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