Brown O'Connor Communications Political and Business Diary March - May 2019

March

1 March, The Management and Leadership SuMMit 2019

2 March, Alliance Party Conference, Stormont Hotel

4 March, Belfast City Council meeting

5 March, CBI Brexit Briefing

5 March, NICVA Running a charitable company

5 March, Belfast Chamber of Commerce Making Tax Digital Seminar

6 March, NI Chamber Networking Series – Derry/Londonderry

7 March, FSB NI Celebrating Small Business Awards

7 March, CO3 Leadership Awards 2019

7 March, Ulster in Bloom Awards

8 March, Brexit: What’s Next? Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Eversheds Sutherland

8 March, Women in Planning NI International Women’s Day Breakfast Event

8 March, IoD NI Women’s Leadership Conference

8 March, NILGA Executive Meeting

8 March, NI Chamber Energy Forum in partnership with SONI

8 March, Consumer Parliament

8 March, Alternative Ms Ulster 2019

13 March, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, How to Network Effectively by David Meade

13 March, NICVA Preparing to Tender

13 March, NICVA Governance for new and nearly new trustees

13 March, Launch of Belfast Film Festival

14 March, John Bercow MP ‘How Parliament Works: A view from the Chair’ lecture at Queen’s University

14 March, Insider Northern Ireland Dealmakers Awards

14 March, NICVA Effective Lobbying and Campaigning Training

14 March, Surviving on the High Street Business Breakfast Event by the Lisburn Chamber of Commerce

15 March, DANI Awards 2019

20 March, Meet Belfast Chamber Event

21 March, NICVA Managing the Media with Sarah Travers

22 March, FMB Northern Ireland Master Builder Awards Gala Dinner

22 March, Deadline for Belfast Business Awards

25 – 31 March, Imagine Belfast Festival

27 March, NI Chamber, Danske Bank Export First Exporter Forum

28 March, Digital DNA Awards 2019

28 March, Royal Town Planning Institute NI Annual Dinner 2019

April

1 April, DisruptHR Belfast

1 April, Belfast City Council meeting

2 April, Queen’s University William J Clinton Leadership Institute for Non-Financial Managers Programme

2 April, The Business of Diversity Lunch by Women in Business and Diversity Mark NI

3 April, Digital Energy Conference 2019, Mansion House Dublin

3 April, NICVA Risk Management for the Board

3 April, CBI MSB Network Event

3 April, NI Chamber Connecting for Growth Cross Border Networking

4 April, Belfast City Council Measuring Social Impact Workshop

5 April, Northern Ireland Construction Law Conference

5 April, Queen’s University of Belfast, Chamber Choir Concert

5 April, Northern Ireland Equality and Diversity Gala and Awards

8 April, Chartered Accounts Ireland, Ulster Society Annual Dinner

10 April, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, GDPR and Data Protection Responsibilities Workshop

11 – 20 April, Belfast Film Festival

11 April, Belfast City Council Brexit Committee Meeting

11 – 12 April, Northern Ireland Branch of the British Psychological Society Conference 2019

12 April, Belfast Careers Fair

16 April, Belfast Chamber Networking

16 April, Women in Business Perfect Your Pitching Skills

17 April, IoD NI New Director Bootcamp

18 April, Women in Business New Members Networking

30 April, NI Chamber International Trade Training

30 April, NICVA Financial Reporting to the Board

30 April, Meet Belfast Chamber Event

May

1 May, EURES Cross Border Tax Breakfast Briefing in partnership with the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

2 May, NI Chamber Connecting for Growth Cross Border Networking

2 May, Northern Ireland Local Government Elections

2 May, Belfast Telegraph Business Gala and Awards

7 May, Smart Social Media for Travel Professionals

8 May, NICVA Trustee responsibilities under GDPR

9 May, Getting to know NI Chamber

10 May, Belfast Business Awards 2019

16 May, Danske Bank Export First Private Dinner

16 May, CIPD Northern Ireland HR Awards 2019

17 May, IoD Northern Ireland Director of the Year Awards 2019

17 May, Institute of Hospitality Awards for Professionalism

21 May, Northern Ireland Meet the Buyer 2019

22 May, Meet Belfast Chamber Event

22 May, Queen’s University, Working with teams under pressure

23 May, CBI Annual Dinner Northern Ireland

23 May, IoD NI New and Renew Member Lunch

23 May, Women in Business Influence the Decision Makers

23 May, European Parliament Elections

28 May, University of Ulster Northern Ireland Graduate Recruitment Fair

29 May, Belfast Chamber Meet the Supplier Seminar

30 May, NI Chamber Developing Your Growth Potential – High Performance Networking

30 May, Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2019

30 May, Responsible Business Awards Gala Dinner 2019

Hospitality Ulster reacts to NI Budget

Reacting to the NI Budget Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster has slammed it as an own goal

