Career pathways to be showcased to parents and pupils at employment exhibition

The Your Child: Their Future ‘Pathways to Employment’ exhibition returns on Wednesday 1 March, 5pm - 8pm at the Balmoral Hotel, Belfast

Your Child Their Future’s Sarah McKeag (centre) with daughter Harley, aged 12 (left) and son Rafferty, aged 15 (right).

Parents and pupils from across Northern Ireland are invited to learn about the career opportunities of today and of the future as the Your Child: Their Future exhibition returns to Belfast.

Taking place at the Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on the evening of Wednesday 1 March, the Your Child: Their Future Pathways to Employment fair will bring local employers, training providers and educational institutions together in one room to meet with teenagers and their parents and guardians as they consider their next steps.

Created by employers Allstate NI, EY and EverQuote, the exhibition will be an informative evening aimed at educating parents on the world of work, the trajectory of local industry, and the potential career routes it presents for their children.

An informal evening that’s free for all to attend, it will provide access to over 15 exhibitors including Catalyst, PwC, Parenting NI and Bring IT On. 

Parents are encouraged to attend with or without their children to meet with employers and talk to organisations that offer apprenticeships, work experience and volunteering.

They will receive guidance on the careers that exist in today’s society, the pathways into a successful career, and the skills, qualifications and subject areas that will support their children to achieve it.

Alan Ruddock, Engineering Manager at EverQuote and Your Child Their Future organiser, said:

“We are excited to be hosting another Your Child: Their Future exhibition to showcase the pathways into employment that exist in Northern Ireland. In business, we know that young people are the future of our organisations yet as parents, it can be tricky to guide and support your child towards an enjoyable and rewarding career. Young people preparing to leave school have never had so many opportunities, however it can be difficult to make sense of the options out there.”

“Next month, we hope to help families navigate this time by inviting them along for a tea or coffee and a chat with leading employers, universities, and training programmes. This is about finding out what’s out there and we feel that bringing everyone into the one room is the best way to do so.”

For more information or to register your attendance for the Your Child: Their Future Pathways to Employment Exhibition on Wednesday 1 March, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pathways-to-employment-exhibition-your-child-their-future-tickets-525437526787

BAFTA win for Northern Ireland short film An Irish Goodbye

Northern Ireland Screen funded short film, An Irish Goodbye, written and directed by Tom Berkeley and Ross White has won the BAFTA for Best British Short Film at tonight’s BAFTA awards ceremony in London.  

An Irish Goodbye is also nominated for an Academy Award in the live action short category. The Oscars will be held on Sunday 12th March, at Ovation Hollywood.

This heart-warming short film has been captivating audiences around the world having already screened at over 60 film festivals across 6 continents. 

Filmed entirely on location in Northern Ireland and set against the backdrop of a working farm, An Irish Goodbye is a black comedy following the reunion of estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan following the untimely death of their mother. Under the watchful eye of odd-ball parish priest Father O’Shea, the brothers’ pained reunion is worsened by the fact Turlough must now make new care arrangements for Lorcan, who has Down Syndrome. A robust and dedicated farmer, Lorcan’s dream of continuing to work the land he grew up on is thwarted when Turlough decides he’s sending him to live with their aunt on the other side of Ireland. But when the brothers discover an unfulfilled bucket list belonging to their late mother, Lorcan senses an opportunity: he’ll only agree to leave the farm once he and Turlough have themselves completed every single wish on their mother’s list…all one hundred of them.

The film stars Seamus O’Hara (The Northman, Game of Thrones), James Martin (Marcella, Ups and Downs), Paddy Jenkins (Hunger) and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones, Fortitude).

Reacting to the BAFTA win, Sir David Sterling, Chairman of Northern Ireland Screen said:

“Everyone at Northern Ireland Screen is delighted for the entire team behind An Irish Goodbye. A BAFTA win is a tremendous endorsement for Ross and Tom to receive from industry, especially at this early stage in their careers and is testament to the incredible work both on camera and behind the scenes from local creatives and crew. “

“Awards matter not only for individual development but for sectoral development too and this BAFTA win along with the Oscar nomination puts out a strong message that Northern Ireland is bursting with talent. We wish the team the best of luck as they head to LA for the Oscars next month.”

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 20 February 2023

Forward Look      

  • Please find attached a one-page brief ahead of the Local Government Elections on Thursday 18 May which are now 90 days away.

  • Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton Harris MP and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP are in Belfast today to meet with the five main political parties. It comes as reports suggest that a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol could be sealed by early next week.

  • Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the weekend, with speculation that the meeting will end the dispute over the Protocol.

  • Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she is resigning as Scotland’s First Minister after more than eight years in the role. Nominations to replace her will close on Friday.

  • The Irish Labour Party will table a motion at its conference next month to formalise its presence in Northern Ireland.

  • Parliament will return from recess on Monday.

  • All House of Commons Stages of The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill will take place on Wednesday.

  • The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will continue their inquiry on the effect of paramilitary and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

  • A private meeting of the House of Lords Subcommittee on the Northern Ireland Protocol regarding the provision of medicines will be held on Wednesday.

  • Ballots to Fine Gael party members on a motion regarding the establishment of branches in Northern Ireland close on 28 February.

  • The Department for the Economy published the Energy Strategy 2022 Action Plan report to achieve net-zero by 2050. It can be viewed here: LINK

  • Four teaching unions in Northern Ireland will participate in a half-day strike on Tuesday over pay.

  • The Insider Media Dealmaker Awards will take place on 2 March at the Europa Hotel. The nominees can be viewed here: LINK

  • Ibec is to host a peacemaker’s event to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on Thursday. Speakers will include Alistair Campbell and Bertie Ahern.

  • The 2023 Local Government Conference will take place on Thursday at the Sliverbirch Hotel in Omagh.

 

Other Stories this week

  • The Assembly failed to elect a Speaker after it was re-called for the sixth time since the election to approve regulations to implement Daithi’s law.

  • Recent statistics from the Central Statistics Office showed that Cross-Border trade rose by 30% in 2022.  

  • House prices in Northern Ireland fell for the first time in 3 years during the final quarter of 2022.

  • According to the latest labour market statistics Northern Ireland’s employment rate increased by 3.1% in the final quarter of 2022.

 

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 23 February, Local Government Conference, Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh.

  • 02 March, Women in Business Awards 2023, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast.

  • 04 March, Alliance Party Conference, Stormont Hotel, Belfast.

  • 09 March, All-Ireland Sustainability Summit, Europa Hotel, Belfast.

  • 15 March, Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

  • 24 March, SDLP Party Conference, St Columb’s Hall, Derry.

 

Consultations

Northern Ireland Local Council Elections 2023

What Do We Know?

The next Northern Ireland local government elections are scheduled for Thursday 18th May, pushed back slightly due to the Coronation of King Charles III. While the deadline to apply to be a candidate is Monday 24th April, many candidates often declare much earlier than this and campaigning will begin in earnest in the coming weeks.

Unlike Westminster and Assembly elections, Councillors do not lose their title and remain Councillors right up to the new count, with council meetings continuing and Mayors and Chairs remaining in place. There is, however, an effective purdah during the campaign with reduced agendas and without any new or controversial decisions being made. Mayors also have a reduced event schedule and are not involved in events and announcements that are seen as a personal electoral boost.

This year’s elections come at a time of rates rises and cuts to public services as Councils struggle financially in the face of rising inflation and cost pressures. Despite efforts to keep these rises below the rate of inflation, candidates and sitting councillors will not relish having to explain rises and cuts to affected residents on the doors.

State of the Parties

For the DUP, this will be the first electoral test of their Stormont boycott. With reports of a Protocol deal likely in the coming weeks, the party’s decision over any potential deal could define this election. They have the largest number of councillors going into this year’s election - any fall in numbers could see them come second to Sinn Féin.  

Consolidation is the name of the game for Sinn Féin after last year’s Assembly election when they came out on top. A key battleground to look out for is in Derry City and Strabane District Council. In 2019, they lost five seats there with the SDLP gaining three seats before subsequently comfortably retaking the Foyle seat from Sinn Féin at the Westminster Election. Sinn Féin will want to reverse those losses and to become the largest party there and across Northern Ireland as a whole.

For Alliance, the key question is whether their surge can continue? Can the party cement its place as the third largest party in Northern Ireland? Recent opinion polls certainly have them ahead of both the UUP and SDLP. A big milestone for Alliance at the last council elections was their ability to get candidates elected outside of their greater Belfast stronghold. They will hope that this trend continues.  

For the UUP and SDLP, stopping further decline is the number one priority. They both had poor showings at last May’s Assembly election, especially so for the SDLP who fell below 10% of the vote for the first time. Anything halting a further slippage would represent a good day for both.  

Post-Election

Due to the Single Transferable Vote system, the count will usually take two days to complete, meaning it is likely to be the evening of Saturday 20th May before we have a clear idea of the results. However, tallies taken on the morning of the first day of the count will give a strong indication of what the lay of the land is. After the election, each council will call an AGM and use the number of votes cast for each party and the D’Hondt method to determine Council positions over the next four years. The first four picks are usually the Mayors, then deputy Mayors, then Chairs of Committees until all positions are filled.

