Eamon Quinn joined the NICIE Board in December 2014. He has over thirty years’ experience as a manager, fundraiser and consultant within the arts and charities sectors in Northern Ireland. He has worked for organisations including Tinderbox Theatre Company, Queen’s University of Belfast, Arts Care and War on Want NI. Eamon has lectured at Queen’s University as a visiting lecturer for over twenty years, teaching on the Arts Management MA, and has written and delivered a number of BA modules. Eamon’s consultancy roles have included Northern Ireland Advisor for Comic Relief, assessor for BBC Children in Need, and advisor for Arts and Business NI working with clients including the Grand Opera House, Ulster Orchestra and Flowerfield Arts Centre. Since 2016 he has been Director of the charity Engage with Age.
Shane Greer is a media entrepreneur and investor. He is currently the owner of Campaigns & Elections, a B2B media business that serves the political campaign industry in the United States and Latin America. He is a trustee of Integrated AlumNI and a member of the US board of Cooperation Ireland. Square Mile magazine recognized him as one of the Top 30 people under the age of 30 in London in 2011. In 2016 the Irish Echo recognized him as one of the 40 Under 40 Irish and Irish American’s in the United States. Shane attended Lagan College from 1994 to 2001
Adele Kerr, Principal of Enniskillen IPS. Native of Belfast who graduated in 1989 from Stranmillis and after teaching in Whiteabbey PS for four years took up a Teaching Principal role in Belleek in 1993 on relocation to County Fermanagh due to getting married. Appointed to Enniskillen Integrated PS in 1999 to a school in temporary mobiles and single class entry, with an enrolment of 185. Enniskillen Integrated PS now has double year entry, a nursery unit and operates in a permanent building with ongoing works through Freshstart to double the current building in size. School population 436. DE asked Adele to contribute to the existing handbook for new buildings after the last build. Adele has been a member of APTIS since 1999 and was the GMI representative on the Joint Negotiating Council for one year. Served as a governor on Erne Integrated College for 21 years including holding the roles of Secretary and Chair of Governors.
Acting Principal for Clogher Integrated PS in its final year, whilst still Principal of Enniskillen, as the parents attempted to achieve GMI status from DE. Adele had the privilege to deliver a speech on her experience of integrated education at The House of Lords by invitation of the IEF. Has mentored new principals within the GMI sector and currently a mentor for newly appointed principals within the Western Area for EA for all sectors. Currently the Lead of the Fermanagh Early Years Cluster for DE. Adele served as an AA for ETi for three years and has presented for ETi at conferences and workshops including a video on EASGS TV on the use of data in primary schools and contributed a case study for ETi paper on Self-Evaluation to aid improvement. Created and organises annual joint staff professional development for the three primary schools in Enniskillen. Delivered staff training over two consecutive years for GMI schools. Adele has been a board member of The Western Area Charitable Trust for Integrated Education (WACTIE) since 1999 and holds the office of Company Secretary.
Colin Millar is Principal of Fort Hill Integrated College, a controlled post-primary located in Lisburn. On completion of post-16 studies in Omagh and Belfast, he moved to England and worked in community projects before marrying and settling in Nottinghamshire. His studies in Applicable Maths with Religion: Culture and Belief led to a teaching qualification. Employment followed in two contrasting comprehensive schools led by Headteachers who had founding roles in the National College of School Leadership. He took up school leadership in North Belfast in 2011 before appointment as Principal in Fort Hill in October 2016. He has two children and coaches a learning disability rugby team.
Ashleigh Moran is from Glenarm in the Glens of Antrim and qualified from St Mary’s University College in 2011.
After working and travelling extensively abroad, she settled back home in Glenarm and began teaching in her own previous school, Seaview Primary School.
Ashleigh was one of the key members of staff involved in the successful transformation of Seaview to Integrated status which she credits as being one of the proudest moments in her career. She now sits as the teacher governor on the newly formed Board of Governors for Seaview Integrated Primary School as well as being Integration coordinator, ICT, Shared Education and World Around Us coordinator.
For the past number of years Ashleigh has been a facilitator for the EA Pathways Senior Leadership programme, delivered induction training in coordination with the EA, worked with NICIE on the projects and is currently an accredited forest school leader. Ashleigh is passionate about the environment and works hard on the Eco Schools programme and has co-authored an outdoor learning resource for teachers.
