About
I was appointed as Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Institute of Irish Studies in 2021, having previously worked in various professional services roles at LJMU since 2016. I have over 25-years’ project management and community development experience gained chiefly in roles across the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. From 2001-2016 I was also an elected representative, councillor, Mayor of Derry (2008-2009) and latterly a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA).
I hold a degree in Irish History and Politics from Ulster University and an MRes in Business from Atlantic Technological University Donegal (2017): the thesis examined the impact of student placements upon academic performance, students’ employability, emotional maturity, resilience, and wellbeing. Three chapters of the thesis have since been published, as two peer reviewed academic journal articles and one book chapter, respectively.