Class of 2023

Karen has a background in Environmental Health and worked as a local government EHO and at NILGA prior to taking up her current role as Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at Consumer Council Northern Ireland.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.