Duncan Morrow is an academic and community activist with a long-term interest in inter-community relations and peacebuilding in Northern Ireland. He is married and lives in in Belfast. Duncan is the father of 3 children who completed 14 years of integrated education, and is currently a director of Lagan College. He is currently the Director of Community Engagement at Ulster University in Belfast at a time when the University is going through its biggest-ever transformation by relocating its largest campus into the centre of the city. His interest in inter-community relationships and questions of peace and conflict have shaped both his University career and his activity outside those walls. For nine years, Duncan was Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, and since then he has worked with the Scottish Government as the chair of independent Ministerial advisory groups on tackling Sectarianism and on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion. Duncan has written and researched widely on conflict, politics and religion and issues peacebuilding and this year supported the Sir George Quigley Fund in writing a review on the evidence of ongoing Sectarianism in Northern Ireland.
Cathal Mullaghan is a Trustee representative. He has been actively involved in the Integrated Schools movement since 1985 and was a founder parent of Hazelwood IPS and Nursery. He is a director on the Belfast Charitable Trust for Integrated Education. When his children left Hazelwood IPS, he was invited to join Hazelwood College, where he is now a foundation governor. Now retired, Cathal worked for the NI Tourist Board, serving as head of research, and then head of marketing services. He has served as a councillor on Belfast City Council for 6 years until 2011, during which time he was a member of BELB. His other roles have included councillor non-executive director to the Public Health Agency Board, and councillor non-executive director to the Libraries NI Board.
Sandra Patterson BA(Hons), PGCE, MEd, MCCT. Sandra studied Human Geography and also completed a PGCE at Aberystwyth University in Wales. After teaching in Wales for 5 years she chose to return home to Northern Ireland and teach at Ulidia Integrated College. Sandra chose to work within the Integrated Sector as she strongly believes in both the importance and in the ethos of Integrated Education.
Sandra has been a teacher for over 19 years, and completed her MEd in 2012, focusing on Leadership and Management within an Integrated School setting. A strong advocate of Integrated Education, having taught for over 14 years in Ulidia Integrated College as Head of Geography. The role encompasses her passion to support all young people in their care to reach their potential through an academically excellent all-ability education within an Integrated School.
Sandra also volunteers in her spare time within Mid Down Integrated College Steering Group, to further the development of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland, as she truly believes we are all ‘Better Together’.
One of my Sandras’ priorities as a Geographer is to promote environmental leadership and community engagement skills among young learners. Sandra presented at COP26 to an audience of global decision makers to highlight the Environmental Education approach taken at Ulidia Integrated College. Recently She gained her Climate Change Teacher accreditation from the UN.
When not at school, Sanrdra is a keen walker and a mummy to two very active children.
John Scott is from Whitehead and in 2017 completed eight years as a Department of Education appointed governor at Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus. Now retired, John has over thirty years’ experience at senior levels in the NICS and the private sector. In both, he was responsible for managing and providing information technology solutions and services to major clients within Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In these roles he gained significant expertise in all aspects of provider/ client relationships, financial and staff management, project delivery and planning and reviewing.
Helen Smyth is an education professional with diverse experience and skills gained through research, teaching, education authority and administrative roles. She has taught in a range of post primary schools across Northern Ireland’s distinctive system of controlled, voluntary, maintained and integrated schools, including grammar and comprehensive systems, single sex and co-education schools. Helen joined Lagan College, Northern Ireland’s first planned integrated school, in 1982, a year after its foundation. She worked as Head of Geography at Lagan College. At her retirement in August 2019 Helen had contributed 37 years to teaching in Integrated Education in Northern Ireland. During that time she also secured a secondment to Belfast Education and Library Board as Curriculum Support Officer with responsibility for teacher training and resources in the Belfast area. Helen has been active in the NASUWT and was school NASUWT representative between 2015 and 2019. She held the post of President of the North Down Association of the NASUWT, 2017-2018. She continues to actively support the work of the NASUWT.
A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants trained in Belfast before moved to run his fathers practice for over 40 years before retiring in 2017.
A keen golfer has been treasurer & Captain of 2 different golf clubs. He has been a board member of a number of Charities & was the Managing Trustee of a local Pension Scheme.
Claire Loftus MCIPD MSc is an experienced HR professional with over 20 years experience working with both private and public sector. In 2017 she launched her consultancy, she and her team support a range of clients in Northern Ireland, the wider UK and also in Republic of Ireland not to mention further afield in Europe where they have been recognised by Enterprise Nation as one of the Top 50 Advisors in the area of HR and in 2022 was selected by Small Business Britain as one of the Small Biz 100.
