Our Training Team

Women’s Aid’s Training and Development Department has a proven track record of designing and delivering specialist domestic violence and abuse training to local and national organisations throughout Ireland.

We support organisations in the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, as well as corporate bodies, to enhance and improve responses to women who are subjected to domestic violence and abuse. All Women’s Aid training is informed and guided by our decades of experience directly supporting women and by models of best practice.

Hanien Alouzi

Hanien is Training Officer (Health and Employer Engagement) with Women’s Aid. Her role consists of providing administrative and logistical support to the training done in collaboration with the HSE National Infant and Women Health Programme, which aims at providing Domestic Abuse Awareness training to healthcare professionals across the 19 maternity services in Ireland. She also provides support to the Maternity Project done in collaboration with 4 maternity hospitals to provide tailored training, outreach services and raise awareness on the issue of domestic abuse. Previous to this role, Hanien completed an MSc in Comparative Social Change offered jointly at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.

Suzanna Knight

Suzanna is Head of Training and Development since February 2024, previously working with the organisation as the Survivor Empowerment Project Co-ordiantor. Suzanna has worked both in the UK and Ireland in the field of gender based violence for over 25 years. As police officer in the UK she worked as a Designated Rape Liaison Officer and Child Protection Officer. In Ireland, she has managed a domestic violence support service and was the Regional Development for the Prevention of Violence against Women with HSE Dublin mid Leinster. Suzanna is a qualified supervisor across the helping professions, a qualified parent coach, holds a post graduate qualifications in counselling and a first class Masters in Psychology. She has developed a range of domestic violence training, including Ireland’s first FETAC (level 5) Advocacy and Domestic Violence training for professionals, volunteers and members of the public. She has worked holistically with those who have been subject to violence, supporting best practice community responses.

Niamh O’Connor

Niamh joined the Training and Development department as a Trainer in August 2023. She has worked across the domestic abuse sector in various capacities including work with victims-survivors, children and perpetrators of domestic abuse, both in Ireland and in New Zealand. As part of these roles, Niamh has provided practice advice and training to frontline professionals. Niamh’s background includes a B.Sc. in Applied Psychology from IADT, Dún Laoghaire, and a Masters in Forensic Psychology from the University of Kent.

Deborah Warren

As Training Administrator Deborah is responsible for providing administrative support for the Training & Development department and managing training events. She started in Women’s Aid in 2018 as a receptionist and has also provided administrative assistance to the Services department.  Deborah has obtained qualifications in community development, youth work and cultural studies which has enabled her to work and volunteer in organisations dealing with women’s rights, youth, and migrant justice. She also has experience of customer service from the retail sector.

Hannah Wayte

Hannah Wayte steers the Women’s Aid Employer Engagement Programme, a specialist service for employers with the aim of creating supportive and safe workplace environments for victim-survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Hannah has worked in training and development since 2009 with a particular interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She holds a MSc in Equality Studies with a research focus on the effective implementation of domestic violence leave in Ireland.

Niamh Wilson

Niamh Wilson has worked in the area of domestic abuse for over 30 years. She has held various positions in domestic abuse organisations primarily working directly with survivors of intimate partner abuse. In addition, Niamh has held positions in training, development and policy work. She combines working as a trainer in Women’s Aid with independent research and her particular interest is in researching learning supports for frontline professionals responding to domestic abuse. She has recently completed a PhD in Maynooth University.