North West Energy Conference explores how drive to net-zero can benefit local businesses

(L – R) Leo Strawbridge, Derry City and Strabane District Council; Thomas Byrne, Director of Energy Strategy at the Department for the Economy; David McGowan, SONI; Paul Clancy, Chief Executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce; Sinead Hawkins, North West Regional College; Jennifer McKeever, Airporter; Brett Ross, RiverRidge

North West businesses have gathered today to discuss how companies can play their part in fighting the climate crisis while also building a new, greener economy. The North West Energy Conference, which took place today in the City Hotel Derry, amid the ongoing COP26 Climate Summit negotiations, has considered how the move towards a new, greener economy can benefit local companies and leverage new skills and sectors.

Led by the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, the event focused on the emerging issues contained in Northern Ireland’s new Energy Strategy, which is currently being drafted by the Department for the Economy and expected to be published in the coming weeks. Thomas Byrne, Director of Energy Strategy at the Department, delivered a keynote speech centered on the opportunities that a more sustainable, environment-conscious economy can bring to the regional economy.

The Energy Conference was sponsored by Anderson McQue and was attended by business leaders from across the region. Hosted by Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive, Paul Clancy, it featured key industry voices from SONI, Derry City & Strabane District Council, North West Regional College, Airporter, and RiverRidge, who spoke of their continued work to make the North West a leader in climate action.

Paul Clancy, Chief Executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, said:

“With climate change in the headlines and the UN’s COP26 Climate Summit still ongoing, our North West Annual Energy Conference has never been more important or timely. Today’s event gathered leading policymakers and North West business leaders for an engaging discussion on what Northern Ireland’s new energy policies mean for employers and workers here.”

“We were thrilled to be joined by Thomas Byrne, Director of Energy Strategy at the Department for Economy, who detailed the Executive’s new Strategy in the first public event following its publication. Thomas, alongside market leaders in the energy sector from SONI and RiverRidge, explained how the transition to net-zero can benefit businesses, and the opportunities and pitfalls that come with it.”

“Climate change will impact us all, and going forward, we can utilize new technologies, grow new sectors, and ultimately build a new, greener economy. While there are challenges for the economy and businesses caused by the impact of climate change, there are ultimately also opportunities to innovate and develop new technologies which can create jobs and leverage new and emerging skills.

Paul McQue, Managing Director of Anderson McQue, added:

“Anderson McQue was delighted to support today’s North West Energy Conference in partnership with the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. As a renewable energy recruitment consultancy, we see day in, day out the innovation, the opportunities, and the fantastic work going on within the green economy. This is an emerging industry but one which is ever more urgent due to the climate emergency we face. Events like these are vital for sharing best practice and expertise in how businesses can play their role in fighting climate change.”

Doineann receives Gala Premiere at the Belfast Film Festival

(L-R): Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Clare Monnelly, Damian McCann, Bríd Brennan and Peter Coonan

A thrilling new Irish language feature film received its UK Premiere at the 21st Belfast Film Festival on Thursday evening.

‘Doineann’ the Irish for ‘stormy weather’, stars Belfast-born actress Bríd Brennan and ‘Love/Hate’ actor Peter Coonan. The cast, along with director Damian McCann and writer Aislinn Clarke attended the Gala Premiere.

The tense thriller tells the story of the disappearance of a woman and her baby son on a remote island. The husband enlists the assistance of retired policewoman Brennan to help find his family before the storm hits the island.

Doineann was created by the multi-award-winning film production company DoubleBand Films, with the support of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, BBC Gaeilge and TG4. 

Actress Bríd Brennan was also honoured on Wednesday evening as Belfast Film Festival presented her with the Reálta Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema. 

Producer of Doineann and Managing Director of DoubleBand, Dermot Lavery said: 

“It is thrilling to be able to finally bring Doineann to the big screen. This has been a long time in the making and like many other recent productions, made during the pandemic with the additional challenges that brought with it. I would like to pay tribute to the Doineann team – both cast and crew - who went above and beyond in the making of this film.

“I also hope that it opens people’s eyes to the huge potential for modern Irish language feature films that will appeal to new and diverse audiences.”

Managing Directors of Doubleband Films, Michael Hewitt and Dermot Lavery with actress Bríd Brennan.

