Colin Regan MSc, BA
Health Promotion Manager and Journalist
Society requires more informed and effective policy and practice to ensure a cohesive community response to dementia and its impact.
Current Work
As Community & Health manager with the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association - Ireland's largest sporting and community organization) Colin created the Healthy Club Programme to harnesses the potential of sport to foster wellbeing, belonging, purpose, connection, and the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than oneself. He previously worked as a journalist and essayist and continues to use the power of storytelling to win hearts and minds.
Personal Hero
My parents and 11 siblings
Words of Strength
It’s not about whether you get knocked down, it’s about whether you get back up again.
Vision
If it takes a village to raise a child, Colin believes it also takes a community to keep one healthy throughout the life-course. Creating connected communities that have access to the resources necessary to thrive and adapt will allow brain health to flourish.
Strategy
Think globally, act locally. Colin has worked in aligning international and national best practice with resourced community-based action to achieve meaningful change and impact. However, it’s important to remember that culture eats strategy for breakfast.
Impact
Colin believes it is essential to get out of institutions and into communities to truly understand, inform, and measure the impact of our work. Hearing directly what people want and need is very different to assuming what impact our work may have.
Motivation
Colin has always been fascinated by people and their stories. The opportunity to become part of a global network of Atlantic Fellows – each willing to share their experiences, networks, and knowledge – was a driving motivation to get involved.
Education & Experience
A communications and journalist graduate from Technical University Dublin, Colin worked as a journalist and editor for 10 years in Ireland and America. He changed lanes in 2010, and following a masters degree in Sports Management in the University College Dublin, has worked for the past 14 years as the Gaelic Athletic Association's Community & Health manager.
Send
Colin
a NoteHave ideas for global brain health or a collaboration? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to send an introductory note.
