Management team

Brian Lee

Brian Lee

CEO/Registrar

Brian Lee joined the Health Insurance Authority after over three years with the HSE where he was Head of Operations for the COVID-19 Test and Trace Programme. Prior to this Brian was Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation with Tusla – the Child and Family Agency for over six years. His previous roles include Director of Operations with Health Care Informed, National Clinical Care Programme Manager in the HSE, Project Manager and Inspector with HIQA, and United Drug. Brian has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Gheel Autism Services and served as a member of CORU Council - the statutory regulator for health and social care professionals. 

He holds an MBA from TU Dublin and a number of qualifications from University College Dublin including a degree in Biochemistry and Graduate Diplomas in Healthcare Risk Management and Quality, Professional Regulation, and Organisational Renewal and Transformation. 

left offset

Síle Hanley

Head of Regulation and Compliance

Síle Hanley is a senior actuary with experience across insurance regulation. Síle was previously at the Central Bank of Ireland where she held roles in both life and non-life insurance, most recently leading the actuarial support for the supervision of health insurers and insurers in other market segments. Prior to joining the Central Bank, she worked in life insurance outsourcing. 

She holds a degree in Mathematical Sciences from University College Cork and a HDip in Actuarial Science from University College Dublin.

Christina Pendergrast

Christina Prendergast

Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

Christina Prendergast has worked in communications in a number of roles across the public and private sector, including most recently as Head of Communications in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

She holds diplomas in digital marketing, sales and marketing and event management, a LLB, and completed her MBA in 2018.

Michael McNaughton

Michael McNaughton

Head of Operations

Michael is a qualified accountant with experience across a range of industries. Prior to joining the Health Insurance Authority, Michael was Head of Finance at Coillte, Ireland's state forestry agency, where he worked on state net zero targets. He previously held roles in financial regulation in the NHS and in professional services in Dublin. 

Michael holds a degree in History and Politics from Trinity College and a Postgrad in Accountancy from Technological University Dublin. Most recently, he has undertaken an MBA at UCD Smurfit School.

Cormac Delaney

Head of Risk Equalisation

Cormac Delaney is a Chartered Accountant with experience across a wide variety of roles in the public and private sector, including the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and professional accountancy practices in the Dublin area.

He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a Diploma in Business Innovation from Dublin City University.