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 15 February 2023

Forward Look     
  

  • Justice Minister Simon Harris has confirmed applications under the Immigrant Investor Programme will no longer be accepted from close of play today.

  • The Labour Party will table a motion at its annual conference next month to formalise its presence in Northern Ireland.

  • The UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper MP has said the UK Government is open to working with the Irish Government on cross-border infrastructure projects.

  • The Telegraph is reporting that a new Brexit deal can be expected in the next fortnight.

  • A new cost of living package is set to the last package before the 2024 budget.

  • The Labour Party is to bring forward a bill proposing reform of the Attorney General’s office in response to the political controversy over its legal strategy on nursing home charges.

  • The European Commission has revised upwards its forecasts for economic growth this year in Ireland. Ireland’s real GDP growth for 2023 has been revised to 4.9%.

  • Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there will be  “social welfare and pensions element” to further cost-of-living measures to be announced in the spring. 

  • Justice Minister Simon Harris TD has briefed the Cabinet on upcoming legislation regarding the protection of vulnerable witnesses during legal proceedings.

  • Planning has begun for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s St. Patrick’s Day Visit to Washington, D.C to meet with US President Joe Biden. 14 senior minister and 19 junior ministers will travel to meet with governments abroad on the day.

  • Finance Minister Michael McGrath has begun stakeholder meetings with those in the hospitality sector regarding the predicted increase in VAT from 9% to 13%

  • It is expected the Education Minister Norma Foley TD will launch an inquiry into abuse at private schools in the coming months. The initial inquiry due to launch in January was delayed due to evidence gathering.

  • The haulage sector is set to receive €18 million in financial supports in the coming weeks through the Licensed Haulage Support Scheme 2023.

  • At a health conference in Dublin, Luca Lorenzoni of OECD said that Ireland’s health budget could rise to 25% of all Government spending by 2040.

 

 

Other Stories this week

 

  • Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Pascal Donohoe was in Brussels to chair the February Eurogroup meeting of European Finance Ministers. He also attended the ECOFIN Council on Wednesday.

  • Independent Denis Naughten TD has announced he will not contest the next general election in 2025. Naughten has served in the Dáil since 1997.

  • The Cabinet approved a new Citizen’s Assembly on drug use at its meeting in Dublin yesterday.

 

Upcoming key political and business events

 

  • 16 February Chartered Accountants of Ireland Members Dinner with Donard Gaynor, Sligo Park Hotel.

  • 23 February Dublin Chamber of Commerce AGM Dinner, Royal Convention Centre, Dublin.

  • 23 February Investment Firms Outlook 2023, The Marker Hotel, Dublin.

  • 24 February Business Post Global Irish Diaspora Awards, the Waldorf Hilton, London.

  • 24 February CIPD Ireland HR Awards, The Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin.

 

Consultations

MLAs gather at Parliament Buildings to support DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal

MLAs gathered at Stormont today to support the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal and stand in solidarity with people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Hosted by Alliance Party MLA Kate Nicholl and supported by SDLP MLA Cara Hunter and DUP MLA Philip Brett, the event heard from Disasters Emergency Committee Chief Executive Saleh Saeed, Concern Worldwide programme coordinator in Turkey, Begum Akdoğan who is supporting aid efforts in the Turkish city of Adiyaman, and Mustafa Nadaf, a Syrian man who lives and works in Belfast, and told MLAs of his family’s experience in Idlib, Syria.

Nine days since the devastating earthquake struck, more than 41,000 people are known to have died. Many more have been injured and thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have been reduced to rubble.

Over £1.1 million has been raised for the appeal in Northern Ireland since it launched on Thursday 9 February, while £74.1 million has been raised across the UK, including £5 million matched by the UK Government through the UK Aid Match scheme.

Addressing members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:

“Thank you to the people of Northern Ireland, and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, for rallying around the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. With the help of the extraordinary £1.1 million donated in Northern Ireland so far, DEC charities are responding directly and through their local partners, delivering aid to affected communities both inside Turkey and in north-west Syria. They are meeting basic needs and finding ways to support people that need help.”

“The needs are immense, and we’re incredibly grateful for the response so far. Thank you to Kate Nicholl MLA for dedicating her time and resource to host this event.”

The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal is raising urgent funds to help people affected by the devastating earthquakes. It brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas, 14 of which are responding in Turkey and Syria.

In Northern Ireland, it includes Concern Worldwide, the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Tearfund, who continue to urge local people to support the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal where they can.

