Alzheimer’s Society announces new Director of Operations to lead vital support services

Dara joins Alzheimer’s Society from her current role as Executive Director of Youth Impact at The Children’s Society, bringing a wealth of knowledge with over 20 years’ experience of enabling transformational services that have made a huge difference to people in vital need of support.

A qualified social worker and a graduate of University College, Dublin, Dara has previously held roles as Director of Children and Young People at The Children’s Society; Director of Services at CLIC Sargent; Head of Youth Support Services for the London Borough of Hackney, and Service Manager for adolescents for Hammersmith and Fulham council, as well as being a Trustee of Children England since June 2021.

As Director of Operations for Alzheimer’s Society she will lead our direct services for people living with dementia and their carers. She will oversee the delivery of life-changing support through these, working in partnership with statutory health and social care, the UK voluntary sector and commercial providers. She will lead our team of employees and volunteers, including Alzheimer’s Society’s expert Dementia Advisers who guide people through dementia from the point of diagnosis, dedicated to delivering impact every day to as many people as possible. 

People with dementia have been worst hit by the pandemic, accounting for the largest number of deaths and with many rapidly deteriorating due to the knock-on effect of lockdown, including social isolation. Since March 2020 Alzheimer’s Society’s vital support services have been used over 6 million times.

Kate Lee, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society said:

‘I’m delighted to be welcoming Dara de Burca to Alzheimer’s Society as our new Director of Operations. The past two years have had a devastating effect on people living with dementia, making Dara’s role more crucial now than ever before. She will be a fantastic asset to the team, particularly given her personal connection to dementia and her significant knowledge of social care.

We have an ambitious strategy for the services, to reach more people with dementia support than ever before and we are excited to have Dara join to lead that vital work.’

Dara de Burca said:

‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Alzheimer’s Society. As someone with experience of dementia in my family I know only too well the challenges faced by those with a diagnosis, and their family and friends.

Over the past couple of years this has been horribly compounded by the impact of the pandemic. I feel privileged to be joining such a respected team who are dedicated to creating a fairer future for those with dementia, and am excited to meet everyone and get stuck in.’

Dara joins Alzheimer’s Society on Friday 1st April 2022.