- Michael Hughes - Chief Executive Officer
Michael, as Chief Executive Officer, has overall responsibility for the strategic and operational performance of Rural Community Network and has led the organisation through the development of the current strategic plan 2007-2013. He consistently engages with a range of statutory, voluntary and community organisations highlighting the assets of rural communities, the inequalities that currently exist and how local people must be allowed play an important part in the future sustainability of their community.
Michael’s current work is focusing on the strategic development of a rural community development networking infrastructure, which is relevant to local rural communities, and the future support to this infrastructure from both central and local government. As a member of various European Programme Monitoring Committees, Michael is a strong advocate of A Shared Future and the promotion of an equality agenda. In developing a highly skilled staff team, Michael believes that the key to this has been creating a work environment where each staff member is able to realise their potential for the benefit not only of the organisation, but more importantly for those most vulnerable within rural communities.
Michael joined Rural Community Network in 1996 as Project Assessment Officer with the Peace & Reconciliation Programme. He has also held positions of Programmes Co-ordinator for Peace II and the Rural Community Estates Programme before his appointment as Chief Executive Officer. Michael holds a BSc Degree in Economics, Business Studies and Social Studies from Queen's University.
- Jan Keenan - Finance and Human Resources Manager
Jan is Rural Community Network’s Finance & Human Resources Manager and has overall responsibility for ensuring good governance in relation to financial management, internal policy development and employment practice. Jan worked in this role from November 2001 to May 2005 and returned to RCN in May 2008.
She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Charity Finance, a Master’s Degree in Social and Community Work Studies and is a qualified Social Worker.
- Kathryn Kerr - Finance & IT Officer
Kathryn graduated from the University of Ulster in Education and Maths and worked in Belfast and London before returning to Northern Ireland in 1992 to take up a post in Rural Community Network.
Kathryn has worked in many roles within the organisation - her current role is that of Finance Officer with responsibility for the day to day finances and financial procedures of the Network including payroll and pensions. Kathryn also assists with the organisation of Board meetings and oversees the organisation’s biennial elections. Kathryn is also responsible for maintaining the Network’s IT system and the website. She is a line manager and a member of the Corporate Management Team.
- Linda Rogers - Communications and HR Officer
Linda joined Rural Community Network in 1995 and has worked for various programmes within the organisation. In conjunction with the Corporate Management Team, she is responsible for the development and implementation of an effective corporate communications strategy.
Linda’s key duties include promoting the work of RCN externally through publications, the website and other communication tools as well as developing and maintaining media relationships. Event management is key to her role as is ensuring that the organisation is promoted in accordance with all communication policies.
Linda holds a BA Hons in Business Studies, an Advanced Diploma from the Institute of Administrative Management and a Post Graduate Certificate in Communication. She is currently studying for a postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations, Communications and Advertising.
- Aidan Campbell - Community Development Officer
Aidan joined Rural Community Network in September 2007as Community Development Officer with responsibility for co-ordinating RCN’s work in promoting learning, sharing and development of rural community development skills and knowledge. He also has responsibility for co-ordinating the design, implementation, monitoring and dissemination of rural community development support initiatives to address social need, social exclusion, social cohesion and community capacity.
Aidan is from Derrytresk in East Tyrone and grew up on a small farm. A one time builder’s labourer, farm labourer, welder’s mate and delivery van driver, he graduated from Queen's University with a BA in Economic and Social History. He then continued his studies at NUI Maynooth where he undertook the Higher Diploma in Community Development. Aidan was previously employed as a community development worker with Lenadoon Community Forum in Belfast.
- Dawn Gregg - Finance and Monitoring Officer
Dawn joined Rural Community Network in June 2006 as Finance & Monitoring Officer having previously worked with the NI Rural Development Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund in a similar financial role. Dawn studied at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown where she obtained a HNC in Business and Finance and a BA (Hons) in Business Studies. Dawn is currently studying for her Association of Chartered Certified Accountancy (ACCA).
Dawn’s role is to oversee the financial spend and monitoring of RCN Programmes including the Rural Support Network Community Involvement Programme and NIRWN. Her role involves drawing down monies under various programmes; ensuring contract compliance; and providing support and advice to RSNs and NIRWN in order to equip them with the necessary knowledge on best practice in order to manage their respective networks.
- Caroline Maguire - Rural Older People’s Co-ordinator
Caroline has recently taken up the post of Rural Older People’s Co-ordinator on the ‘Skills for Solutions’ Programme which aims to empower the voice of older people in rural communities through developing skills to engage more effectively in policy making and building civic leadership through identifying solutions to rural transport challenges.
Over the coming months, the main objectives of Caroline’s work will be to engage and consult with older people living in rural areas and find out what the issues are for them in terms of transport and to begin to look at ways in which Rural Community Network can work together with older people to affect positive change in their communities. An important task will also be to begin to develop interest about this programme with several government departments which have responsibility for older people.
Caroline has worked with Rural Community Network since 2001, firstly as a Peace II Assessment Officer and then as a Community Development Officer on a capacity building and peace building programme. She has a BSc in European Regional Development from the University of Ulster and an MSc in Rural Development from Queen’s University Belfast.
- Community Development Officer (Cohesion Sharing and Integration)
- Ali McAllister - Regional Co-ordinator, Rural Enabler programme
Ali McAllister joined Rural Community Network in January 2010 as Regional Co-ordinator of the Peace III funded, Rural Enabler project. This project aims to enable rural communities to deal with conflict impacts and modern day racism, through a facilitated and supported local community development approach.