“Whilst additional money for the health service, broadband and infrastructure projects are to be welcomed, we feel that this Budget did not address the growing problem of business rates in Northern Ireland being higher than anywhere else in the UK. This ignores the fact the many business in GB with a NAV of £51,000 now get 30% business rate relief, so a pub in Sheffield with a rateable value of £37,750 will save £6,178 in business rates next year, whilst the same pub here gets nothing. This Budget may plug a gap, bu

t has missed the boat in terms of addressing our out of control business rates and funding to assist the development of our town and cities across Northern Ireland. We need a budget that helps the likes of the hospitality sector proposer and plan for the medium to long term. This budget yet again highlights the fact that we need to see the return of the Assembly to properly represent us, bring forward more effective budgetary planning and progress outdated legislation such as the Liquor Licensing Bill.”

Economic outlook based on the Bank of England’s Latest Inflation Report.

On Tuesday 19 February, Bank of England NI Deputy Agent Gillian Anderson gave an update on the economic outlook based on the Bank of England’s Latest Inflation Report.

Some of the key points that were highlighted were:

• Generally, businesses in the UK and Northern Ireland are not prepared for a no-deal Brexit.

• Business investment was rising after the 2008 recession, but when the Referendum act was passed, it plateaued. Historically, by this stage after a recession, investment should be much higher, but the uncertainty of Brexit has caused it to slow.

• Most businesses think both output and employment will be affected negatively by a no-deal outcome.

• There has been a recent dip in consumer spending recently and it is projected it will be weak over 2019.

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) target for inflation is 2%, the most recent figures had it at 1.8% (this was due to falling oil and gas prices).

• It is expected that inflation will remain below target but will grow throughout 2019.

• In the immediate term, economic growth is likely to be weak.

• All of the economic data is expected to be very volatile and so there is no certainty about what will happen in the immediate, short and medium term.

• A stress test was recently carried out on the UK banking system to replicate the impact of a no-deal Brexit and the indication is that the system could survive a no-deal Brexit.

• Employment growth has remained strong, however many businesses have indicated that Brexit will have a negative impact on employment. The strength in the labour market is likely to be a delayed reaction feeding through the economy.

• Global economic growth has slowed which has filtered through to the UK economy an exports have fallen.

• All of the Bank’s projections are based on a smooth transition in Brexit so the level of uncertainty is incredibly high.

The key issue that was highlighted, was that uncertainty around Brexit meant that all economic data is extremely volatile, so making economic predictions is very difficult.

David Meade Events sees overwhelming growth due to international expansion

David Meade Events, run by renowned speaker and broadcaster David Meade has expanded following a period of massive growth.

The events company has seen double figure growth every year since its establishment in 2012 and this year sees an investment of over £250,000, including new video learning services, enabling people to access training remotely.

The company delivers high end corporate events, learning and development workshops, and offers keynote speaking services and with its team of 10 is expected to achieve turnover of £2 million in 2019.

The company has also developed a bespoke in house video production studio to enhance its capacity to produce media projects for a host of international clients.

Meade delivers more than 160 events per year to a range of blue-chip companies and last year visited more than 40 countries. 

Clients include Apple, Harvard, Mercedes Benz, Adobe, Bank of America, Coca Cola, British Airways and Canon.

Renowned speaker and broadcaster David Meade

David Meade commented:

“We’ve been delivering events and keynote speeches very successfully in the UK and Ireland but deciding to take our work outside of that space has really been a tremendous leap for us and one that has paid off year on year.

“The investment in our video learning service will further our international presence. We are part of a global economy now, not just a local one so this will allow us to work with clients all over the world.

“Over the last number of years, the company has grown at a staggering rate and this latest investment is a response to that growth.

“We are still based in Northern Ireland, but there is a huge untapped market which we are keen to explore further. So far in 2019 we have contracts in 10 countries, including Dubai, Singapore and Switzerland and many more are in the pipeline.

“As the company continues to thrive with year on year growth, I am constantly looking at new and innovative ways to keep up with demand. 

“If the uncertainty of today’s marketplace teaches us anything, it’s that you must evolve and that’s what we’re doing – keeping up with the ever-changing market and meeting the ever-increasing demands, both at home and across the globe.”

