Our New York Committee
Nevan Higgins is the chairperson of Cliona’s Foundation committee in New York City. He was also chairperson of the Manhattan Gaels for 2 years in 2021.
Nevan is from Fermanagh & moved to NYC in 2013 and works as a Chief Financial Officer in Manhattan.
Brendan Ring met Nevan at a GAA event in 2023. Nevan became very interested in the work of Cliona’s Foundation and decided to organise a committee to launch Cliona’s Foundation in the USA and set up the 501 C3 Status.
Nevan took part in the NYC Marathon in aid of Cliona’s Foundation in November. 2024 in a fantastic time of just under 4 hours. He is interested in most sports, especially GAA, golf and NFL and enjoys spending time with his 5 nieces and nephews!
Nevan is from Fermanagh & moved to NYC in 2013 and works as a Chief Financial Officer in Manhattan.
Brendan Ring met Nevan at a GAA event in 2023. Nevan became very interested in the work of Cliona’s Foundation and decided to organise a committee to launch Cliona’s Foundation in the USA and set up the 501 C3 Status.
Nevan took part in the NYC Marathon in aid of Cliona’s Foundation in November. 2024 in a fantastic time of just under 4 hours. He is interested in most sports, especially GAA, golf and NFL and enjoys spending time with his 5 nieces and nephews!
Amy hails from Mayo, and if you know her, you’ll already know that! Following a Business and Law degree from UCD, Amy moved to NY 8 years ago, where she started to develop a deep love for working with people and organizing events. She brings the community together through Matives NYC and is the driving force behind many charitable fundraisers. Currently working as an Operations and Events Manager for a PR company in Manhattan, Amy specializes in the logistics of Slainte Retreats.
However, as quick as you would find her at a gym class or out on a run, you’d also find her at a bar – her love for espresso martinis goes unmatched – more than likely telling someone Mayo will win Sam this year.
However, as quick as you would find her at a gym class or out on a run, you’d also find her at a bar – her love for espresso martinis goes unmatched – more than likely telling someone Mayo will win Sam this year.
Georgia McGurk has more than a decade of experience in the sports and entertainment industry having begun her career in Dublin working as an Event Manager for experiential marketing agency, Modern Green, responsible for executing some of Ireland’s biggest sports & music sponsorship deals. Georgia relocated to London in 2017 to complete a Masters in Psychology, driven by a passion to understand human behaviour, and how the complexities of being human can impact our professional and professional development. A very memorable and rewarding experience for Georgia during this time was volunteering with the psychology department at Feltham prison, a correctional facility based just outside of London. Upon completion of her studies, Georgia began working for one of the world’s biggest entertainment and sports company Endeavor, parent company to International Management Group (IMG), before being headhunted in 2022 for a job in New York with BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty and Barclays Center. In her spare time, Georgia leans into a couple of Irish charities and has spent time volunteering in Kolkata, India.
Darragh Fitzpatrick is from Limerick, & grew up in Parteen Co. Clare . As a teenager he knew he wanted to be a consultant and help business owners solve problems, yet did not know how this would translate into a career. After earning his BSC in Computer Science he worked in IT while also maintaining a keen focus on learning to understand the business value of technology, particularly for small businesses. This culminated in a meeting with Morris Tabush his now business partner in Tabush Group.
Daragh joined Cliona’s committee following the launch of the foundation in New York in March 2024 and helped co-ordinate the first fundraising event October 5th in Central park securing donations and sponsorship.
Shelly Hackett, born in County Tyrone, immigrated with her husband to America 11 years ago. Both personally and professionally, Shelly is passionate about health and fitness. She worked as a nurse and a personal trainer in Ireland. Since moving to the US, she has combined her experience within the health and fitness industry and now lectures in a vocational college in Manhattan for personal trainers. In recent years she has become an advocate for women’s health leading her to co-found wellness company, Slainte Retreats. And when you don’t find her doing all of the above she is teaching Pilates, and embracing her new role as mom to baby Jack
Vivienne is an NYC-based project manager, digital marketing strategist, and social media influencer dedicated to bringing the Irish diaspora in the United States together through events, cultural advocacy, and digital engagement. Originally from rural County Cork, Ireland, Vivienne holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Cork School of Music and a Project Management Diploma from the Institute of Project Management. Her content, which combines Irish cultural insights with her New York City experiences, has built a strong following of over 200,000 people and generated more than 50 million views on TikTok and Instagram, providing an authentic look into modern Ireland for a community of 33 million Irish Americans.
Vivienne’s dedication to community support is rooted in her upbringing in Cork. Her family’s business, Southern Mobility Solutions, specializes in adapting vehicles for children, families, and individuals with disabilities, delivering independence and essential accessible transport solutions. Growing up in this environment, Vivienne developed an understanding of the daily challenges faced by families managing complex needs, fueling her passion for advocacy and support.
As an advocate for Cliona’s Foundation, Vivienne is committed to expanding the foundation’s reach and impact by helping to bring its mission to a wider audience in the United States.
