Geraldine Hanna and Carmen Rasquete are nominated for the open board positions | VSE AGM 2021

Geraldine Hanna has been the Chief Executive of Victim Support NI since 2015. Victim Support NI is the lead charity providing support to victims and witnesses of all types of crime across Northern Ireland.Geraldine has over 20 years’ experience in the victims’ sector and been the driving force in establishing Victim Support NI’s Witness Service in all criminal courts across Northern Ireland and introducing the role of Independent Sexual Violence Advocates to the region. She has been integral in the development of key initiatives to improve services for victims and witnesses of crime including the Victim and Witness Charters, Achievement of Best Practice Guidance and the introduction of Registered Intermediaries and Sexual Offence Legal Advisers. She is passionate about the rights of victims and witnesses and believes that Northern Ireland has the opportunity to be the leading light for best practice in this field. Geraldine has presented widely on the impact of crime and the criminal justice system on victims and has been a member of advisory panels to numerous reviews of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, including the Gillen review of sexual violence and current Hate Crime Review led by HHJ Marrinan.

Carmen Rasquete is secretary general to the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) since 2013. As a result of her position, Carmen is responsible for APAV’s administration and management, from strategic planning to establishing protocols with relevant stakeholders, and including management tasks such as human resources management, financial coordination and monitoring of the whole organisation’s activities. Considering her leading position within APAV, Carmen is involved in the association’s policy planning and lobby and the relevant negotiations, as well as in the quality standards monitoring of the victim support services provided. APAV not only provides free of charge and confidential general and specialized quality services to victims of all crimes, it is also an active advocate for victims’ rights. Therefore, she has an extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system through a victim support perspective. An outstanding leader and manager and a talented communicator, Carmen represents APAV at every level of its public presence. Carmen has been in APAV since 2000, first as a volunteer victim support worker and then as advisor and international liaison officer from 2006 up to 2012. Carmen holds a Bachelor degree in Sociology and a post-graduate course in Economics and Public Policies – Sustainability and Social Inclusion. She is proficient in English and has a working knowledge of Spanish.