Indian Cinema Superstar Aamir Khan Belfast bound as special guest of Belfast Film Festival

Belfast Film Festival kicks off a new five-year ‘Cultural Diversity in Film’ project and as part of this is set to host one of cinema’s biggest names, Aamir Khan.  Newsweek has called him “the biggest movie star in the world“, and in 2013, Time magazine named him as one of the world’s hundred most influential people.

 Khan, an award-winning director, critically acclaimed actor, producer and television presenter will make his first ever visit to Ireland to attend the festival.

 Aamir Khan’s prolific career covers over thirty years in film and his popularity reaches across India, China and the West; he has a staggering 24 million twitter followers. 

 His work combines some of the most widely seen entertainment cinema in film history – comedies such as 3 Idiots (2009) and PK (2014) - with innovation. He insisted that the Oscar nominated epic Lagaan (2001), in which he starred and produced, was shot with synch sound – rare in Indian cinema. His directorial debut – the award-winning Taare Zameen Par (2007) explored the subject of dyslexia.

Photo caption: Indian film star Aamir Khan, who will be attending Belfast Film Festival in April.

Satyamev Jayate, the TV show that he created and presents, was seen in 165 countries by a billion people. The TV series addressed subjects like honour killings, domestic violence, political corruption.  Known for his far-reaching humanitarian work, he brings attention to critical world problems affecting children, the environment, human rights, poverty, slavery, people trafficking and many other issues.

With each of his successive films, Khan has attracted legions of additional fans and simultaneously shattered previous box-office records. His pictures are not just commercially popular but are also critically successful.

 His 2016 sports biopic ‘Dangal’, showing as part of the festival, is the highest grossing film, in Indian cinema, of all-time.

From playing a wrestler (Dangal), to a man faced with the horrors of partition (Earth), Aamir Khan is nothing if not versatile. He brings an authenticity to the screen which has made him one of the leading actors of his generation.

 During the 19th Belfast Film Festival, Aamir Khan will participate in an ‘In Conversation’ event in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. This event on Tuesday 16th April will celebrate Khan’s body of film work and pay tribute to his humanitarian activities.

 The evening will be hosted by Nasreen Munni Kabir, author of 17 books on Hindi cinema. Nasreen has made over 80 TV programmes on Indian film for Channel 4 and continues to curate C4’s annual Indian film season. 

 Mark Cousins, Chair of the Belfast Film Festival said of Khan’s visit:

"Many of us fell in love with film because of big-hearted movies like ‘It's a Wonderful Life’ and Tom Hanks' ‘Big’.  That's the sort of film that Aamir Khan makes.  His epic entertainments have the spirit of Frank Capra movies; he draws on the best of Hindi film.  He uses his stardom as boldly as Jane Fonda.  We are honoured that he will come to the Belfast Film Festival.  If you haven't seen Aamir Khan’s films, treat yourself!  A special thank you to Nasreen Munni Kabir, one of the most admired people in Indian film." 

 Michele Devlin, Director of the Belfast Film Festival said:

“The Belfast Film Festival’s tribute to Aamir Khan is the start of a bold new five-year exploration of cultural diversity in film, which will include Chinese, Polish and many other cultures. As part of this work we are delighted to announce a new collaboration with the New York Indian Film Festival.

Indian cinema – its stardom, storytelling, history, themes and popularity is a great starting point for this project, and hosting the wonderful Aamir Khan is a perfect beginning.”     

 Speaking ahead of the festival, Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland said:

“Belfast Film Festival brings the very best in world cinema to Northern Ireland and acts an important platform for local writers, filmmakers, and the arts community.British Council Northern Ireland is working with local partners to further develop links with India in film and the wider arts, so we are honoured to support a programme which brings one of the most popular and influential actors and directors of Indian cinema to Northern Ireland.”

 Nisha Tandon OBE, Founder and Director of ArtsEkta, the city’s leading ethnic arts group and proud promoters of Indian arts and culture commented:

“What a prestigious moment for us to welcome renowned director and actor Aamir Khan to our city. Our community has played an important role in the cultural, social and economic life of Belfast over the last four decades and feels very proud to welcome Aamir who is a pioneering figure in Indian cinema.  Our city is rich in Indian arts and tradition, we hope that Aamir will be as inspired by his visit to Belfast as we are and look forward to giving him a famous Northern Irish welcome.”

