8th international EFJCA Conference | 30 November & 1 December 2026 | Portlaoise (Ireland)

Bio Marie Brown

Marie began her career as a trainee nurse at Belfast City Hospital. Once qualified, she worked in the South of England and in New Mexico, USA. In 1994, Marie began working for Foyle Women’s Aid and has successfully led key developments and a wide range of projects supporting women, children and young people who are victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse across the Foyle area.

In 2001, Marie completed a lobbyist mentor programme with the Washington-based International Women’s Democracy Centre. In 2007, she participated in the Community Builders Programme in the USA, a six-week internship in community-building and advanced management techniques.

In 2008, she travelled to Kosovo to support women’s groups develop Domestic Violence Services post conflict. In 2009, she was part of an Irish Government delegation to Timor Leste on the UN Council Resolution 1325, speaking to activists on services for abuse.

Marie set up the first Dress for Success in Northern Ireland in 2017, as part of a global movement for change, empowering women. She is a member of the European Family Justice Centre Alliance and the Leaders’ Council of Great Britain and Ireland.

In September 2022 along with founding board members, Marie established the first Family Justice Centre in the UK and Ireland, which provides specialist services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, elder abuse and other vulnerable people and eliminates the need for victims and survivors to recount their trauma to a large number of organisations.