Director of Belfast Film Festival, Michele Devlin said:

“We were so delighted to host the Gala Premiere of DoubleBand Film’s debut Irish language feature film. It’s another exciting stage for Irish language film-making as we witness new voices like Aislinn Clarke’s, bring new writings and genres through the medium. 

“I have been a huge fan of Bríd Brennan’s work since I watched her captivating performance in Anne Devlin many years ago, and she has continued to enthral audiences throughout her career since. What a thrilling moment when Stephen Rea joined us last night to present Bríd with the Reálta Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Film. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Doineann will go on theatrical release in the new year.

Running from 4-13 November, Belfast Film Festival is proudly sponsored by Birra Moretti, Hastings Hotels and supported by Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, Department for Communities, Tourism NI, Film Hub NI. 

Film screenings and events will take place both online and in cinemas and venues across Belfast including Odeon Cinema, Queen’s Film Theatre, The Strand Cinema and Common Market. 

Civic Society warns Government not to undermine North-South cooperation

Dr Anthony Soares, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies and Convenor of the Ad-Hoc Group for North-South and East-West Cooperation

Evidence submitted by the Ad-Hoc Group for North-South and East-West Cooperation to the House of Lords Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland has warned the British Government not to undermine protections afforded to North-South Cooperation under Article 11.

To maintain East-West Cooperation the group calls for the UK Government to explore channels through the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement such as the UK Domestic Advisory Group and EU-UK Civil Society Forum.

Article 11 of the Protocol ensures the maintenance of North-South cooperation in areas such as health, agriculture, transport, education, and tourism, as well as in the areas of energy, telecommunications, broadcasting, inland fisheries, higher education, and sport.

With the underlying threat of the UK Government triggering Article 16 the group also calls for robust discussions to occur to find mutually acceptable solutions.

Today’s submission is part of the House of Lords European Affairs Sub-Committee on the Protocol introductory enquiry into its operation.

The written testimony submitted today has undergone through engagement and consultation with community organisations North and South. It is a community led response to the feelings and aspirations of those involved in cooperation within and across these islands towards the Protocol.

The evidence follows a report published by the Centre for Cross Border Studies last month that found North-South political cooperation has deteriorated. While trust in the Government and local politicians to deal with the problems we face is severely lacking.

Dr Anthony Soares, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies and the Convenor of the Ad-Hoc Group for North-South and East-West Cooperation said:

“More robust arrangements must be put in place to ensure civic society organisations have a place at the table to bring forward solutions and represent communities.”

“This must include civic society organisations from the Republic of Ireland. Not including them in discussions around North-South cooperation would be a serious shortcoming.”

“The protections afforded to North-South cooperation under the Protocol must be protected. While we do acknowledge the Protocol does have some problems, East-West Cooperation must be maintained through avenues agreed under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”

Commenting on reports that the UK Government will trigger Article 16 after COP26, Dr Anthony Soares added:

“The need for the UK Government and the European Union to continue discussions on areas of disagreement cannot be further stressed.”

“Any renege on existing commitments under the Protocol in the absence of agreed solutions will further undermine confidence and trust relating to other commitments set out in other important agreements such as the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and the 2020 New Decade, New Approach Agreement.”

“If an agreement is not reached the serious implications for relations within Northern Ireland, and for relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, between the island of Ireland and Great Britain, and between the UK and the EU cannot be underestimated.”

Derry and North West prime location for investment and opportunities, business leaders told

Londonderry Chamber President Dawn McLaughlin and Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA.

Business leaders from across Northern Ireland gathered today as the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce showcased the North West’s potential for investment, innovation, and economic growth.

Held in the Merchant Hotel, the event highlighted the North West’s leading strengths and clearly presented why the region is a great place to live, work and do business. Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons MLA spoke at the event which presented the opportunities that exist in the North West and the plans to create jobs, economic growth, and prosperity in the region.

Hosted by broadcaster Mark Carruthers, the event featured entertainment from renowned singer-songwriter Phil Coulter. Sponsored by Allstate NI and FinTrU, attendees also heard from Derry-based company Elemental and Derry City and Strabane District Council on the benefits and advantages of doing business in the North West.

‘Succeed North West’ was led by the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland, North West Regional College, Ulster University, Western Health and Social Care Trust, and Derry City and Strabane District Council. Key strategic partners involved then plan to take the event on the road across the UK and Ireland and beyond to promote the North West as a leading location on the island of Ireland for business and entrepreneurship.

