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Meet the GPPA Team

In 2018, Rachel Bothwell unexpectedly stepped into managing her family’s GP practice at the age of 26 after her father, a GP, was diagnosed with cancer. What was intended as a temporary measure to support her family quickly became a turning point in her career. With both the senior GP and practice manager - her parents - suddenly absent, Rachel guided the practice through a period of profound change, including a generational transition and the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What she found was a system where practice managers were expected to lead complex operations without adequate support, training or tools. The isolation was striking, and the lack of practical, community-based resources impossible to ignore. This experience became the spark for GP Practice Ally (GPPA), which Rachel founded in 2021.

Rachel built GPPA to give practice managers access to the training, tools and support they need to lead with confidence. Drawing on her background in business, branding and retail - including roles at Clerys and Dunnes Stores - she brings a fresh perspective to the business side of general practice.

Rachel was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Irish Early Career Awards 2024, recognised for her community impact, values-driven leadership and resilience. She was awarded Outstanding Small Business at the SFA National Awards 2025 for innovation, growth and meaningful impact and was runner-up in the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2023 (Start-Up Category). Her work has been featured in The Medical Independent and The Irish Independent’s Future of Healthcare 2024 supplement.

At the heart of her vision is a belief in the vital role of effective practice management in the future of independent general practice - and in the power of connection, community and shared learning to build confident, capable teams.

Rachel Bothwell

Founder &
Director

Nicole is the Community Manager at GP Practice Ally, ensuring seamless communication, operations and support for GPPA members. She played a key role in designing the GPPA Planner Blueprint, helping practices streamline their planning and organisation. Nicole also coordinates our training programmes and supports the planning and execution of the GPPA Summit, ensuring valuable experiences for members. Since joining GPPA in 2023, she has been instrumental in enhancing processes, improving member support and ensuring practices have the resources they need to thrive.

Nicole Stafford

Community Manager

Guilherme works within the website support team at GP Practice Ally, supporting clients with website updates, troubleshooting and day-to-day website management. As one of the first members of the GPPA team, he has played an important role in supporting and maintaining websites for GP practices across Ireland since 2023. He has a strong interest in technology and enjoys helping businesses improve and maintain their online presence, ensuring websites remain professional, user-friendly and up to date.

Guilherme Divino

Website Support

Paula is the founder of Fluent Virtual Accounting, a technology-focused accounting practice established in 2021. With 15 years' experience as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, Paula specialises in leveraging cloud accounting solutions to enable business owners to make informed, data-driven decisions, paving the way for sustainable growth and success. At GPPA, Paula plays a key role in shaping our financial strategy, providing clarity on the numbers that matter, and supporting smarter, more sustainable business decisions as part of our core team.

Paula Casey

Finance

With a strong background in service management and operations, Sioban brings a unique blend of corporate leadership and healthcare expertise to GP Practice Ally. Before specialising in general practice management, Siobhan held the role of Deputy Head of Customer Service at Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest airlines. In this fast-paced and highly regulated environment, she honed her skills in streamlining operations, improving customer experience, and driving efficiency - all while managing large teams and complex service challenges.

Transitioning into healthcare, Siobhan has applied this experience to primary care operations, over the past 10 years helping GP practices improve efficiency, enhance patient care and implement effective management strategies. Siobhan has worked extensively with GPs and practice teams, offering hands-on support in everything from workflow optimisation and digital transformation to financial sustainability and compliance.

As Business Development Manager at GP Practice Ally, Siobhan is passionate about making practice management simpler, smarter and more effective. With a deep understanding of both patient service and business operations, she provides tailored solutions that enable GP practices to thrive.

At GP Practice Ally, we are dedicated to empowering GP practices with the tools, training and support they need. With Siobhan on board, clients gain a trusted advisor with a proven track record in operational excellence and service innovation.

Siobhan O'Neill

Head of Learning & Development

Sandra Thompson is the Websites Manager at GP Practice Ally, dedicated to delivering high-quality, user-friendly websites tailored to the needs of GP practices. She brings extensive experience in virtual administration and business streamlining, ensuring every GPPA website reflects professionalism and efficiency. Sandra is passionate about supporting GPPA clients, making the website setup process seamless and stress-free. Her commitment to excellence is evident in the positive feedback from practices that trust GPPA to enhance their online presence.

Sandra Thompson

Websites Manager

Amy Alice supports all things social media at GP Practice Ally, helping us stay connected with members and highlight the work happening across the community. With a background in Sales & Marketing Consultancy, she brings structure, creativity and consistency to everything from content planning to day-to-day posting. Whether it’s a new resource, behind-the-scenes look or member spotlight, Amy Alice ensures our presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube consistently reflects the work, values and community at the heart of GPPA. Her thoughtful, collaborative approach helps strengthen engagement, visibility and connection across the growing network.

Amy Alice Horgan

Marketing

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