Team category

Class of 2024

Róisín Wood

CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Róisín Wood is the CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, and previously the CEO of Kick It Out, English football’s equality and inclusion organisation.

Róisín was awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to tackling discrimination in football. In October 2020, she took on a new challenge as an inclusive leadership consultant.

Within the Community Foundation Róisín has brought with her the passion and commitment towards an inclusive society, enhancing the focus of the Foundation’s work on diversity, equity and inclusion, transformative funding strategies, supporting grass roots community organisations and advocating for the VCSE sector at all levels.

Janet Schofield

CEO of CAN (Compass Advocacy Network)

Janet Schofield, the passionate CEO of CAN (Compass Advocacy Network), is driven by her commitment to people. Janet’s hands-on approach empowers lives and amplifies voices for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health issues, as well as their families and carers.

With over twenty-seven years in the community and voluntary sector, she advocates for the vulnerable amidst uncertainty. Excited about the Fellowship Programme, Janet aims to forge cross-sector partnerships and create meaningful change.

Personally, she is a married mum of three on the north coast of Northern Ireland, with a menagerie of pets and diverse creative interests.

Áine Murphy

Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Áine Murphy is a Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone and is currently the youngest female MLA in the Assembly. Having been politically active from fourteen years of age, Áine is very passionate about her community and strives to address regional imbalance in rural communities and the border region. Having grown up in Lisnaskea not far from the Monaghan/Cavan border, she has lived experience of the difficulties and challenges that many rural communities face, both socially and economically. Áine also has a very keen interest in GAA with an educational background in physiology.

Adriana Morvaiová

DEI and Conflict Consultant
Adriana Morvaiová is an accomplished Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist, a TEDx Speaker, and NLP Practitioner. Originally from Slovakia with Hungarian heritage, Adriana embarked on a transformative journey to Northern Ireland in 2005. She serves as a dedicated trustee on the board of Mediation NI, having completed Mediation Theory & Practice in 2022. Adriana takes pride in leading a Lean in Circle established in 2023, fostering a vibrant community of professional multicultural women across NI. She has previously collaborated with esteemed organizations such as Transport for London, Croydon Council, and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

Paula McKernan

Barrister at the Bar of Northern Ireland

Paula McKernan is a barrister at the Bar of Northern Ireland, specialising in Children and Family Law.

Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2005 and to the Bar of Ireland in 2012, Paula is a member of The Bar Council of Northern Ireland. She is appointed to the Government Legal Service Civil Panel of Barristers and the Directorate of Legal Services Panel of Family Law Barristers.

Paula is an examiner in Speech & Drama for the University of West London and an alumnus of the Washington Ireland Program.

Christopher McConnell

Principal Officer at the Department for Communities

Through his current role at the Department for Communities, Christopher McConnell leads on infrastructure and community development support for the voluntary and community sector delivered through initiatives at regional, sub-regional and council level.

Early in his career, Christopher worked in a local authority before moving into management consultancy, advising clients in the public and private sector on strategy and policy. Since transitioning to the public sector, he has worked in a range of policy areas including housing reform, public sector reform and information management.

During this time, Christopher also undertook a secondment to the Northern Ireland Office, working in external affairs and engagement, including the Irish Government.

Martin McAuley

Political Advisor to Colum Eastwood MP

Graduating with a Law degree from Queen’s University Belfast, Martin McAuley has worked in communications and policy development for senior political leaders since 2013. He is currently Political Advisor to Colum Eastwood MP.

Involved in the SDLP all-party negotiations team during Haas/O’Sullivan, Stormont House and the Fresh Start negotiations, he led the party’s communications team from 2019-2024. 

Prior to taking up his role in the SDLP, Martin was the UK national policy lead on climate change and rural land for a global professional body in the built environment sector.

Chris Leech

Community Development Director at Emmanuel Church
Chris Leech graduated from the University of Northumbria in Business Studies. Having worked in the IT industry for fifteen years, Chris moved into the faith sector where he has spent the last fifteen years leading churches and developing community impact initiatives. He also leads in the development of strategy for Emmanuel, focusing on the wellbeing of the Craigavon area and is the chairman of the Craigavon Area Foodbank. Chris is passionate about tackling poverty, injustice, and social exclusion. He currently sits on several Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council committees relating to poverty.

Cllr Tierna Kelly

Alliance Party Councillor for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Tierna Kelly graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics in 2022. After graduation, Tierna worked as the constituency officer for Patrick Brown MLA working in her home constituency, South Down. She briefly worked as a campaign assistant in Alliance’s most successful local elections in 2023, where she was also elected as the youngest councillor to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Since her election, Tierna returned to Patrick Brown’s office as communications and research officer. She is interested in integrated education and building a peaceful society for young people in Northern Ireland.

Amy Gribbon

Good Relations Officer at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

With over fifteen years of experience in youth and community work, Amy Gribbon is committed to supporting mobilisation across community divisions, driving positive transformation, and establishing safe spaces for connecting, integrating, and nurturing meaningful relationships.

Amy is a currently a Good Relations Officer at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. 

Her passion for peace building was ignited following her time with the Ulster Project, after which she pursued a journey in youth work and graduated from Ulster University.