(L-R) John Healy, Allstate NI; Des Gartland, Invest Northern Ireland; Dawn McLaughlin, Londonderry Chamber; Darragh McCarthy, FinTrU; and Paul Clancy, Londonderry Chamber.

Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons MLA, said:

“The North West is renowned for its strengths in a number of different industries including advanced manufacturing and engineering; business, finance, and professional services; digital and creative technologies; health and life sciences; and food and drink.

“Add to this, the Derry and Strabane City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund which will see £250m of capital investment in the region. It includes initiatives that will deliver super-charged research centres, enhanced digital infrastructure, and the potential for more, higher paid jobs.

“There is a shared ambition to grow the standing of the North West as a great place to live, work and do business. I am confident that by sharing our knowledge, expertise, and success, we have a better chance of achieving this ambition. With the existing close partnership between the Council, my Department, Invest NI, the Chamber, academia, and business working together to deliver on this, the opportunities for the North West are far-reaching.”

Paul Clancy, Chief Executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, added:

“This is a very exciting and positive time for the North West. In recent years, our region has established itself as a leading destination for both foreign and direct investment. While the pandemic has naturally set us back, the outlook as we emerge from Covid is one which is largely optimistic. Businesses big and small are attracted by our world-class talent pool, renowned industry clusters including tech and health and life sciences, strong connectivity, physical and digital infrastructure, and quality of life, with this offering only set to grow as the Derry and Strabane City Deal begins to roll out.

“Succeed North West gathered business, political and civic society leaders from across Northern Ireland and has showcased why the North West City Region is a leading place to live, work and do business. We were very pleased to be joined by the Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons MLA, Kevin Holland, Chief Executive of Invest NI, and other key strategic partners from the North West who are all working hard to develop our region to the fullest of its potential and can attest to our unique advantages for business owners and entrepreneurs.

“We are on the cusp of something great in the North West, something which can benefit businesses, workers and families across the region. Looking forward, I would encourage any growing business to consider investing in our region, and to join the thriving, supportive, and prosperous business community that we have built here.”

Lets create a green carbon neutral Belfast

As originally appeared in the Irish News, 3 November

Professor Ian Montgomery, Director of Sustainability at Ulster University

As a university, the need to transition to a green economy and society has become ever more apparent to us. As wildfires, flooding and other extreme weather conditions continue to make the national and international news, we are regularly reminded of the vulnerability of our planet and the need to support the fine balance of our competing ecosystems. That is why we need to work to make Belfast a greener city.

At Ulster, our research is focused on achieving a better and more sustainable future for all by challenging poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. Universities have a major role to play in driving research, education and innovation as well as stimulating action within communities and so, within our diverse research community, we are linking to sustainable development goals. 

A key example of this is our Centre for Sustainable Technologies that undertakes research to design, create, develop, improve, demonstrate, and evaluate emerging, existing and alternative sustainable renewable energy, building design, construction materials, transport and environmental modification technologies.

COP26 is the single most important international summit of our generation. World leaders must match the rhetoric with firm action to ensure the next generation has a planet to be proud of. Ulster University has joined forces with Belfast City Council in a unique research partnership (Architects of Change) to make an impact on the climate change emergency, and are also supporting the challenge through our participation in the upcoming Belfast International Homecoming Conference.

This year, the well-known event is turning green to focus on the climate emergency and the shift to a more sustainable economy, including the creation of green collar jobs in clean energy, electric vessels, and hydrogen fuel. In our commitment to that future pipeline of talent for emerging careers we are actively embedding education for sustainable development into the curriculum as a programme design priority - supporting the next generation who will be most affected by the global climate crisis to have the skills needed to seek out solutions with confidence and conviction.

Belfast International Homecoming – The Green Edition - allows our city to harness the skills and creativity of our diaspora, bringing them together in a hybrid format to engage around this global crisis in a safe manner as we start to move away from the pandemic.

At our enhanced Belfast campus here in the city centre, as well as working closely with external partners on comprehensive sustainable travel options, our approach to sustainability in this new academic home extends from biodiversity green rooftops to tree planting; from renewable technologies to state-of-the-art energy efficient ventilation - all part of our commitment to delivering a healthy building for staff, students and visitors. 

Belfast’s place in the world as a leader on social justice and climate issues cannot be denied as significant speakers such as Pekka Timonen, Mayor of the EU’s 2021 Green Capital Lahti, Finland, make their first visit to the city.

