Zena
Zena’s leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to human rights and trauma-informed approaches. She holds two masters and is currently completing a part time Professional Master’s in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, which aligns with her reflective and inclusive approach to leadership, advocacy, and social change.
Zena Ní Dhuinn Bhig is the Executive Director of the Ifrah Foundation, an organisation with a mission to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) through survivor-centred advocacy, education, and community-led partnerships.
Before joining the Ifrah Foundation, Zena spent over a decade in senior humanitarian leadership roles with international NGOs, including CARE International and Concern Worldwide. She served as Deputy Country Director and Legal Representative for CARE Türkiye, leading large refugee and emergency response programs after the February 6th 2023 earthquakes. Previously Zena acted as Chief of Party for CARE’s Syria Resilience Programme, then the organisation’s largest grant. Her work has spanned strategic leadership of €60M+ humanitarian portfolios, financial oversight, and multi-stakeholder coordination with the UN, EU, and national authorities.
Zena’s leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to human rights and trauma-informed approaches. She holds two masters and is currently completing a part time Professional Master’s in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at University College Dublin (School of Medicine, St Vincent’s University Hospital), which aligns with her reflective and inclusive approach to leadership, advocacy, and social change.
At the Ifrah Foundation, Zena is focused on consolidating Ireland’s leadership in global efforts to end FGM/C, strengthening partnerships with Irish Aid and international allies, and building sustainable, survivor-led movements that uphold dignity, equality, and justice for women and girls worldwide.
