Staff & Board

Kate holds the post of Director since April 2013 within RCN having previously worked as a Rural Enabler (Institutions) within the Rural Enabler Programme working with the Orange Order, the GAA, Churches and others to address issues of sectarianism and racism. She continues to work to build peace across NI, and to represent the interests of community groups on issues relating to Brexit, NSEW relations and balanced regional development.

Kate is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, with a BSc in Agricultural Economics and Management and an MSc in Rural Development. She has a strong background in creative thinking techniques, facilitation skills, research techniques, and supporting groups in the areas of project development and implementation. Kate has tutored on the MSc in Rural Sustainable Development for the past ten years and also co-ordinates, designs and teaches on the NUI Galway Community Development Practice Diploma course.

In the past, Kate has been a mentor for the International Fund for Ireland’s Community Leadership Programme and was Vice Chair of Rural Community Network and a member of the Joint Community and Voluntary Sector concordat. She sits on the DARD Monitoring Committee and the Equality sub group for the Rural Development Programme. She is a strong advocate for the community and voluntary sector in NI and is passionate about issues of the development of new leadership and succession planning in the sector.

Kate’s particular interests are partnership co-ordination and development, peace building, networking and supporting community led local development.

kate@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

Originally a professional archaeologist Yvonne has worked in a wide variety of project management roles the Third Sector since 1989. Her career has included working with the unemployed, migrants, in adult education and also the Women’s sector. Yvonne holds a Masters Degree in Communication and is passionate about promoting lifelong learning for all.

Samantha started at RCN in September 2024 having previously worked in the legal field from 2012 to 2017 and in Advice Sector 2018 to 2024. In her home County of Fermanagh she was Head of Advice and Social Policy for Community Advice Fermanagh where she specialised in policy matters relating to social security, regional imbalance, housing, poverty and health.

Samantha has experience sitting on a variety of Forums and Working Groups both at Council and Regional Level including sitting on the Fuel Poverty Working Group, Discretionary Support and Managed Migration Working Groups. She was also on the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Working Group in creating their Anti-Poverty Strategy. Samantha also sat on various forums including Universal Credit Forum, Disability Rights Forum, Cross Border Practitioners Group and the Joint Standards Committee.

She brings a passion for social justice and wants to ensure the rural voice is heard to affect positive change for rural communities.

Samantha graduated from Queens University with an LLB in Law in 2008 and from College of Law Chester with commendation in legal practice in 2010.

Samantha is Mother to two beautiful children and a "dog mum" to her precious Jack Russell. She sits on the board of her local cross community playgroup and enjoys the outdoors with her family in her spare time.

Emma McAleer joined RCN in May 2021 as Project Coordinator on a National Lottery Heritage Fund project. She will be responsible for enabling and supporting member groups in the development of heritage focused projects. She will work closely with member groups and board members to build and develop a strong connection with the heritage sector across Northern Ireland.

Emma has over 9 years experience working on community engagement projects with a wide range of groups from children and young people to women’s groups and older people. She brings a wide range of experience from the heritage sector where she has worked for National Museums NI in numerous roles and at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum. Emma is a graduate of Kings College London receiving a Masters in Education In Arts and Cultural Settings and at Ulster University Belfast with a BA Hons Degree in Fine and Applied Arts specialising in textile art. She has extensive experience in project delivery, event management, digital engagement, volunteer management, project evaluation and in facilitating group work. She is passionate about engaging and encouraging communities to explore and engage with their local heritage through creative and digital engagement.

emma@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

Rachael began her career as a teacher but then moved into education roles within the Charity Voluntary sector. She has gained a wealth of experience from working across many different areas of the sector including, homelessness, community development, good relations, social housing and mental health.

Rachael completed a Master’s in Psychology in 2023 and is an advocate for Mental Health. Rachael hosts a podcast called "And How Did That Make You Feel" where she interviews guests about their experiences in therapy and counselling to try and normalise talking openly about mental health.