The resilience, perseverance, and forward-thinking nature of our people over the past 18 months must be channeled into our response to the climate emergency. We must ensure we leave the next generation a planet that is habitable with diverse wildlife and ecosystems. Conversations with our diaspora and leaders in education, research, community and business will allow us to strengthen our work of creating a green carbon neutral Belfast.

Finance Minister meets with North West businesses to discuss Budget 2022-2025

Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA with Paul Clancy, Chief Executive & Dawn McLaughlin, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

The Londonderry Chamber of Commerce today hosted a Budget engagement session for North West businesses with Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA.

The event, held in the City Hotel Derry, was the first opportunity for businesses to pore over the details of the latest Budget and Spending Review and discuss what they mean for public finances and the wider economy in Northern Ireland.

As the Executive prepares to move to a multi-year Budget 2022-2025 settlement, the session was useful in bringing businesses together directly with the minister and the Department of Finance team to address concerns or issues shared by companies.

The engagement brought together business leaders in the North West with officials from the Department of Finance who are consulting with a wide range of businesses, industry groups and sector leaders right across Northern Ireland.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA addressed businesses at the event saying:

“I welcome the opportunity to engage with businesses in the North West today and to hear first-hand their views on the budget.

“The reality is that the Spending Review has not delivered the necessary finances to do all that we need to do. There are significant pressures on public services. Our health service is under immense pressure with waiting lists at an unprecedented level. Businesses are facing skill shortages and increased costs. While we are facing a cost of living crisis with rising food and energy costs, the increase in National Insurance and the cut by Westminster to Universal Credit.

“The Executive’s priorities include; health, sustainable economic development, green growth and sustainability, and tackling inequalities. It will be challenging to deliver on all of these priorities given the limited funding available to us.

“Despite the significant pressures facing us, I am determined to work collectively with Ministerial colleagues to produce a multi-year budget that delivers for citizens and businesses here. I look forward to continuing to engage with businesses in the time ahead as we work towards a Draft Budget.”

During the meeting, the Chief Executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce made representations on behalf of the business community across the North West and said that ongoing consultation with business groups will be crucial as the Department of Finance prepares its draft budget before the end of the year.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA with Paul Clancy, Chief Executive & Dawn McLaughlin, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy added:

“We were pleased to be able to bring together business leaders in the North West, Finance Minister Murphy, and departmental officials to discuss the budget process. This was an excellent opportunity for our members and businesses across the North West to engage directly with the Minister and make their voices and their concerns heard.

“Last week’s Budget announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP made some positive steps for Northern Ireland including a planned reduction in air passenger duty, a rationalisation of alcohol taxes, and further allocation of funding through the Barnett formula. The Chancellor also made significant moves on business rates, which local businesses are keen to see replicated in Northern Ireland, and we hope that the Executive continues to work closely with businesses to support them as we emerge from the pandemic.

“I again want to thank the Minister and the Department of Finance for taking this opportunity to engage with businesses in the North West and we look forward to working with the department as they bring forward a draft budget before the end of the year.”

UK Budget delivers small wins for NI business, but inevitable tax rises loom - by Angela Keery, Tax Director at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

As originally appeared in The Irish News, 2 November

Tax Director at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Angela Keery

When the Chancellor confirmed a hike in Corporation Tax rates in an announcement aimed at beginning to balance the books in the spring, many thought it may be the most significant fiscal moment of the year.

Since then, however, we have seen several major announcements including a climb in National Insurance Contributions and the Dividend tax rate to fund an uplift for health and social care services and the suspension of the triple lock on pensions, to name a few. It was to that backdrop, and with rising inflation and unprecedented public debt on his desk, that the Chancellor delivered an Autumn Budget and Spending Review last week, the first such multi-year breakdown of capital spending settlements since 2015.

As advisors, we know the pace of change can be overwhelming for businesses as they work through the real-term impacts on their profitability and capacity to invest and grow their business. A number of key announcements were made, however, that will have implications on their finances.

As anticipated, the Chancellor did confirm a long-awaited review of business rates, including a 50% cut for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Despite the headline of a £7bn rates slash, however, Northern Ireland companies remain in the dark about whether this reduction will be extended by our own Executive.

More promising for local firms is the extension of annual investment allowances, which will remain at their current level of £1 million. Previously anticipated to end in December of this year, the Chancellor confirmed the measure, which allows companies to deduct qualifying capital allowances from their profits before tax, will remain in place until March 2023 to encourage further investment.

