Darragh Collins

Strategic Leader. With over 3 decades of proven success driving organisational change and delivering measurable impact across disability, social care and youth work sectors.

Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

About

Award-Winning CEO & Strategic Leader | €7M+ Programme Manager | 4-Year Record Growth Achiever | Cross-Border Partnerships & Social Impact | FHEA Business Person of the Year 2023 Senior strategic leader with 30+ years driving transformation across disability, youth, and social care sectors. Led €7.2M cross-border PeacePlus programme as Project Development Manager CEO experience transforming NI's largest outdoor education center. Experienced in multi-stakeholder environments, EU compliance, and strategic partnerships Proven track record managing multi-million pound funding (ESF, PeacePlus, SEUPB) FHBA Business Person of the Year 2023

Experience

  • Quality and Governance Manager at Cedar Foundation
    Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

  • Project Development Manager at South West College
    Feb 2025 - Aug 2025 · 7 mos

    Project Development Manager | South West College Feb 2025 - Present Leading delivery of €7.2M Youthscape+ PeacePlus Programme - flagship cross-border youth development initiative across NI and ROI. Managed €7.2million SEUPB funded programme. Built strategic partnerships with 5 delivery partners across education, local authorities and youth organisations Designed monitoring systems tracking impact across hundreds of young participants Embedded quality frameworks ensuring full SEUPB/EC compliance Top Skills Strategic Leadership Programme Management Cross-border Partnerships EU Funding (ESF, PeacePlus, SEUPB) Stakeholder Engagement Quality Assurance Financial Management

  • Chief Executive Officer at Share Discovery Village
    Jun 2021 - Feb 2025 · 3 yrs 9 mos

    Led strategic transformation of Northern Ireland's largest outdoor education and residential center, repositioning the organisation as dynamic, inclusive, and financially resilient. Key Achievements: Delivered record turnover for 4 consecutive years through diversified income streams and strategic capital investment Embedded governance frameworks ensuring full compliance with HSE, HMRC, Environmental Health, Trading Standards, and Equality Commission Built high-value partnerships across government, education, health, and community sectors unlocking new opportunities Executed multi-year growth strategy that modernized services, expanded reach, and aligned with emerging sectoral priorities Developed values-led organizational culture and high-performing teams committed to excellence and inclusion Top Skills: Strategic Transformation, Financial Management, Governance & Compliance, Partnership Development, Culture Building

  • Service Manager at Cedar Foundation
    Jul 2016 - Jun 2021 · 5 yrs

    Led strategic delivery of ESF-funded programme focused on inclusion, accessibility, and employment support for individuals with disabilities and additional needs. Key Achievements: Managed multi-site teams ensuring alignment with ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Delivered disability awareness and Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) training for employers and community groups Maintained full Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) compliance through rigorous performance monitoring Championed person-centered practice across Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) Led staff induction, training, and development embedding consistent quality service delivery Top Skills: Disability Rights Expertise, ISO 9001 Compliance, Training & Development, Person-Centered Practice, Quality Assurance