Northern Ireland Environment Forum 2024

Faye is a Senior Associate in the Planning and Environmental team at Carson McDowell.

Faye is one of the few solicitors in the jurisdiction to practice solely in the areas of planning and environmental law and her experience includes: assisting with the co-ordination of major planning inquiries and appeals to the PAC, representing clients at planning and enforcement appeals, providing general planning and environmental law advices, the instigation and defence of judicial reviews of planning and environmental decisions and providing planning and environmental due diligence in large corporate transactions. Her experience cuts across a number of sectors including renewables, waste and minerals development.

Faye is ranked as an "Associate to watch" in the legal guide, Chambers UK, where an impressed client stated, "Faye conducts excellent analysis and leaves no stone unturned."

John Woods is the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission’s Director for Northern Ireland, leading a team of specialist consultants working on multifunctional land use, regenerative farming innovation and citizen engagement. With a wide-ranging background in public policy development, he has specialised in sustainability and wellbeing. John is a Belfast Climate Commissioner and an Independent Assessor for the Commissioner for Public Appointments. He is also one of the co-founders of Holywoood CoFarm, a community growing initiative that aims to contribute to a locally resilient food system.

Fiona Dickson is Deputy Director of Natural Environment Policy in DAERA, with sustainable land management being one of her strategic priorities. She has particular interest in developing policy for managing land for biodiversity, soil, air and water quality as well as greenhouse gas emission reductions. Fiona has a background in delivering Agri-environment Schemes and Knowledge Transfer Programmes to the Agriculture Industry in Northern Ireland. Fiona has also managed Strategic Marketing and Communications for DAERA’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise. In her spare time, Fiona enjoys travelling and running and she will be doing both when she participates in the London Marathon in April.

Judy McElroy, Sustainability & Environment Senior Manager is responsible for NIE Networks’ Sustainability strategy and delivery. Judy holds a first-class Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and post-graduate certificate in Environmental Management. She is a Member of the IET and Practitioner Member of IEMA. NIE Networks, owner of the electricity transmission and distribution networks in Northern Ireland, transports electricity to 910,000 customers including homes, businesses and farms. NIE Networks’ vision is to deliver a sustainable energy system for Northern Ireland that addresses climate change through the decarbonisation of electricity and connection of renewable generation and low carbon technologies to the electricity grid.

Between 2008 and 2023 Max worked as General Manager for the National Trust, initially across the whole North Coast and then, following a decision to divide the portfolio, at Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede. During this time he was responsible for all day-to-day aspects of the strategy, including conservation, visitor servicing, working with key stakeholders and the delivery of the new visitor centre. Prior to his time with the National Trust Max had a variety of senior roles in the private and charitable sectors including CEO of Sperrins Tourism and Head of Primary Distribution for Sainsbury’s. He joined Northern Ireland Environment Link as CEO in July 2023.

Originally from Kent, Max is from a farming background and grew up with a passion for nature, a passion which he has brought to all of his previous roles, including looking at alternative transport solutions and fuel sources for Sainsbury’s. He moved to Northern Ireland in 2003 and is married with 2 sons. Aside from conservation and nature his interests include sport, especially as an enthusiastic coach for Coleraine’s under 18 rugby team, travel and the arts. He is a trustee of World Heritage UK, a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers and a Freeman of the City of London.

Climate Commissioner, Belfast city Council

Debbie leads Belfast City Council’s climate work and co-chairs the ‘Belfast Resilience & Sustainability Board’ and the Belfast Climate Commission. She leads a programme of work that includes developing a localised roadmap to decarbonise the city, supporting a retrofit hub and developing an EVI Strategy as well as projects that are re-naturing the city. Prior to joining the Council, Debbie led the design and delivery of climate investments in Asia and Africa.

Head of Environmental Regulation for Northern Ireland Water Ltd

Angela's role with Northern Ireland Water has responsibility for managing the company’s environmental regulatory duties, including the management of trade effluent from industrial customers. She has direct responsibility for leading the interface between NI Water and the environmental regulators, including submission of all wastewater and waste regulatory compliance reporting and developing environmental strategies and standards for the wastewater investment programme.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Environmental Science and a Master of Science degree in Biology of Water Resource Management. She is both a member of CIWEM and Institute of Water and is a chartered Water and Environmental Manager and a chartered environmentalist.

Angela leads on many environmental programmes for NI Water and is passionate about working in a field that can make real improvements to nature, in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.

