Fellows 2022-2023

Hannah graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2019 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and following a brief stint in financial services, worked as Support Services Officer for the Alliance Party.

Having worked in Alliance Party Headquarters during the 2022 Assembly Election, she has recently begun working for Nuala McAllister MLA as the Research and Constituency Officer.

Hannah is passionate about social justice, combatting the climate crisis and fighting for equality for all.

Jamie is currently Director of Policy at the Jersey Financial Services Commission. He was previously Head of Policy and Engagement for the Law Society of Northern Ireland, working to promote access to justice, uphold the rule of law, and shape the future of the legal profession in Northern Ireland.

As a finance graduate, Jamie began his career in the investment industry before moving into the public sector.

As a civil servant working in The Executive Office, Department for the Economy and the Northern Ireland Office, Jamie delivered policies and legislative reforms at both Stormont and Westminster on issues such as Legacy, Good Relations, Renewable Energy and Skills.

Jonathan was previously a senior civil servant in the Department of Finance and the Northern Ireland Office during the absence of the Executive.

Before joining the senior NICS, he held policy and delivery roles in four different NICS and Whitehall departments.

He is also a director on the Board of Action Mental Health, a leading Mental Health Charity with over 240 employees and an annual budget of over £7m.

In the Executive Office Joy worked on a range of capital projects including delivering Good Relations in deprived areas, and with ex-prisoners’ to support integration in a post conflict society.

Graduating with a Masters degree from Glasgow University, she has also worked in marketing with a focus on brand driven growth.

Overall, Joy desires to see a shared society and opportunity for all.

Karen has a background in Environmental Health and worked as a local government EHO for ten years prior to taking up her post at NILGA.

Previously a Non-Executive Director of Sustainable NI and Building Change Trust, she was recently appointed as an Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioner.

Karen holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Health, a Masters Degree in Business Administration, and is a Fellow of the RSA.

Nuala Murphy is an impassioned advocate for diversity & inclusion with a commitment to creating workplaces and communities where every person has a seat at the table and a chance to be heard.

A strategic thinker, Nuala has deep expertise in D&I issues both locally and globally, with experience building and leading communities and networks that empower and connect people across divides.

As a deaf and disabled person, Nuala has worked to close the gap between decision-makers and deaf and disabled people.

She is the author of “Progress Towards the Implementation of the UNCRPD” and “The Pedagogy of Lifelong Learning”, as well as a board member of the NI Museum Council, CnaG, and the Human Rights Consortium.

Nuala is also a council member of CCMS, Vice Chair of Thrive, and a member of the UK UNCRPD Civic Society Steering Group, Reclaim the Agenda and the Women’s Policy Group.

Prior to becoming an MLA, Patricia served as an academic researcher, political activist, education consultant, experienced leader, and local government representative.

Patricia specialised in the field of school exclusion and recently published a thesis called ‘Mainstreams, Margins and the Spaces In Between: Youth Experiences of School Exclusion in Northern Ireland.’

She also holds peer reviewed publications in the discipline of Children’s Rights.

Patricia has a PhD in Education, a Masters in Criminology and a Degree in Law. She is a Chartered Manager, Regional Representative for the Chartered Manager Institute, and an Executive Level Coach.

With over fifteen years’ experience in cross-community youth work, Steph has spearheaded the design and delivery of successful interventions within and across divided communities in Belfast.

She has significant experience of supporting marginalised groups having also worked within a substance use treatment centre and various homeless projects.

A native of Kells in County Meath, Steph has lived in Belfast since 2007 and is a graduate of Queen’s University and the University of Ulster.

She is committed to contributing positively to youth and community development and is a passionate advocate for youth participation and harm reduction.

Since 2019, Stephen has represented Omagh on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and in 2022 he was elected as Chairperson of the Alliance Party and nominated to the Board of the Education Authority.

He sits on the Board of Directors of Omagh Enterprise Company and is a political representative on both Fermanagh and Omagh PCSP and Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

He also serves on the Board of Governors of Drumragh Integrated College.

Stephen’s interests include rural development, regional equality, good relations, and the environment.

Tara Grace works ICCL as communications and campaigns officer. She previously worked for BBC Northern Ireland and served as Ireland’s UN Youth Delegate for the 2020/21 term.

She is a member of the All-Island Women’s Forum, and an Adult Advisor to the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, having previously served as Chairperson, as well as being Chairperson of the Belfast Youth Forum.

She is an alumnus of the Washington Ireland Programme and is a member of the US Embassy Youth Council and works with World’s Youth 4 Climate Justice.

In 2018, Tara Grace co-founded “Our Future, Our Choice NI,” a UK-wide campaign calling for a People’s Vote on Brexit.