 Film fans, lovers of Indian cinema, and those who are film curious will be able to see some of Khan’s most popular films throughout the festival at the Movie House, Dublin Road (3 Idiots, Dhobi Ghat/Mumbai Diaries - directed by Khan’s wife, the filmmaker Kiran Rao - Dangal, Taare Zameen Par).

 Tickets can be purchased at: www.belfastfilmfestival.org  from Thursday 28th February at 10am.

With over 100 events including over 40 premieres, the full programme will launch on Wednesday 13th March.

Local government is ready and willing

Northern Ireland’s political and public services landscape is vastly different to other parts of the UK and Ireland. Of the £21 billion it costs to “run” Northern Ireland each year, less than £1 billion of that (just over 4%) rests with the 11 councils. Elsewhere, it’s about 24%.

NILGA asserts that a review is required, challenging public perceptions and government thinking to transform what we do, not just administer and carry on as we are. During the last two years of political limbo, councils have been the only fully functioning level of government and have continually stepped up to the plate, delivering vital public services, employment and investment and can do much more, including being a supply chain region for Heathrow Airport.

Local government contributes massively to developing and sustaining thousands of new jobs across Northern Ireland, creating taxes needed to sustain the public purse, including roads, education and health.

Derek McCallan is the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association

Sustainable development has a transformative effect on people and places. Councils are increasingly at the forefront of enterprise in Northern Ireland and it is councils who are best positioned to understand current need and future requirements in their areas. Places such as Cornwall have been offered billions of pounds for city, devolution and growth funding through their local councils and this should be happening here.

Some people may say that councils aren’t fit for such things, but they are dynamic hubs and have the ability to be innovative and accountable. Local government is ready and willing, but the resources must be provided to match expectations.

We should not enter another council term without planning to change. Let’s change the record. Let’s negotiate, with robust evidence, a better way to be public servants, from the bottom up, with sustainable community wealth and health being the outcomes. Let’s place greater focus on the layer of government that provides solutions – local authorities.

This article first appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on 12 February 2019.

May elections - give councils the power to change Northern Ireland

Councils with more resources and powers can bring a stronger economy and greater local democracy to NI

The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has called for Government to wake up to the facts that local people and local councils possess the entrepreneurial ability and solutions we need to address our economic, social and legislative deficits.

NILGA seeks three immediate and linked actions after the May 2019 elections.

• Firstly, that the role of councils is formally reviewed and strengthened, giving greater decision taking powers to local people and places.

• Secondly, that in keeping with the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Westminster report on devolution here, at the end of 2018, an independent panel is set up to take forward how devolution is progressed and funded below Stormont, to councils and communities.

• Thirdly, that a Brexit Support Fund, offered to all councils in England, Scotland and Wales, to the tune of over £60 million to date, is provided to all 11 councils here.

Last week a cross party delegation from NILGA met with John Penrose MP, Minister of State for Northern Ireland.

NILGA’s cross party, all council team has in recent days met with John Penrose MP, Minister of State in for Northern Ireland, in order to look at how councils’ additional pressures to deliver are funded, as well as forward planning how Northern Ireland’s £21 billion public purse is given local, democratic scrutiny until the Assembly returns.

Councillor Dermot Curran, President of  NILGA said:

Councillor Dermot Curran, President of NILGA

“Councils in 2019 are faced with huge expectations on their time and expenditure, in part due to the suspension of the Assembly, Brexit, transfer of responsibilities like event traffic management – costing around £900,000 this year alone to ratepayers – without being offered budgets to deliver.

“Similarly, senior management teams in councils are meeting weekly to determine how they can respond to diverse performance management demands of many Government Departments, despite calling for a Single Performance Framework where all public bodies work to national goals and standards. All 11 councils in Northern Ireland take performance management extremely seriously but seek to operate in a citizen driven performance regime, aligned to Scotland and Wales.

“During the continued political impasse, councils are delivering more with less, taking on major infrastructure work as well as substantial, community led, preventative health work. Coupled with the burden of meeting arbitrary targets, councils, the smallest part of the public sector, are being asked to take on more responsibility as the only functioning level of government in Northern Ireland, without the offer of additional resources required.”

 With support from elected members and Chief Executives across the councils in Northern Ireland, who are deeply concerned about their ability to deliver against these often outmoded targets, sparse funding and unrealistic expectations and with a new four year electoral term commencing in just ten weeks’ time, NILGA is calling for:

• An immediate review of this and other legislative matters, including implementing a new Code of Conduct;

• A more effective and equitable rating system and;

• Clear guidance on standing orders of councils.