Joanne Sherwood is the Director of RSPB Northern Ireland, leading a dedicated team of staff and volunteers and inspiring them and others to save nature in Northern Ireland and on the Isle of Man, the latter in partnership with Manx Birdlife. She is a strong advocate of partnership working, including on an all-Ireland basis with BirdWatch Ireland. A water engineer by background, she is also the Vice Chair of Northern Ireland Environment Link and prior to joining RSPB in 2014, had a 20-year career in environmental regulation and management in England and Wales.

Jacqueline Gibson is successfully leading the world's longest running resource matching program, coined Industrial Symbiosis; saving companies money (average of £60k + a month!), protecting the environment, contributing to the global circular economy and ultimately guiding them along their journey to Net Zero. With a BSC Honors in Sustainability with Climate Change, she has over 25 years’ experience with UK industry developing climate mitigation actions coupled with conservation adaptation projects on the ground in Sub-Sahara Africa. She has carved sustainability positions in organisations along her journey using her passion, tenacity and drive. She was the first Sustainability Advisor for a UK or Irish Port, the first for a UK or Irish Construction Company, known as a guru in green building design and living, and in recent years was the first sustainability appointed person on a UK Landed Estate, declaring it the first in the UK to be carbon neutral by 2027! From decarbonising Blenheim Palace to marine conservation on Carlingford Lough, and leading HSBC’s citizen science global water program to managing Royal Dutch Shell’s biodiversity budget, she has won a number of global green awards and presented over the world on embedding SDGs into business practice.

Dymphna is a member of NI Water’s Senior Management Team – as Head of Drinking Water Regulation, Dymphna’s leadership role spans (a) the development and implementation of strategies to protect public health through the provision of clean, safe drinking water, working with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Health Authorities in Northern Ireland; (b) Analytical Service provision for water, waste water and industrial effluent and (c) Sustainable Catchment Area Management (SCAMP) for drinking water catchments across Northern Ireland, including European funded projects and partnerships with Environmental NGOs - all in the hope of playing her part in protecting public health and enhancing environmental and social conditions across Northern Ireland.

Dymphna is a strong believer in the power of collaboration, for the betterment of society.

Sarah Jennings, Executive Director of Communications, Customer & Commercial, Natural Resources Wales. Sarah joined NRW in 2020. Prior to that she spent a decade in the private sector, a decade in local government and a decade as an Executive Director in the Welsh NHS.

Her priorities at NRW focus on strengthening partnerships and building a compelling narrative around its mission to tackle the climate and environment emergencies. She provides strategic leadership to stakeholder relationships, communications, commercial and procurement functions.

Sarah and daughter Seren, spend their spare time exploring the wonderful coasts, castles and countryside of West Wales.

Tracey Teague is currently Deputy Secretary of Climate Change, Science & Innovation Group at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Northern Ireland. Business areas include Green Growth and Climate Action delivery, Climate Change and Green Growth policy and legislation, Innovation and Science Transformation, oversight of the Chief Scientific Advisor’s Office and the DAERA research & development and monitoring & surveillance programmes. Tracey was previously Deputy Secretary of Environment, Marine and Fisheries Group in DAERA (May 2021 until September 2023) where her responsibilities covered Environmental Resources Policy, Natural Environment Policy, Marine and Fisheries, as well as leading on the Executive’s Green Growth Strategy and Climate Action Plan and implementation of Northern Ireland’s Climate Change legislation. Prior to this Tracey had been Acting Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) since February 2020 where she led the organisation through the Covid-19 emergency response and into recovery. Other previous posts have covered operational and policy posts over a wide variety of areas including Director of Resource Efficiency (NIEA), Director of Corporate Services & Human Resources, European Funding, Urban Regeneration, Child Maintenance and working with the Voluntary and Community Sector on behalf of Government Departments.

A solicitor by profession, Dame Glenys Stacey has a wealth of CEO and regulatory experience, having led the start-up or development of a number of public-sector organisations responsible for legal or regulatory services. She has previously served as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation, Chief Executive at Animal Health (now part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency), chair of the Professional Standards Authority and Chief Regulator at Ofqual. In 2019, she chaired an independent review of farm regulation at the request of the then Secretary of State for Defra. Dame Glenys was appointed Dame Commander of the British Empire in the New Year’s honours list in 2016 recognising her services to education. She was appointed Chair-designate of the OEP in December 2020 and appointed Chair on legal creation of the OEP.