Nigel Arnold B.Ed. PQHNI is Principal of Glengormley Controlled Integrated Primary School in Newtownabbey. He has been in this position since his appointment in 2007. Glengormley CIPS transformed to integrated status in 2003 and is celebrating its 20th year of integration in the 2023-24 school year.
On completion of his Bachelor of Education degree from Stranmillis University College in 1994, Nigel began teaching in inner city Belfast before moving to work in a Voluntary Grammar Preparatory department. Then in 2000 he moved to coordinate ICT and Geography in a controlled school in East Belfast. It was whilst here that he enrolled to complete his Professional Qualification of Headship in 2003 thus commencing his senior leadership role in schools. 2024 marks Nigel teaching 30 years, the last 17 of which have been as a headteacher.
Nigel has been involved in many aspects of education throughout his career, from coaching sport, to leading and delivering on curriculum, policy work and ICT infrastructure within schools, working closely with DE, EA, CCEA and C2k on various occasions.
Beyond Northern Ireland, Nigel has developed working partnerships and has given his energy to support organisations and schools working in the fields of education and conflict resolution in North Macedonia, Kosovo, Denmark, Hungary, Turkey and Croatia most recently.
Nigel is an active member of APTIS, the Association of Principal Teachers in Integrated School and is the current treasurer. As an APTIS member, he was elected to the NICIE Board of Directors in 2015 and served 2 terms through to 2019, also chairing the ARAC committee during this time.
Nigel is delighted to be re-elected to the Board of Directors in 2024 for a 3rd term.
When not working, Nigel spends his free time with his wife and four children. Together they enjoy travel, sport, music and theatre. He enjoys giving of his time to his community and serves in a number of voluntary roles across a range of organisations.
Pamela Algie has been Principal of Bangor Integrated Nursery School since September 2019, taking up post just after a successful parental ballot started the school’s transformation journey. The school opened as Bangor Integrated Nursery School in September 2022. Pamela counts leading the school through this transformation process as one of the most rewarding challenges of her career to date.
Pamela graduated from Stranmillis University College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Education. After graduation she worked as a Church Family Worker supporting young families in the Donegall Road area of Belfast. She then began her teaching career in North Belfast spending seven years teaching across the Foundation Stage year groups and in a Nurture Class for children with attachment needs before moving to take up a Foundation Stage Coordinator post in Antrim. A post she held for two years before her appointment as principal in Bangor.
Pamela’s teaching career has focused on the education of children aged 3-6. She is passionate about Early Years and giving children the best possible start for their education and for life. This has led to her being invited to lead workshops and seminars for other organisations and bodies including Stranmillis University College, EA, Altram, and to work with CCEA and Bloomsbury Education creating resources and TPL material for other teachers. Pamela is also interested in how digital technology can support learning and teaching. She has an MSc in Educational Multimedia from QUB and is part of the Apple Distinguished Educator programme.
Pamela is an active member of APTIS and the NICIE Early Years Forum. She is delighted to serve on the Board as an Early Years Director.
Bernie Webster qualified as a nurse, a midwife, and worked as a health visitor for 32 years. She was involved with the working groups that opened the Oakgrove Integrated Schools in Derry/ Londonderry and has maintained involvement ever since. Bernie has been the Honourable Secretary of the Foyle Trust for Integrated Education since it was founded in 1990 and was a Foundation Governor and Honourable Secretary of Oakgrove Integrated College for 30 years. Bernie’s three children all attended both Oakgrove Integrated Primary School and Oakgrove Integrated College. She was also on the organising committee of the Women of the World Festival during the Derry/ Londonderry UK City of Culture year; she was Treasurer of the local Soroptimist group for four years; she was on the founding committee of Derry Well Woman; and Bernie was one of the first Lactation Consultants in the country having successfully passed the IBCLC exam the first time it was held in Ireland. She maintained the registration for 10 years.
Patrick McIlveen works for Catalyst, a non-profit science and technology hub focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland. His role is strategising and managing opportunities for the industrial and commercial exploitation of research focused on meaningful output and regional economic impact. This includes brokering relationships between industry and academic partners, building consortia, and identifying revenue opportunities. He has a core interest in inclusive innovation; ensuring that the benefits of innovation are felt across communities and has a firm belief that integrated education has a pivotal role to play in affecting positive change across society. Patrick’s background includes being a Director/ Co-founder in a startup. He earned a BA in English with Creative Writing from Queen’s University Belfast and is a fellow of Aspen UK’s Rising Leaders. Patrick previously worked with NICIE as part of a work placement.