Underpinning all of this is a potential significant tax liability following the reforms to basis period rules, which define the accounting period for which businesses pay tax in each year. Sole Trader and Partnerships know, that when the income tax periods transition to new rules in April 2024, many of them will be on the countdown to a hefty tax bill in January 2025.  Add to this the uplift in the National Living Wage and you have a looming sense of rising costs hanging over already stretched employers.

Despite these concerns, however, official forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility suggest that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The scar of the pandemic on GDP is now estimated at two percent, a full percentage point lower than anticipated, arming the Chancellor with more spending power than anticipated. For Northern Ireland, this translated into £15 billion a year for the Executive, a commitment that the Treasury states is a 2.2 percent rise and which will include a £1.6 billion boost for public services.

For companies, avenues of opportunity do exist within a number of policies announced by Rishi Sunak last week. Reduction in Air Passenger Duty from 2023 will aid greater regional connectivity for firms hoping to do more business across the UK, while simplification of alcohol duties will reduce costs for hospitality.

While they may be small wins, these measures are a welcome relief for businesses. The Chancellor delivered a balanced Budget that kept many of the anticipated tax changes at bay for now, but there is little doubt that he is delaying the inevitable.

Urgent reform needed to UK’s high street to prevent £14.5bn loss in clothing sales by 2025

Gareth Planck, Partner - Consumer and Real Estate, Eversheds Sutherland

A dramatic shift in UK consumer spending over the pandemic will leave high street apparel stores with a £14.5bn (€17bn) hole in sales by 2025 if changes are not made, according to research by Retail Economics commissioned by Eversheds Sutherland.

The research, for The Future of the European Apparel Industry report, has found that the pandemic has accelerated UK retail’s shift to an online sales ‘tipping point’ – where online sales overtake in-store sales – by three years. This will now happen in 2022 instead of a pre-pandemic prediction of 2025.

UK retailers will be the first across some of Europe’s biggest retail markets (UK, Germany, France and Netherlands) to make the majority of sales via online, with 52% of all transactions set to occur online in 2022.

The pressure is on apparel retailers to pivot their business models and adapt to this new reality. If retailers are to be successful in capturing consumer attentions and driving growth online, the purpose of stores will need to evolve.

As lockdowns came into force across Europe store visits plummeted. However, the research found that more than a third of consumers in the UK (35%) will not return to stores with the same frequency as they did before Covid-19.

In the UK, the report estimates that the shift to online will result in apparel store-based sales losing an average of £3bn (€3.5bn) a year compared to pre-pandemic projections.

Gareth Planck, Partner – Consumer and real estate, Eversheds Sutherland, Belfast says:

“The Northern Ireland Executive last week launched a call for evidence on how to improve, adapt and futureproof our high streets as part of the work being taken forward by its High Street Task Force. While retail is only one part of what makes a thriving urban centre or high street, it is a large and significant part. Changes to consumer habits and online shopping in particular present serious challenges to traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ stores. This report starkly outlines these challenges and what retailers must do to keep up.

“Over the pandemic we saw the switch to consumers buying online accelerate. As lockdowns lasted for longer, and companies invested in the digital and logistics infrastructure to service demand, buying online stopped becoming forced and started becoming many people’s preferred method. Now that consumers can return to the high street, we can see that buying online has become a habit.

“This change of habit means the way we think about high street retail has to evolve. The industry needs a transformation in planning, policy and skills to avoid billions of pounds of sales and thousands of jobs being lost across the UK and locally in Northern Ireland. Retailers will have to alter the way they use commercial real estate and the customer experiences they deliver. They have to bring people back to the high street, and not just from across the UK, but from across the globe.”

Richard Lim, Chief Executive Retail Economics, says:

“The pandemic-induced shift to online and subsequent impact on store-based sales has magnified the urgency for retailers to adapt. Physical stores must be reimagined and repurposed to meet the needs of an increasingly digital-centric customer journey, becoming a powerful driver of online sales rather than competing against them.”

Public encouraged to ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ about services during awareness week

(L-R): Vincent Harkin, Harkin’s Pharmacy, Maghera and Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI.

Community pharmacists from across Northern Ireland are encouraging the public to ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ as part of an awareness raising week on the value and importance of our local community pharmacies.