David Greenfield is Vice President at Circular Economy Institute and is responsible for External Affairs. He is a recognised circular economy expert, having been involved in resource and waste management policy making at local, regional and government levels in his early career, to developing circular economy businesses such as SOENECS and Tech-Takeback, that demonstrate the possibilities of circularity in the last decade. Taking circularity to the next level and recognising that innovation in circularity is essential to adapting and mitigating climate change and environmental pollution, in September 2022, David co-founded etsaW Ventures, a venture studio that accelerates circular material and waste innovation into game changing impact. David has been a volunteer for the CEC and CEI for six years and has run over 50 face to face networking events and spoken at over 25 international events for CEC and CEI. In September 2021, David was appointed as Professor of Circular Economy at the University of Brighton to lecture and work with academics to incorporate circular economy into the curriculum. In June 2023, David was elected by the membership to be Junior Vice-President of the CIWM, this is a four-year appointment and will culminate in David becoming President in 2025.

Lorna McAdoo–Group Director Environment, Social and Governance. Lorna joined Version 1 in 2013 to lead the Northern Ireland (NI) operation; growing the team to over 550 people, and is now responsible for the corporate ESG agenda, driving the organisation on track to meet a net zero target of 2025 within its operations and by 2035 within the supply chain. Lorna has been awarded multiple industry recognitions including Digital DNA Business Personality of the Year and Women in Tech IT Business Leader. She is also a board member of the Software Alliance.

Jane McCullough coordinates the Climate NI programme and other adaptation projects delivered by Northern Ireland Environment Link. Her recent work included the development of the first Civil Society and Local Government Climate Change adaptation programme for NI and development of tools and resources to support local government adapt to climate change. Prior to her time at Climate NI she completed a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast which explored the influence of architectural design decisions on occupant energy behaviours. Jane is also active in architectural practice, with a particular interest in embedding climate action in housing design.

Joanne Sherwood is the Director of RSPB Northern Ireland, leading a dedicated team of staff and volunteers and inspiring them and others to save nature in Northern Ireland and on the Isle of Man, the latter in partnership with Manx Birdlife. She is a strong advocate of partnership working, including on an all-Ireland basis with BirdWatch Ireland. A water engineer by background, she is also the Vice Chair of Northern Ireland Environment Link and prior to joining RSPB in 2014, had a 20-year career in environmental regulation and management in England and Wales.

Lucy Gaffney is a bio-scientist and entrepreneur and has been working within the life sciences sector since 2005. In November 2021, she teamed up with Natural Capital Ireland to lead the development of a national business and biodiversity platform, Business for Biodiversity Ireland, an initiative funded by the Irish Government. The platform aims to help businesses develop meaningful biodiversity strategies and ultimately help Ireland transition to a nature-positive way of working. In January, Lucy was named as one of the Irish Times 50 People to Watch in 2023 for her ongoing work in the business and biodiversity space.

Neil Rowland is Senior Research Fellow at the Administrative Data Research Centre for Northern Ireland and is based at the Queen’s Business School, Queen’s University Belfast. He is also the UKRI Regional Clean Air Champion for Northern Ireland. Working as part of a multidisciplinary research team, Neil uses various administrative datasets linked to neighbourhood air pollution data to better understand the health and mortality effects of outdoor air pollution in Northern Ireland.

Richard Greenhous brings over 20 years’ experience in policy, strategy, operations, people and change management. Prior to joining the OEP, Richard was Director of Forest Services at the Forestry Commission, where he led work to protect, improve and expand England’s woodlands. Before that Richard led work on green growth in East London and the Thames Gateway, including Olympic legacy. Richard’s earlier career spanned the Cabinet Office, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Communities & Local Government; and policies including children and families, fire and rescue services, local and regional government and better regulation.

Louise Cullen started her career with Reuters after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast in Law & Accounting. She relocated to Fermanagh in 2002, where she launched BBC Radio Ulster’s News in the West, imported a husband from England and adopted several cats. After returning to Belfast in 2013, she worked in tv, radio and digital, becoming the BBCNI Agriculture & Environment Correspondent just before COP26 in Glasgow. Since then, she has immersed herself in a world of climate challenges and solutions where every day is a school day. Outside work, Louise is a keen reader and puzzler, qualified Zumba instructor, and closet poet.