Founded in Ireland in 2017 by Karina Murray, AUNUA began with a simple belief: every young person is different, and education should recognise that.
Every child experiences the world differently. They learn differently, communicate differently and discover their strengths in different ways. AUNUA was created to recognise those differences and build opportunities that help children and young people understand who they are and what they are capable of becoming.
Today, AUNUA brings together young people, educators, organisations, youth ambassadors and volunteers in Ireland and around the world, creating opportunities that go beyond traditional learning.
Through our programmes, resources and community initiatives, we support emotional development, critical thinking, cognitive development and real-world skills while encouraging young people to discover their strengths, create their own opportunities and make a positive difference in their communities.
People
Young People First
At the heart of everything we do.
Purpose
Real Opportunities
Helping young people discover what they are capable of.
Change
Stronger Communities
Through collaboration, ideas and action.
Vision & Mission
Vision
A World WhereEvery Child CanShape Their Future.
Our vision is a world where every child is empowered to know themselves, believe in themselves and shape their own future.
We imagine an education system that sees children as whole human beings—not as results, rankings or outcomes—and gives them the freedom, support and confidence to become who they are.
A world where learning begins with emotional wellbeing and grows through curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, self-discovery and connection.
Where children are not simply prepared to fit into the world as it is, but are supported to question it, reimagine it and create something better.
Through AUNUA Global, we are building a connected community of young people, educators, families and changemakers who believe education can be more human, more joyful and more transformative.
Our vision is to move education from compliance to possibility, from standardisation to individuality, and from preparing children for the future to empowering them to create it.
Because every child has something unique to contribute.
And when children are given the freedom to discover who they are, they can help shape a world that reflects what is possible.
Mission
Put the Whole Childat the Heartof Learning.
Our mission is to reimagine education by putting the whole child—not the system—at the heart of learning.
We believe education should support and nurture every child’s mental health and emotional, developmental and psychological needs, while recognising, valuing and developing their individual strengths.
AUNUA promotes an inclusive, child-centred approach where the education process adapts to meet the needs of the child, rather than expecting the child to fit the system.
Through curiosity, creativity, connection and self-discovery, we empower children to know themselves, find their voice, believe in their potential and shape their own future.
AUNUA Meet the Team
Meet the Team
The People Behind AUNUA.
The people bringing experience, ideas and purpose together to support the next generation.
Leadership
Founder & CEO
Karina Murray
Karina Murray is an award-winning social impact leader, entrepreneur and visionary founder, recognised for building partnerships, communities and initiatives that turn purpose into meaningful action.
Co-Founder & Director
Yvonne Power
Yvonne is Co-Founder and Director of AUNUA Global, bringing more than 30 years of experience in social care and almost 20 years in play therapy.
Director
Guss O'Connell
Guss O'Connell brings decades of experience across public service, community development, youth work and civic engagement.
Founding Members
Founding Member Non Executive Director
Rona Dixon-Bowden
Rona Dixon-Bowden is a Founding Member of AUNUA Global and a British-Grenadian social-impact entrepreneur, inventor and former social worker.
Founding Member Non EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Noleen Mariappen
Noleen Mariappen is a strategist, entrepreneur and impact leader whose work spans technology, sustainability, education, entrepreneurship and social and environmental impact.
Founding Member Creative Strategist & Author
Merin Reji
Merin Reji is an author, creative strategist and digital specialist working across storytelling, brand development, digital strategy and technology.
Karina Murray is an award-winning social impact leader, entrepreneur and visionary founder, recognised for building partnerships, communities and initiatives that turn purpose into meaningful action. As Founder and CEO of AUNUA Global, she brings more than a decade of leadership experience across education, youth development, nonprofit, community and social impact, with a proven passion for bringing people, ideas and resources together to create opportunities and drive positive change.
A strategic thinker and connector, Karina works across sectors to bridge grassroots needs with the networks, expertise and resources needed to create sustainable impact. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, innovation and a belief in the potential of people and communities to create change when they are given the opportunity, support and platform to do so.
Through AUNUA Global, Karina is reimagining education by putting the whole child—not the system—at the heart of learning, nurturing emotional wellbeing, curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and self-discovery.
