Meet the committee members

Dr Katy Radford is a social anthropologist and an Electoral Commissioner with responsibility for Northern Ireland and serves on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Previously, Katy worked at the Commission for Victims and Survivors, was Vice Chair of the Arts Council for Northern Ireland and a Member of the Commission for Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition convened by The Executive Office. She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for her work in community relations in Northern Ireland.

John Brolly has nearly 30 years’ marketing experience, and now heads up marketing and recruitment at St Mary’s University College. John created an innovative award winning literacy project for schools whilst at the Irish News, the 'Young News readers', the highly successful Workplace & Employment Awards. He has created an International Summer School at St Mary’s with universities and colleges from four different states in the US taking part.

Laura is based in the Place and Economy Department at Belfast City Council. She has led Northern Ireland’s only dedicated European and International local government team since it was established in September 2003. Over the last two decades, Laura and her team have developed and delivered Belfast City Council’s first ever International Relations Framework and Action Plan. Laura also supports the promotion of international investment opportunities in partnership with key city players.

Moira Doherty is Deputy Secretary for the Skills and Education Group. The Group is responsible for the development and delivery of post-16 Skills and Education provision across NI, including Further Education, Higher Education, Vocational Training, Bespoke Skills Interventions and Careers advice and guidance. Moira is a visiting professor at Ulster University as a member of the Steering Group for the Masters in Public Administration. 

For 25 years Pádraig has worked throughout the UK and Ireland in the management and delivery of arts and cultural events with some of the world’s leading artists and companies. These include Ennio Morricone, The Turner Prize, the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Theatre. He has held senior positions at the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, the UK City of Culture, Derry and was a director of the award-winning Lumiere Events. In 2016 he was appointed to the Arts Council of Ireland.

Ray Caldwell has 30 years’ experience working across the education sector in Northern Ireland. He has gained a range of experience as a teacher, curriculum and senior school leader, examiner, Inspector of Schools with the Education and Training Inspectorate (holding the posts of Inspector, Managing Inspector and Assistant Chief Inspector) and, most recently, as Director of Curriculum, Assessment, Teacher Education and Professional Learning with the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

John McCord is currently the Acting Director of Culture in the Department for Communities, a post held since June 2022.  Prior to this John worked in Health, Justice, the Executive Office, Social Development and Communities across functions including HR, social security operations, Private Office and policy development; as well as spending time on secondments to the National Lottery Charities Board (now the Big Lottery Fund) and the Commission for Victims and Survivors.

Jackie McCoy MBE, is Professor of Management Development, and Associate Dean for Development & Partnerships International at the Ulster University Business School. Professor McCoy is a recognised authority in business and management development and has acted as advisor to government on issues pertaining to the NI economy and skills, enterprise development, business growth and the development of the third sector.

Lynsey was appointed Director for Europe Strategy in the Executive Office on 1 June 2022 and also has interim responsibility for International Relations.  She returned to Belfast following her posting as Director of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels where she was represented the interests of the Northern Ireland Executive with EU institutions and decision-makers and supported Ministers and senior officials in their engagement with the EU.

Before joining NI Transport Holding Co, Michael was Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission and CEO of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education. Prior to this, his work focused on peace building and reconciliation, working in almost 40 countries. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He's also a Visiting Research Fellow at George Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.