Derek McCallan, Chief Executive of NILGA commented:

“For well over two years, the 11 councils here have been the only fully functioning democratically elected government in Northern Ireland. Despite not being granted any additional powers or proper resources, in that period, they are under increasing pressure to deliver more.

Derek McCallan, Chief Executive of NILGA

“Due to the current situation, members and Chief Executives across the 11 councils are becoming increasingly concerned about their ability to deliver on these targets, with the threat of tick box bureaucracy in the background. Enough is enough.

“This is why NILGA is calling for devolved political scrutiny of how we as councils are funded, what the deficits are, and enabling a piece of legislation to get us on a proper democratic and value for money footing. These aren’t political or ideological matters, so we can get them sorted. Local government elections take place in a matter of weeks and councils should not have to enter a new mandate over-burdened and under-resourced, trying diligently to deliver on many more expectations from a deserving public.

“This is a reality check and a plea for normality. When our counterparts in England, Wales and Scotland are allocated over £60 million in Brexit support, and we are offered an empty purse and a wish list, it’s time to wise up and give councils and communities the tools and the autonomy to get on with it.

“Local government is a resilient, democratic anchor in Northern Ireland, but cannot be expected to bare burdens which are sent to us without cash and in a manner which is neither efficient nor necessary. Let’s use these elections to give choice, voice and control to communities, through councils.”

Combat stigma around HIV to encourage good sexual health, says HIV charity chief

Combatting the stigma around HIV is vital to promoting good sexual health in Northern Ireland, the head of a leading charity has said.

Marking the beginning of sexual health week in Northern Ireland (Monday 11 to Sunday 17 February), Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive of Positive Life NI, said that negative attitudes towards HIV, and those living with it, was discouraging people from talking about how to look after their sexual health and getting tested if they were at risk.

There are over 1000 people living with HIV in Northern Ireland but the charity estimates that there are also 200+ people are living unaware they are HIV positive here. One of the primary reasons many of these people do not come forward for testing or have sat on reactive tests at home, is because of the prejudice, negative attitudes and abuse experienced by those living with HIV in Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive of Positive Life NI, Jacquie Richardson.

The charity is also concerned that many long-standing, pervasive misconceptions around HIV, means that people are putting themselves at risk without being aware of it.

Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive of Positive Life NI said:

“If we’re going to encourage people to get tested, if we want to encourage people to take ownership and control of their sexual health, then we really need to combat the stigma that surrounds sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV.”

 “We are aware that many people have shunned getting tested for HIV due to the stigma that surrounds even going to the likes of the GUM clinic to get checked. We have to be more open and accepting of our own sexual health and the sexual health of those around us, otherwise we are creating a situation where hundreds of people are unaware that they are living with HIV, and not accessing services.”

 “I deal with people every day who are living with HIV and it’s important for people to understand it’s no longer the death sentence it once was in the 1980’s. It’s a lifelong condition but a perfectly manageable one.”

“It’s also important that we widen sex education to challenge a lot of myths around sexual health. What we see now is people coming out of long-term relationships in their 40’s and 50’s with very little in terms of sex education who don’t have the knowledge they need to take ownership of their sexual health.”

 “In Northern Ireland we really struggle to talk openly about sex and sexual health. There is a culture of embarrassment and shame about it and it’s something we have to combat. Burying our heads in the sand simply doesn’t work.”

“Sexual health week is an important opportunity for us to have these open and honest conversations. It’s time to stop letting embarrassment and stigma prevent us from taking care of our own sexual health.”

Belfast Film Festival announces new all-Ireland documentary film festival

Belfast Film Festival has announced a brand new annual festival, ‘Doc Fest Ireland’ which will take place in Belfast from Wednesday 12th June – Sunday 16th June this year.

 Doc Fest Ireland will showcase only documentary films, presenting new Irish and international feature length and short documentaries.

 The festival will provide a platform to showcase the Irish documentary filmmaking industry, promoting a dynamic programme of events that are both entertaining and provocative.

The last five years have seen a surge in highly acclaimed feature-length documentaries from the island of Ireland, with many securing theatrical releases.

 Hard-hitting post-conflict legacy films such as Sinead O’Shea’s A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot, and Belfast-based Sean Murray’s Unquiet Graves are making waves in the industry.

 Belfast based Fine Point Films filmography includes Emmy-nominated Elián, Alex Gibney’s No Stone Unturned and Bobby Sands: 66 Days, which is currently streaming on Netflix.

