23 May 2013

Observatory Advisory Panel

The Observatory Advisory Panel was a voluntary panel of representatives from the community, voluntary, public and private sectors and academia, which meets at least twice a year in order to provide advice on the work of the Observatory.

Its purpose and roles were as follows.

  • To consider a variety of information resources concerning change in the community and voluntary sectors and how these could be interpreted by these sectors in responding positively to change.

  • To review and comment upon the policy framework that will underpin change at a national, regional and local government level.

  • To propose responses for the Observatory to influence the future work of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and the Building Change Trust.

  • To propose responses for the Observatory to influence the future work of the government, and the community and voluntary sectors in support of change and transformation.

  • To recommend for commission areas for primary research or analysis or review of secondary data, that will support the work of the Observatory in informing and shaping the work of the Building Change Trust, and supporting the community and voluntary sectors.

  • To identify best practice in order to disseminate this.


The current Observatory Advisory Panel members were:

Norrie Breslin, BIG Lottery

Annie Clarke, Community Places

Colin Devine, North West Community Network

Niamh Goggin, Charity Bank

Kat Healy, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Frances Hughes, East Down Rural Community Network

Michael Hughes, Rural Community Network

Christine Irvine, Volunteer Now

Avila Kilmurray, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Maurice Kinkead, Landmark East

Claire McAteer, Business in the Community

Gerard McCann, St Mary’s University College

Sandra McCarry, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Lauri McCusker, Fermanagh Trust

Lisa McElherron, NICVA

John McGuinness, ABC Community Network

Nigel McKinney, Building Change Trust

Anne Molloy, Pobal (Ireland)

Joanne Morgan, Community Development and Health Network

Zita Murphy, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Brendan Murtagh, Queen’s University Belfast

Jack O’Connor, Department of Social Development

Monina O’Prey, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Gladys Swanton, Community Evaluation Northern Ireland