Alfred also works as a Strategic Partnerships Manager, leading a Policy, Strategy and Communications team for the Supporting People Programme with the NIHE. He has an academic background in social policy and criminology and has spent over twenty years in various leadership positions pioneering a number of initiatives, projects and organisations, some of which include Interact NI, ACSONI, African & Caribbean Chamber of Commerce NI, MME Think Tank, and the O2G Foundation. In recognition of his contribution to civic life in Northern Ireland, Alfred was invited by HRM, the Queen, and the late Duke of Edinburgh, to a Commonwealth leaders’ event in Buckingham Palace. He has been credited with several community awards for his contribution to race relations, equality, diversity and inclusion in Northern Ireland.

Ben Mallon is a DUP councillor on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as well as a director at Cavendish, a strategic communications and public affairs agency. With experience working at European, Westminster, and Assembly levels, in addition to being a Lisburn & Castlereagh City councillor between 2014–2019, Ben has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the political and legislative processes across these islands. Prior to joining MCE, he worked for a consultancy firm in the Middle East, advising both government and civil society organisations in conflict transformation. Ben sits as a Board Director of Intercomm Ireland and is an alumnus of the Washington Ireland Program for Service and Leadership, working with the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC. He is married to Emma, and they have three young children, Annie, Isaac and Matilda.

Caoimhe graduated with a BSc in Molecular Biology and PhD by research from Queens University, with a DARD studentship. She also completed a PGDip in Management & Corporate Governance from the Ulster University. Caoimhe was elected as an MLA for East Derry/Londonderry in May 2016 and re-elected in March 2017 and May 2022. She is currently Minister for Finance in the NI Executive and was formerly Chair of the Assembly Economy and AERA committees. Caoimhe previously worked in applied horticulture research, highlighting her strong belief in the importance of investment in R&D and SMEs to enable local businesses to compete in a global market.

Charmain brings a wealth of experience to her role, having worked for over twenty years in the field of good relations, peace building, community development and youth development. She has worked at a grassroots level for many years and has represented rural communities at local, regional and international level. Charmain is very well known within the sector and is held in high regard, highlighted recently in 2019 by winning the prestigious Community Relations Council Exceptional Achievement Award in Good Relations.

Through his role at More in Common, Conleth helps leaders and organisations from across politics, business, and civil society to navigate tricky, divisive and challenging issues by better understanding the public’s values and starting points (particularly those of less engaged groups) on a range of issues – from climate to culture wars. He is an alumnus of the University of Oxford, where he studied law, and the Washington Ireland Programme. He is a trustee of the local community development association in his homeplace of Armoy.

Diane is a newly elected MLA for South Down area of Northern Ireland. Diane’s career spans the public, private, and third sector, notably as a senior finance manager, law graduate, and chartered account, while being a mother of three. Diane is committed to delivering the best for her constituency and shaping Northern Ireland’s successful future.

From university Doire went on to lead the Northern Irish branch of Our Future Our Choice, a young people’s anti Brexit organisation. Since 2020, Doire has been working for the Northern Ireland Assembly’s opposition leader Matthew O’Toole MLA, holding the role of Senior Constituency Manager in his South Belfast office. In 2023 she was elected as a councillor in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Don has worked in business and economic development for over twenty-five years, holding roles in international trade and internal operations across a range of industry sectors including tourism, construction and business services. He was previously the Strategy Manager for Invest Northern Ireland, responsible for the development and implementation of Invest NI’s corporate strategy and research. His other previous roles include working in DfE and as a business consultant, providing advice to a range of public and private sector organisations. Don holds qualifications in Marketing, Finance and Leadership, as well as a MA in Business Strategy (with Distinction) from Ulster University.

Since 2018, Eoin has worked for the Scottish National Party, initially working on Brexit as well as devolved and constitutional affairs, before taking up a political advisory position in the leadership office. He currently serves as the party’s political strategy adviser at Westminster. Born and still living in Derry City, Eoin attended Oakgrove Integrated College before studying at Trinity College Dublin. He has previously worked as a researcher and political adviser in various roles including in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the BBC.

Gina has twenty-seven years’ experience in education and has worked tirelessly throughout her career to put her school at the heart of the local community and open doors for pupils in the humanities, leading the school to its specialist status in English Literature. She was previously vice principal of St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick and having managed her school through the pandemic and cancellation of public examinations, Gina is experienced in leading through complex circumstances. She is actively committed to shared education initiatives and passionate about student voice, ensuring in decision making that young people are heard and listened to.

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.

Prior to joining ESO, Michael worked for NantHealth and in financial services for sixteen years, spending most of that time between Citi and TP ICAP. He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2006 with a degree in Computer Science and in 2011 with an executive MBA. Outside of work he has been married to Catherine for ten years and we have two young children, Alice and Conor.

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.

Having previously worked as a primary school teacher, Pádraig is passionate about education and building better opportunities for young people. Since becoming one of the youngest MLAs at the age 25, his top priority is improving mental health services. He currently chairs the All Party Group on Mental Health, aiming to take this work forward as a legislative priority.

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.

Phillip has worked for the DUP in both London and Belfast, and before his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2022, worked for DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP. Outside of Politics, Phillip served as a non-executive director of both the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Public Health Agency.

Ryan is Commissioner of the Londonderry Port & Harbour Commission, appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure. He was previously an Ulster Unionist councillor. Ryan previously served twenty years within the Ministry of Defence as a regular and now holds a Commission within the Army Reserves. In a business capacity, he is a counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) consultant within the Defence & Security sectors. Ryan has recently ventured into the eco-tourism sector featuring off-grid and renewable sustainment operating models. He is married with three children.

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.