Eina McHugh is Director of The Ark, a Cultural Centre for Children. Before taking up her current post in 2005, she worked as a specialist consultant in children and young people's culture with clients such as Channel 4, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Nursery Channel, The British Film Institute, the Arts Council of England and the Welsh broadcaster S4C. In 1998 she directed the Second World Summit on Television for Children in London and in 2001 became Head of Development for S4C Commercial. Her love of children's cultural work began in 1990 when she became involved in Northern Ireland's inaugural children's film festival, Cinemagic, eventually going on to direct the award winning festival and become Deputy Director of the Northern Ireland Film Council.

She has worked on several committees and boards including the National Arts and Business Sponsorship Association Arts Development Forum, the European Children’s Film Association, the E.U. Media Education and Children’s Film Production Working Party, the National Century of Cinema Committee, and Young People's Committee of The Edinburgh International Television Festival. She has served on numerous children's juries for BAFTA, Royal Television Society, International children's film festivals and the Irish Film and Television awards.