Her work has received international recognition, including the WORLDCOB BIZZ Excellence Leadership Award, Make It Happen Humanitarian Award and Vodafone Digital Education Award, and she has been shortlisted for the World CEO Ranking’s list of Top CEOs globally.
Karina’s vision is to empower the next generation to discover their potential, find their voice and become creators of positive change.
Yvonne is Co-Founder and Director of AUNUA Global, bringing more than 30 years of experience in social care and almost 20 years in play therapy. Her work has centred on supporting children, families and professionals, with a strong focus on emotional wellbeing, connection and child-centred development.
Alongside running her private play therapy practice for over 15 years, Yvonne has lectured and delivered professional training in Ireland, including play therapy education through Leeds Beckett University and creative approaches to social care practice at Technological University Dublin. She is also an experienced training developer, professional supervisor and parent consultant.
Yvonne is a Founding Director of the Irish Play Therapy Community Association, supporting professional standards in play therapy practice in Ireland. She has also led professional networks, conferences and support communities for therapists across the country.
She is also a #1 Amazon bestselling co-author of She Empowers, which reached bestseller status across multiple categories in 2024.
Combining decades of professional expertise with her lived experience as a mother and family advocate, Yvonne brings compassion, practical understanding and a deep belief in helping children and families feel recognised, supported and connected.
At AUNUA Global, she helps shape purposeful play and learning experiences that support the emotional, social and compassionate development of children and young people.
Guss O'Connell brings decades of experience across public service, community development, youth work and civic engagement. His career has included roles as a secondary school teacher, community development worker, youth worker, counsellor, life and social skills trainer and public representative.
A former Mayor of South Dublin County, Guss has a longstanding commitment to social inclusion, community engagement and strengthening connections between people and local government.
At AUNUA Global, he brings this depth of community experience to support collaborative, inclusive and meaningful initiatives for young people and the communities around them.
Rona Dixon-Bowden is a Founding Member of AUNUA Global and a British-Grenadian social-impact entrepreneur, inventor and former social worker. Her career has centred on listening to people, safeguarding those whose voices can be overlooked, and bringing services and partners together around real needs.
Rona’s People First approach begins with a simple conviction: lasting change must be shaped with communities, not designed for them from a distance. Across her work in youth opportunity, community health, sustainable enterprise and the Blue Economy, she combines careful listening with the practical work of building relationships, developing plans and moving ideas towards delivery. She is the founder of Icosa Moringa™️ and is developing community-led opportunities connected to Grenada.
Rona met AUNUA founder Karina Murray through their shared appointment to YRUD’s International Board of Advisors. She was drawn to AUNUA by a shared commitment to young people, dignity and purposeful action. As a founding member, she brings both vision and a grounded question to the work: who is this for, and what will it take to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Noleen Mariappen is a strategist, entrepreneur and impact leader whose work spans technology, sustainability, education, entrepreneurship and social and environmental impact. She is the Founder of Impactoverse and has worked with organisations, startups, governments, educational institutions and communities to turn purpose into participation and practical action.
At AUNUA, Noleen brings strategic and operational experience to the development of partnerships, programmes and purpose-driven initiatives. Her work is centred on connecting ideas, people and technology to create greater access to opportunity and build systems that can translate positive intent into meaningful impact. Her experience with AUNUA includes strategy and operations as well as a longstanding non-executive leadership role.
Merin Reji is an author, creative strategist and digital specialist working across storytelling, brand development, digital strategy and technology.
She is the author of Certified Misfit, a book centred on individuality and the experience of finding value in being different, reflecting a belief that people should not have to fit a predefined mould to recognise their own potential.
At AUNUA, Merin works across the creative, operational and digital sides of the organisation, helping turn ideas into clear experiences, communications and digital platforms. Her work includes creative and brand strategy, website and user-experience development, digital communications, content, technical implementation and the development of new digital initiatives and resources.
With a background spanning technology, research, SEO, digital growth and design, she brings together creative thinking and technical understanding to help shape how AUNUA's ideas are presented, experienced and grown.
Her published work also includes research in SEO and opinion mining alongside Certified Misfit.
