Our people
Operation Smile’s leadership team helps to ensure we make the most efficient use of our precious resources. Our Board of Directors work tirelessly around the world to ensure our patients receive the highest quality cleft care and that we’re able to achieve our ambitious goal to reach 1 million patients in our next decade.
Our Board of Directors
The current Board of Directors maintains responsibility for governance and administrative issues, as well as providing leadership and opening doors for new fundraising opportunities to accelerate the growth of Operation Smile Ireland. The Board of Directors is also responsible for signing off our annual, independently audited accounts found in our Financial Information section. All directors are volunteers, and do not receive compensation of any kind.
Jack O’Keeffe
Chairman
Strategy, Corporate Finance and Board Advisor.
Jack O Keeffe is the Principal and founder of Larchmont Consulting. His senior roles have covered a number of disciplines across HR, lending, corporate finance, property development. A number of these positions have been regulated roles under the Financial Regulator in Ireland.
He has extensive experience at Executive Management and Board level in a number of financial institutions as well as operating companies. He is well versed in financial oversight, risk management and general governance issues.
David Orr
Medical Director
David Orr is a consultant plastic surgeon specializing in the treatment of cleft lip and palate and paediatric plastic surgery at Children’s Health Ireland and St James’s Hospital where he has worked since 1998. He joined Operation Smile in 2003 and since 2006 has concentrated on the partnership with Jimma University Hospital in Ethiopia, helping to train local surgeons as they develop their own plastic surgery unit and specialist cleft treatment centre.
Teresa Cosgrove
Board Director
Teri Cosgrove with a background in finance and sales continues her volunteer leadership role with Operation Smile and commitment to bring cleft surgery to those children still in need of care.
Rory Sheridan
Fundraising, Marketing & Events Director
Rory Sheridan is an experienced International Sponsorship Assets and Events Director at Diageo, where he leads the strategy and management of major sponsorships for iconic brands such as Guinness and Smirnoff. His strengths in sponsorship strategy, brand management, and commercial acumen are instrumental in driving the Marketing & Fundraising Committee at Operation Smile Ireland. Through his efforts, the organization is able to expand its reach and impact, transforming the lives of children worldwide by providing them with beautiful new smiles.
Pat Millar
Governance Expert
Pat Millar, Managing Director and founder of Clarion, brings over 30 years of expertise in organisational change, business and IT strategy, and project management to Operation Smile Ireland. With a background in leading large projects across various sectors, Pat has been instrumental in enhancing our governance practices. His strategic insights and dedication have significantly contributed to our mission, ensuring effective and agile operations. Together with the members of our Board, ensuring the viability of Operation Smile Ireland for future years.
Michael Nolan
Finance Director
Michael Nolan is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of Chartered Accountant’s Ireland. Michael’s financial expertise is invaluable to our organisation. Since joining our Board in March 2025, Michael has added momentum to advancing our mission in Ireland. His international work experience, especially in Africa and South America, combined with his his strategic insights and leadership in finance, logistics and governance all ensure high standards of accountability and effectiveness. Michael’s willingness to help us expand our reach, provide more children with life-changing surgeries and care is a significant boost to our goals. His experience and commitment to excellence make him a valuable asset on our Board.
Our co-founders
Dr William P Magee Jr
Bill co-founded Operation Smile in 1982 with his wife Kathy in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He is a plastic and craniofacial surgeon and serves as Operation Smile Inc. Chief Executive Officer at our global headquarters.
Over forty years, Bill has not only trained and mentored physicians worldwide, but he has taken Operation Smile into over 60 countries globally, building Operation Smile into a highly respected and leading organisation in cleft care provision for infants, children and young adults across the world.
Kathy Magee
Kathy Magee founded Operation Smile in 1982 with her husband, Dr. Bill Magee, and currently serves as its president on a full-time, volunteer basis. Kathy is also a lifetime member of the Board of Directors, overseeing funding and long-held organizational relationships. Kathy shapes future strategy and leads project design within medical mission programming and the education, training and student departments.
As a New Jersey native, Kathy received her B.S.N. from Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, her M.Ed. from the University of Maryland and her M.S.W. from Norfolk State University in Virginia. She also completed graduate work at the University of Virginia and the Jung Institute in Switzerland. She is a mother of five and grandmother to 14, all of whom participate in Operation Smile to promote service for the next generation.
Kathy is the recipient of honorary degrees from Fordham University, Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, Loyola University in Maryland, Old Dominion University, Misericordia University and Denison University and was inducted into the Alumni Association Hall of Fame of the University of Maryland in 2000. In 2014, she received a prestigious honorary doctorate from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
