Stuart Lawler
Stuart Lawler is the Executive Director and Chair of INBAF, a position he has held since June 2024. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) as Public Relations Officer.
With a lifelong passion for Braille, Stuart integrates it into his daily professional activities. He possesses extensive expertise in assistive technology, with a particular focus on the synergistic use of Braille, mainstream, and assistive access solutions. Stuart’s leadership and innovative approach continue to drive advancements in the field, making significant contributions to accessibility and inclusion.
Ilka Stäglin
Ilka Stäglin is Director of Research and Compliance at ChildVision, having formerly set up and managed the National Braille Production Centre at ChildVision since 2000. She has a keen interest in braille as a code and in teaching braille literacy at different levels. Ilka formerly represented Ireland as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) between 2013 and 2024.
Katharine Howe
Katharine Howe is the Manager of Reading Services (formerly NBP) at ChildVision and is also the current secretary of INBAF. She was the first person in Ireland to receive a certified braille qualification in UEB. Katharine has an in-depth knowledge of IT and has utilised that in her work with braille and alternative formats.
Lina Kouzi
Lina is the Head of Library Access Services at Vision Ireland. Lina leads the Bookshare Ireland accessible digital library service and has a keen focus in developing accessible digital materials. Lina oversees the Media Conversion Centre at Vision Ireland. This Centre produces Braille and audio documents and books. The Centre also provides training to pharmaceutical Companies in the production of Braille on pharmaceutical packaging.
Greg Flanagan
Greg Flanagan is the current Work Training Officer in charge of the Braille Unit in Arbour Hill Prison where he teaches Braille and is responsible for the transcription of documents for commercial businesses and all government departments. He is also a Braille Tutor for the Birmingham Braille Course in Ireland. Having completed the Perkins repair course in Boston he is the only qualified repair man in Ireland.
Carol Byrne
Carol Byrne is a Braille Transcriber in the Vision Ireland Library and Media Centre. She produces non-commercial Braille and in 2015, completed the QQI Level 5 ‘Learn Braille by sight’ course.
Brian Dalton
Brian Dalton works as a Senior Test Lead in accessibility at Fidelity Investments, ensuring that digital content is accessible too and usable by people who require assistive technology.
While Brian is a native screen reader user, he also has a strong appreciation for Braille in his professional and personal life. He uses it at work to read and deliver presentations along with other material. At home, he uses it to read stories alongside his two children, using an iPad or a Kindle, along with a Braille display. Braille is also visible on many bottles and packets containing Medicine for his children. Promoting how important Braille is in all aspects of life is something that means a lot to Brian.
Christina Kelly
Christina Kelly works as an Executive Officer in the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. She has been a Braille user all her life, both hardcopy and electronic, and is passionate about the importance of Braille both in education and for leisure.
Michael Lavin
Michael Lavin is a retired civil servant and the current treasurer of INBAF. He worked as a computer programmer with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform for 28 years. He has been a user of assistive screen reading systems throughout his working life. He is a braille reader and in October 2014 became a member of the Irish braille working group. In this capacity he took a keen interest in the computerisation of the Irish braille code and how it can be implemented across various braille displays.
Jade McCormack
Jade McCormack, who has low vision and is currently learning uncontracted Braille, serves as the minutes secretary to the INBAF Executive. She has previously held board positions with the National League of the Blind of Ireland Trust and the Guide Dog Owners Network of Ireland. Jade is passionate about inclusion, access, and awareness, and she brings this dedication to her work with INBAF.