Rachael is a published composer and enjoys working with choirs in Northern Ireland and internationally.

Outside of work Rachael enjoys hot yoga, baking, reading and socialising.

Kevin joined Rural Community Network in 2022 after 33 years in the Civil Service as an Internal Auditor. He has a BA Honours in Public Policy and Management and CIPFA (internal audit management).

kevin@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

kelly@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

John has been the Chair of RCN since 2019 and has a long involvement in local rural community development. He is a founding member of the Poyntzpass Community Regeneration Company Limited and currently holds the position of Secretary. He has been active in a number of projects which have led to the regeneration of the village. John is a Board member of the Rural Housing Association. He has a keen interest in the social and economic regeneration of rural areas through the development of social enterprise at a local and regional level; and in building positive community relations. John has taken partial retirement in the Rural Affairs Division of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. John is married with two adult children and four grandchildren and his main recreational pursuit is angling.

Noelle Donnell has with on RCN Board since January 2017.   She has over 20 years’ experience as a volunteer and as a worker within the rural sector in Northern Ireland, mainly across the North West.

This has included working as a project co-ordinator on various community development and Good Relations projects.  She has been a committee member of a number of organisations, including local farmers’ groups, village groups and as part of umbrella groups like The Villages Together. She is a Director of Hummingbird (NI) CIC, a rural based Good Relations and Community Development company, with specific experience in flags, emblems, identity and symbolism. She is currently a social partner on Derry & Strabane LAG. She served on District Policing Partnerships as an independent member from inception in 2003 until 2008, serving as Vice-Chair for two years.

She has a Masters Degree in Sustainable Rural Development with Queen’s and graduated with a commendation in 2011.  Her dissertation focused on Gender Inequality on the Family Farm, looking specifically at women, their gendered roles and identity on an intergenerational basis.

Frances Spence lives in Ardess, Co Fermanagh and is actively involved in her local Ardess Community Association and is a member of St Mary's Ardess Church of Ireland Select Vestry.   In 2002 Frances, along with other local community representatives, started up a charity, Orphan's Hope. The main aim of this Charity is to provide workers and teachers for local orphanages in China and pay for children to be fostered out of the orphanages by local Chinese people.   They also support the Dawn Project which creates a family where children can be fostered while they are in transition to find adoptive families and who have a medical need that requires care beyond what an orphanage can provide for them.   Frances is Assistant Guide Leader with North Fermanagh Rangers, Assistant Guide Leader with 1st Magheraculmoney Brownies and she is on the Fermanagh Executive Committee of the Girl Guide Association as the International Advisor and represents Fermanagh at Ulster level.    In her spare time she enjoys going to concerts and walking.   Frances is married and has two grown up children and two grandsons and has been the Administrator for Fermanagh Rural Community Network since 1998.

Arnold is a former Councillor on ArmaghBanbridgeCraigavon Council and former President of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA)

He is currently chairman of Loughgall and District Improvement Association and serves on several other community organisations including TADA, Lough Neagh Partnership, Craigavon Industrial Development Organisation, Portadown 2000, and the Rotary Club of Portadown.

Arnold is a former member of the SELB and still has an interest in education being a Governor currently on three local schools  in Portadown.

Ian was elected to the Board of RCN in November 2020 and represents the community sector in Co Armagh.

Patsy has been active in community development since 1991 when he worked towards the foundation of Middletown & District Dev Assoc and was involved with RoSA from 1992 until 2006, where he was a Board member.   He has served on RCN Board for many years and was also on the South Armagh Tourism Initiative and a member of the Cross Border IT project and the cross border Development of Infrastructure People’s Programme involving 4 halls in the North and 4 in the South. He represents Middletown on the Community Forum of NIHE and also the Ulster Canal.  Patsy enjoys sports and supports his local sports club and all activities in the Middletown and district locally. He is presently Secretary of Middletown & District Dev Assoc and has always shown a great commitment to community development throughout Armagh and Monaghan. Patsy’s greatest asset is his willingness to gather and disseminate information to ensure the spread of ideas and encourage local and regional networking.