 The success of Belfast Film Festival’s sold-out pilot Irish Documentary Festival in 2018 (Pull Focus) highlights the strong interest in documentary film and the need for film festivals on the island of Ireland that focus on this type of film.

 Doc Fest Ireland will also host a series of industry events, master classes, pitching sessions and information sessions for new and emerging filmmakers including the BFI/Doc Society New and Emerging Talent Day.

 The festival is now seeking submissions for Doc Market, an opportunity for filmmakers to meet with industry professionals including international funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors from across the UK, ROI, US and EU. Companies such as Irish Channel TG4 and flagship BBC documentary strand Storyville will be in attendance.

Chair of Belfast Film Festival Mark Cousins, and Director Michele Devlin launch Doc Fest Ireland, an exciting new documentary film festival.

 Doc Market will be a hub for funding, sales and distribution of Irish and international documentaries and a place where local talent can continue to thrive. Find out more about Doc Market here: https://belfastfilmfestival.org/doc-fest-ireland/doc-market  

The festival will present awards for:

• Best International Documentary

• Best Irish Feature Documentary (The Pull Focus Award)

• Best Irish Short Documentary

• Best Observational Documentary (Maysles Brothers Award)

• Outstanding Contribution to Documentary Film Award.

 More information and application guidelines can be found here: https://filmfreeway.com/DocFestIreland

Chair of Doc Fest Ireland and internationally renowned documentary filmmaker Mark Cousins, said:

 “Belfast is one of the most interesting cities in the world. It’s a city in transition and undergoing rapid social change. It is a fascinating place to take the temperature of the UK and Ireland. Add in the fact that the team behind Doc Fest Ireland is passionate and experienced, and that Ireland has a great tradition of documentary film, and it’s hard to think of a better place to launch a dynamic new documentary festival”.

 Doc Fest Ireland’s principal funder is Northern Ireland Screen with additional funding from Belfast City Council, BFI, Tourism Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Queen’s University, Community Relations Council, British Council and Department for Communities.  

Leading brain injury charity appoints new Chief Executive

Joe McVey has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Brain Injury Matters, the leading brain injury charity in Northern Ireland.

Joe has worked extensively in regeneration and development, as well as in local government and the public and voluntary sectors. He has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, governance and organisational development.

New Chief Executive of Brain Injury Matters, Joe McVey.

In 2010 Joe was awarded an OBE for services to the voluntary sector and in 2015 he was appointed to serve as a Commissioner with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Brain Injury Matters supports children, adults and families affected by acquired brain injury and works closely with them to enhance and rebuild their lives.

In 2018 alone, Brain Injury Matters reached over 400 individuals and family members affected by brain injury in Northern Ireland. They provide rehabilitation services to ensure that both individuals and their families are supported and empowered.

Their services are delivered by a combination of professional clinicians and staff with knowledge of acquired brain injury and include community-based programmes across Northern Ireland, involving one to one and group interventions as well as family centred-support.

Gordon Gough, Chair of Brain Injury Matters said:

“We are thrilled to have appointed Joe to lead the team at Brain Injury Matters. Joe brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise and has an excellent standing in both the private and voluntary sectors.”

“Joe has an impressive track record and we know that he has the vision and determination to help Brain Injury Matters grow and place the needs of those impacted by acquired brain injury at the centre of everything he does.”

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to express my gratitude to Fiona McCabe, who was the Chief Executive of Brian Injury Matters for eight years. Her dedication and contribution to Brain Injury Matters during that time was next to none and she worked to ensure that no-one affected by acquired brain injury in Northern Ireland was left behind.”

New Chief Executive at Brain Injury Matters, Joe McVey said:

“It is an honour to be appointed as the new Chief Executive of Brain Injury Matters.”

“An acquired brain injury is often an invisible disability, but one which impacts upon every aspect of a person’s life. This is why early intervention and access to rehabilitation is crucial.”

“As Chief Executive of Brain Injury Matters, I am determined to ensure that every person living with an acquired brain injury in Northern Ireland is supported to rebuild their lives as soon as possible following their injury and is given the help and support that they require.”

“I am looking forward to working with the exemplary team at Brain Injury Matters as we seek to raise awareness and bring the issue of acquired brain injury into sharper focus as well as providing first-class services and support to all users.”

“I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Fiona McCabe. During her time as Chief Executive, Fiona worked tirelessly to ensure that service users were helped, supported and inspired during their journey with an acquired brain injury.”