 The week, an initiative led by the National Pharmacy Association, is an opportunity to highlight the full range of services available through community pharmacy this winter, including Covid-19 vaccination, booster jabs and the winter flu vaccination programme.

 Amid increasing pressures being felt across primary care, Community Pharmacy NI is reminding the public that community pharmacies, whilst not immune to their own pressures, are an essential community health asset and can take some of the strain off other parts of the health service.

 Community Pharmacy NI has recently elected west Belfast pharmacist Peter Rice as its new Chair for the next two years.

 Newly elected Chair of Community Pharmacy NI, Peter Rice said:

 “Coming into the role of Chair at such a crucial time for the health service, I am pleased to be able to showcase the full range of services community pharmacy is able to provide to patients. Recent months have seen the sector pivot to become the leading facilitator of Covid-19 vaccinations in Northern Ireland. We recently surpassed the 153,000-vaccine doses milestone and are providing booster jabs as part of the next vaccination phase.”

 Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

 “At a pivotal time for our health service, ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’ is a really timely opportunity for us to highlight  the role community pharmacy is playing to reduce the bottlenecks we are seeing across primary care. We know that this winter will be difficult and access to many care providers is likely to worsen. Community pharmacy fully recognises these pressures and will work hard over the weeks and months to support our patients.

“This Ask Your Pharmacist Week we would like to remind our patients that our community pharmacy teams are there to help.”

Vincent Harkin from Harkin’ Pharmacy in Maghera said:

“All year round our community pharmacists have worked hard to support patients and provide help. As we move ahead into the autumn and winter, I would encourage the public to get behind the message of this year’s campaign: ‘Your local pharmacy can help’, especially with pharmacy providing a whole range of services, running alongside dispensing. We expect there to be additional flu and Covid-19 pressures in the time ahead, so it is really encouraging that the continuity of care is there, and community pharmacy will support patients throughout.”

Belfast International Homecoming to celebrate those who have made the city their home

(L - R) Gabi Burnside, Ulster Bank; Debbie Caldwell, Belfast City Council; Duncan Morrow, Ulster University; Jenni Barkley, Belfast Harbour; and Jonathan Martindale, Phoenix Natural Gas

Thirteen exceptional individuals who have made a substantial contribution to Belfast or who have made the city their home will be recognised at this year’s Belfast International Homecoming conference.

The event, which connects Belfast with diaspora around the world, will acknowledge the work of thirteen individuals including Second Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office Sue Gray, Belfast City Council Climate Commissioner Debbie Caldwell, and Founder of the Join Her women’s network Lori Gatsi-Barnett.

The recipients will be installed as Belfast Ambassadors during a gala dinner at Belfast City Hall which will hear from Pekka Timonen, Mayor of Lahti, Finland, the EU Green capital for 2021.

Back for its seventh annual event on Thursday 4 November, Belfast International Homecoming will this year focus on the climate emergency and the need for a green economy as the COP26 Conference takes place in Glasgow.

The thirteen nominees to be installed as Belfast Ambassadors are:

• Sue Gray, Second Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office

• Debbie Caldwell, Belfast City Council Climate Commissioner

• Lori Gatsi-Barnett, Founder of the Join Her Network

• Anurag Deb, Paralegal at KRW Law

• Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow City Council

• Conal Harvey, Chair of Titanic Belfast

• Conor Fegan, Barrister at Francis Taylor Building Chambers

• Keith Farley, Managing Director and Vice President of Aflac NI

• Nell Watson, Tech Ethicist at Researcher and Reformer

• Patricia Canning, Assistant Professor of Forensic Linguistics, Stylistics and Rhetoric at Utrecht University

• Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

• Terry Stevens, Founder and Managing Director of Stevens and Associates Swansea

• Hugh Haughian, Senior Director of Customer Growth, MRP, Philadelphia.

Duncan Morrow, Director of Community Engagement at Ulster University said:

“Each of these recipients have made an outstanding contribution to our society and are thoroughly deserving of the Belfast Ambassadors title. Through principled dedication to making their own lives better, they have made positive impacts across Belfast and the world in sectors including, law, education, tourism, and international and community relations. This should not go without recognition.”

“We look forward to celebrating with the thirteen recipients on Thursday at Belfast International Homecoming and pushing forward the agenda of Belfast’s response to climate change through the hard work and determination of its people, both those from here and those who have chosen Belfast as their home.”