Gus was elected to the Board of RCN in November 2020 and represents the community sector in Co Derry / L'Derry.

Philip was elected to the Board of RCN in May 2019 and represents the community sector in Co Derry / L'Derry.

Karin was elected to the Board of RCN in May 2019 and represents the community sector in Co Derry / L'Derry.

An experienced community organiser with particular skills in community building and community relations, partnership work and teambuilding and the support & management of volunteers.

Rosemary is the Co Fermanagh community sector representative on the RCN Board

Nick Moore is the Chair of County Down Rural Community Network having been a board member of the organisation since 2008.  Nick has several years’ experience working with rural community groups and has previously served as an RCN board member since 2011.  He has worked in the science research and education sectors for over 25 years, and is also active in the early years and childcare sector as he and his wife Jill are directors of Chirpy Chicks Playgroup Ltd, a not-for-profit preschool playgroup based in the Ards Peninsula.

Eimear is Project Manager for NIRN (Northern Ireland Resources Network) and is responsible for developing the Reuse & Repair Network in Northern Ireland to establish a membership base targeting community and third sector organisations. She is active in a number of community organisations including Techno Tyrone Ltd, an organisation which focuses on rural regeneration of Mid and West Tyrone and management and development of a community based business park - The Milestone, and Mid Ulster Community & Arts Trust, an organisation which promote heritage, culture and arts in rural Tyrone.

Liam was elected to the Board of RCN in November 2020 and represents the community sector in Co Tyrone.

Liam Campbell, lives outside Plumbridge in the Sperrin Mountains in  Co. Tyrone and is originally  from Inishowen in Co. Donegal. He is a founding member and chair of Aghabrack and District Community Association and a board member of Rural Area Partnership in Derry.  Liam is the Built and Cultural Heritage Officer with Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership, having previously worked as a television producer on programmes such as Lesser Spotted Ulster  for some 20 years before returning to academia. He has published and lectured widely on heritage and environmental issues, especially about the Northwest of Ireland. His new work Room for the River has just been published. Holding undergraduate degrees from NUI Maynooth and masters degrees from both Queens’ University Belfast and Ulster University,  he completed his PhD at Ulster University in 2011 on the cultural heritage of rivers. He is a visiting lecturer at East Tennessee State University where he spent a year as Basler Chair for Integration of the Arts and Sciences in 2018. He is married to Ann and they have four daughters.

Aidan Bunting represents the community sector and was nominated from Omagh Forum.

Ruth is Business Development Manager at Rural Housing Association.  In her role as Business Development Manager, she is responsible for overseeing the delivery of Rural Housing’s Shared Neighbourhoods work as well as co-ordinating community relations initiatives in isolated rural communities across Northern Ireland, with the aim of building vibrant, connected rural communities.  Ruth also works alongside the NI Housing Executive to deliver Rural Housing Need Tests, with the aim of identifying hidden need for social housing in rural communities.  Ruth has an MSc in Communications, PR & Advertising from the University of Ulster and is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Denise is the farming representative nominated by the Ulster Farmers' Union.

Raymond Craig has been involved in rural community development for over 10 years and has been on the Rural Community Network Board for 6 of those years.  He has also contributed to collaborative working particularly in early years, primary and post primary education and has a deep understanding into the vital role of schools within rural communities.  As an advocate of the community planning process, he feels it is important to develop positive partnerships in order to create a future that enhances the quality of life for all within rural communities.  In his role as Adult Community Education Officer with North West Regional College he has been proactive in assisting rural community groups to become learning venues delivering a range of subjects including ICT.  This ensures that students are offered door step learning opportunities regardless of where they live.  He also has a keen interest in Third World Politics, debating and social inclusion issues.