Deirdre O'Brien is the Director of Development at DAWN, bringing a unique blend of expertise in international human rights and fundraising. She specializes in strategic planning, major gifts, board development, donor cultivation, stewardship, and annual giving.

After a decade in human rights, Deirdre transitioned to fundraising, securing six- and seven-figure gifts to increase annual revenue at New York City independent schools. Moved by global crises such as the war in Ukraine, she returned to the international sector, combining her human rights and fundraising expertise at the International Crisis Group. Most recently, at CNEWA, she secured critical humanitarian funding, uniting her passion for advocacy and philanthropy.

Deirdre's background in international human rights includes work with the Pat Finucane Centre and the Committee on the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland. She contributed to the groundbreaking Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Diaspora Project. Deirdre was part of the team investigating the Srebrenica genocide for the Special Department for War Crimes at the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recognized for her expertise, she was named an "Emerging Leader" in conflict resolution by the Washington Ireland Program and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science from SUNY Albany, a J.D. from CUNY School of Law, and an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from University of Galway's Irish Centre for Human Rights.