Prior to this appointment, Ali was employed by the Community Relations Council as Policy Officer where much of her work was focused on practice to policy interventions.She has also worked on the Creating Common Ground programme, with the Family Caring Centre in Antrim and has been a volunteer with Women's Aid and a part time tutor with the Workers’ Educational Association. Ali holds a BSc (Hons) in Community Development and various other facilitation, counselling and management qualifications.
- Fintan McCabe - Assistant Coordinator Rural Enabler
Fintan McCabe joined Rural Community Network in June 2010 as Assistant Project Co-ordinator of the Peace III funded, Rural Enabler Project. Fintan has responsibility for the development, implementation, monitoring and practice to policy learning of the Rural Enabler Project in the Border Counties of Ireland.
He brings a wealth of hands on experience in planning, designing, researching and managing initiatives and programmes. He has practical experience of organisational governance requirements, not only from a theoretical viewpoint, but also from a day-to-day functional programme management perspective. He holds a number of directorships with local and regional organisations, with membership of various sectoral representative bodies. He has worked for Government and NGO organisations on projects as well as commissioned research for the National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Fintan holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Adult and Community Education and BSc in Rural Development from the National University of Ireland Maynooth as well as other qualifications in facilitation and training.
- Neville Armstrong - Rural Enabler - Fermanagh
- Orla Black - Rural Enabler - Antrim
Orla took up the post of Rural Enabler for County Antrim in June and is based in the North Antrim Community Network office, Cushendall. Her role involves assisting rural communities to develop ways to deal with the issues that still divide us in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland.
Orla has worked in community development for many years, both in a paid and voluntary capacity. She previously worked for COLLAGE, Garvagh and Cushendall Development Group on various projects. These included the Causeway Speciality Market, the Heart of the Glens Festival and Green Glens Recycling Ltd.
She has also worked as Constituency Manager and Assistant for Declan O’Loan MLA. Orla is a member of Moyle District Council, Moyle District Policing Partnership and the Rural Development Programme North East Cluster Local Action Group.
She holds a BSc in European Regional Development from the University of Ulster, Coleraine and a Diploma in Community Development Practice from the Rural College, Draperstown and NUI Galway.
- Kate Clifford - Rural Institutions
- Jude Cumiskey - Rural Enabler - Down
- Anita Kelly - Rural Enabler - Derry/L'Derry
- Rainer Pagel - Rural Enabler - Armagh
Rainer joined Rural Community Network as Rural Enabler (Armagh) in August 2010. He brings some 32 years experience of working in the community, voluntary and youth sectors in Northern Ireland, which he gained in Centre for Neighbourhood Development, NICVA and Face Inclusion Matters. Rainer has a keen interest and a long track record in training and consultancy work for voluntary organisations and he has designed and delivered a wide range of training programmes and produced materials on management for voluntary organisations, fundraising and most recently, disability awareness. He firmly believes in the importance of social inclusion based on the principles of equity, diversity and interdependence for the future of our society and he hopes that the Rural Enabler Programme will be able to make a significant contribution towards these aims.
- Ann Ward - Rural Enabler - Tyrone
- Nell Cutliffe - Rural Enabler - Donegal
Nell started working as the Rural Enabler for Donegal in September 2010. She is based in the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Her role is to identify individuals or groups in county Donegal who want to address racism, sectarianism or other tensions, which if left to fester, could harm the peaceful existence of the community.
More recently, Nell worked in the London Irish Centre where she organised classes and activities designed to get people involved in their community, to develop awareness that they are as important as everyone else, and to gain the confidence to say so.
Nell graduated from University College Galway in the 1980s with a BA in History and Geography (but admits that she has no sense of direction!). More recently she graduated from the University of Westminster, holding graduate and post graduate diplomas in law.
- Sarah Christie - Administrator
- Zoe Gilmour - Administrator
- Patricia McGrath – Regional Administrator with the Rural Enabler Programme
Patricia joined Rural Community Network in January 2010 as Regional Administrative Officer with the Rural Enabler Programme. Patricia’s main duties are to provide administrative support to the Rural Enabler Project in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland, to take overall responsibility for the co-ordination of financial information relating to the Programme and to oversee financial monitoring of SEUPB in relation to the EU Database Management.
Patricia is originally from Magherafelt and worked in Magherafelt Area Partnership for three years as Peace III Project Officer. She studied Business and Administration at the Northern Regional College achieving both NVQ Levels 2 and 3 and is currently completing her first degree equivalent NVQ level 4 in Business and Administration. Patricia has been awarded OCR level 2 in Text, Medical and legal Word Processing, and has achieved a Certificate in ECDL.
- Teresa McKernan - Administrator
Teresa joined Rural Community Network in June 1999 coming from a position within the NI Rural Development Council. Prior to this, she worked for LEDU. Within RCN she has worked as Administrator for the Mediation Programme, Policy and Research Programme and the Community Relations/Mediation Programme. Teresa is Administrator to the Chief Executive Officer, has responsibility for the CRM database and also supports both the Voice and the Shared Future sub-committees. She also has the delightful task of administration for the AGM.
Teresa has Stage 3 Typing and Word Processing, a Certificate in ECDL (Advanced) and has also completed Deaf Awareness training. Teresa sits on the Board of Governors of St Joseph’s Primary School, Killeenan and is a member of the Dungannon/Armagh Autism NI Group.
- Ciara Monaghan - Administrator
Ciara joined RCN in November 1998 and is currently Administrator for the Community Development Support Unit. In 2006, she worked on the Rural Women’s Sectoral Programme as Grants Officer managing the EU Grants Database. Ciara studied Business Administration at NEIFHE where she obtained an NVQ qualification. She has also qualifications in word processing, ECDL and EU Grants Database Training.
- Adele Robinson - Administrator Rural Enabler Programme