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Dr Laura Keyes is the Director of the Centre. She brings a wealth of implementation science, epidemiology and public health expertise. She has previously worked at HIQA, Cambridge University, Manchester Met University and University College Cork.

Laura.Keyes@ul.ie

Dénia Claudino is the Projects Coordinator of the Centre.  She is a senior project and operations professional with over 15 years of experience managing EU and government-funded initiatives, including six years within Irish higher education. At CIRcUL, she oversees strategic management planning, budget monitoring and reporting, marketing and communications and stakeholder engagement. Dénia brings expertise in academic administration, communications, and event delivery, and has a strong track record in supporting large-scale research collaborations and securing external funding. Her background includes roles in international development and Erasmus+ project coordination.

Dénia holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Development Cooperation, both awarded by the University of Lisbon. She further expanded her expertise in Ireland, earning a Higher Diploma in International Business from the Technological University of Shannon.

Denia.Claudino@ul.ie

Andy Bray - Capacity Building and Professional Learning Manager

Andy Bray is a highly experienced facilitator and programme manager with deep knowledge and experience of applying implementation science. He specialises in designing and delivering evidence-informed strategies that support sustainable change across public service and community sectors. His work is grounded in translating complex research into practical solutions that improve policy and service delivery.

As a Senior Project Specialist at the Centre for Effective Services, Andy led the delivery of evidence-informed projects across sectors such as social housing, health, homelessness, prisons, and justice. His work focused on synthesising research, building capacity for change, supporting policy implementation, and conducting evaluations. He also led CES’ tendering team, managing complex bids, and ensuring strategic alignment with organisational goals—strengthening his leadership, negotiation, and strategic planning capabilities.

With over 20 years of leadership experience in the justice and social care fields, Andy has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, developed national programmes, and driven innovation in service design. His strengths in conflict resolution and stakeholder engagement enable him to foster collaboration and navigate complex, high-stakes environments with confidence. 

This experience has shaped Andy’s distinctive approach to integrating evidence-based methods into complex systems, aligning stakeholder needs with practical implementation approaches, and delivering sustainable, high-impact outcomes through strategic collaboration.

Andy holds a BSc in Social Science and Social Policy, an MSc in Restorative Practice, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Criminology. He is certified in Implementation Practice and Project Management and serves on the board of the European Implementation Collaborative.

Andy.Bray@ul.ie

Evangelin Samraj - PhD Candidate

Evangelin Samraj is a public health professional with a clinical background in dentistry and a PhD researcher at CIRcUL. She completed her Master’s in Public Health ��ɫ��Ƶ, where her interest in health inequalities first deepened. During her practicum with the HSE Mid-West Public Health Department, Evangelin contributed to projects in Health promotion and equity, which further inspired her commitment to Implementation Research and real-world translation of evidence into policy and practice. 

She is particularly passionate about tackling health inequalities through evidence-informed solutions. Her academic journey is underpinned by a strong motivation to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that policies and programs achieve impact for the communities they are designed to serve.

Evangelin’s PhD focuses on developing a scalability implementation framework to support the effective scale-up of evidence-based policies and interventions across diverse public practice and policy contexts. The project involves three phases: a scoping review of existing scalability frameworks; stakeholder engagement through interviews and focus groups across CIRcUL-led projects in health, housing and education; and the synthesis of findings to design and refine a novel framework. By integrating evidence with stakeholder perspectives, this work will produce practical guidance to access and enhance the scalability of interventions, ensuring the successful initiatives can be adapted and sustained in real-world settings. The research will contribute to strengthening implementation science and supporting policymakers, practitioners and researchers to plan for scalable, equitable and impactful solutions.

Evangelin Samraj - 24008117@studentmail.ul.ie

Anne Rackow - PhD candidate

Anne Rackow is an experienced researcher, evaluator, and facilitator. Her career has centred on helping public and community services implement evidence-informed practices to create meaningful results for those they serve.

She has supported more than 100 services to strengthen their impact through developing quality improvement systems, strategic plans, and evaluation frameworks. Her work has spanned youth justice, anti-human trafficking, the arts, disability services, health, and higher education.

Since 2017, Anne has worked in Ireland as a Senior Project Specialist and Consultant with Quality Matters. Prior to that, she spent six years as a researcher at the National Center for Juvenile Justice in the US.

Anne holds an M.S.Ed in Program Evaluation and a B.A. in Sociology and Public Policy, with a concentration in Criminal Justice. She is an accredited trainer and Social Return on Investment practitioner with Social Value International.

Anne’s PhD research will explore the nuanced dynamics of policy implementation and intangible qualities that shape implementation outcomes. It will investigate how intrinsic motivation, personal values, and belief in an organisation mission compare to compliance or top-down directives in regard to implementation success. 

Ultimately, this research will provide a deeper insight into how an organisation’s ethos can be integrated into tangible implementation strategies, to foster a more holistic approach to striving for exceptional as opposed to acceptable outcomes and policy goals.

Rackow.Anne@ul.ie