing up in a household with the stark contrast of living with excess weight from age 3, with a brother who was under-weight it was clear this was a complex issue. Having tried numerous treatments over the years, it was through patient support groups that Bernadette began advocating for more understanding of this chronic disease. Bernadette has a daughter who now sees similar issues, and as part of being a prominent ICPO advocate Bernadette is passionate to improve childhood obesity.

Bernadette is a committee member and Peer Support Lead of ICPO, a volunteer position.

Mary Frances White lives in Dublin.  After becoming aware of weight & body difference after being put on a diet for her communion dress began a life of diets with the vicious circle of depression about her size, looking for self-soothing through eating and the following guilt. MF believes that she had to work twice as hard as the others just to prove she could do her job, due to comments made about her weight. People believe when the weight comes off troubles will go away. MF still can have issues with how she looks, will still worry about her job, but now colleagues complain she does too much work. As an advocate MF hopes to raise awareness how weight does not define a person.

MF is a committee member of ICPO and peer support lead a volunteer position.

Ben Whelan lives in Dublin and has lived with overweight or obesity as long as he can remember. In his 20’s was diagnosed with Spondylosis and later in life diagnosed with osteoarthritis bilaterally in hips, knees and ankles. Tolerating pain for years, finally a scan showed problems with vertebrae and multiple discs along with a trapped sciatic nerve. Throughout the years Ben was told by consultants that losing weight would solve the problem, only to be told years later after losing weight that ” the damage has already been done”. Ben firmly believes healthcare professionals need to engage and listen to their patients and look beyond their weight.

Ben is a committee member of ICPO a volunteer position.

Deirdre Murphy lives in Dublin. With changing hormones during her teen years Deirdre found PCOS a factor for her increasing weight despite being very active. From 16 was the start of her dieting journey where she would lose weight and put it back on again, plus more. Since treatment Deirdre is off her sleep apnoea machine and most importantly despite fertility issues, had another baby which would not have happened without losing the weight. Through advocating with ICPO she wants to help other people find the right help and support in managing their obesity.

Deirdre is a co-treasurer and committee member for ICPO a volunteer position.

Catherine O’Sullivan lives in Wexford. Catherine was very active when young, swimming and walking a lot for her job. When injuring her knee, she continued to work but it resulted in her needing a knee replacement. She was refused a knee replacement for her other knee until she lost weight, which led to early retirement. Catherine advocates to raise awareness about stigma in the healthcare setting. She finds the online support groups and meetings an important place where members can share and understand they are not alone, like an extended family.

Catherine is a committee member and Peer Support Lead for ICPO, a volunteer position.