The most urgent needs on the ground in Turkey and Syria include medical care, emergency shelter, winter kits, food, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. This week, doctors working in hospitals treating earthquake survivors warned there is an urgent need for trauma kits, antibiotics, and pain relief as well as more specialised equipment for crush injuries for hands and feet as well as brain surgery.

The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal is supporting hospitals and medical services through DEC member charities and their local partners in both countries.

Kate Nicholl, Alliance MLA said:

“Like others, I’ve been horrified by the harrowing images of the aftermath of the earthquakes and deeply saddened by the stories from survivors who are fighting to survive in harsh and freezing conditions. In a show of solidarity with the communities who have been devastated by this disaster and to honour the victims, I was pleased to host this event today, and support the DEC Turkey – Syria Earthquake Appeal to scale up their response and reach more people in need.”

Kevin McCaughan, Senior Institutional Programme Funding Officer at the British Red Cross in Northern Ireland said:

“The scale of the devastation across Turkey and Syria is becoming clear nine days on from the terrible earthquakes. To think that millions of people’s lives and livelihoods have been destroyed is hard to grasp, but it is the reality for so many right now. We have been impressed by the incredible generosity of the people of Northern Ireland so far. These donations will support the aid efforts which we know will need to continue for quite some time. We urge anyone who can to continue to support the appeal as needs develop.”

NI charities issue call for support as Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launches Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has today launched an appeal to raise urgent funds to help people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria which have killed more than 15,000 people and injured many more.

In Northern Ireland, the DEC’s member charities Concern Worldwide, the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Tearfund are urging local people to support the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal where they can.  

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have collapsed and infrastructure has been badly damaged. Local responders are searching through the rubble for survivors.

Many people have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions, with humanitarian needs expected to grow in the coming days. Access to clean water is likely to be a challenge, bringing the risk of waterborne diseases. There was already an outbreak of cholera in north-west Syria before the earthquake.

The first earthquake struck without warning in the early hours as people slept. In Turkey, tens of thousands of people have been injured. According to the Turkish government, 380,000 people have sought refuge in government shelters or hotels.

Buildings also collapsed in north-west Syria where many people have fled from conflict in the country and medical facilities are limited. Aid workers say displaced people living in tents are hosting families whose homes have been destroyed.

DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders, working with locally-led relief efforts. Immediate priorities are medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, as well as blankets, warm clothes and heaters for safe spaces. They are also ensuring people have enough food and clean water. 

The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas. Fourteen of these are responding in Turkey and Syria including British Red Cross, ActionAid and Save the Children.

Lois Bailie, NI Acting Director at Tearfund, said:

“It has been terrible to watch this week as the devastation caused in Turkey and Syria by the earthquakes became clear. Thousands of people have lost their lives, lost loved ones and ended up in crisis following the earthquakes in the early hours of Monday morning. Buildings have collapsed and people have been trapped under rubble, with many others left out in the cold facing unimaginable circumstances.”

“Help is urgently needed on the ground to provide immediate aid and to begin the assessment of what will be needed in the long term. The DEC’s work ensures donations are turned into tangible, on the ground aid as quickly as possible. We urge people to give whatever they can to the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.”

DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:

“The devastation in Turkey and Syria is heartbreaking, with thousands of people losing loved ones suddenly in the most shocking of ways. In Turkey alone, 6,000 buildings including schools and health centres have collapsed, with infrastructure vital to everyday life such as sanitation and water supplies badly damaged.”

“Funds are urgently needed to support families with medical aid, emergency shelter, food and clean water in freezing, snowy conditions. Fourteen of our member charities are responding now in Turkey and Syria and can do more with your help. Of course, we know that money is tight for many people here in the UK as the cost-of-living crisis continues, but if you can, please do donate to support people caught up in this deadly disaster.” 

Salah Aboulgasem, Deputy Director of Partner Development at Islamic Relief, based in Gazientep, Turkey, said:

“The priority right now is saving lives by clearing the rubble. The next priority is supporting people who have lost their homes and gone through huge trauma. People need medicines and warmth. There is a lot of screaming, people are trying to find relatives.” 

“A lot of people are sleeping in cars because they are scared to go back into the buildings due to aftershocks. The cars are freezing cold.” 

“Islamic Relief have lots of local staff and a well-established programme in the area, they are working with mosques and schools to open shelters.” 

The UK Government will match the first £5 million of donations from the British public to the DEC’s Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal to provide vital humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people affected by the disaster. This is part of a wider package of support from the UK Government and is in addition to ongoing UK Aid support in Syria and Turkey. 

 UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

“When disasters like these terrible earthquakes strike, we know the British people want to help. They have shown time and again that few are more generous and compassionate. 

“That is why we are match funding public donations to DEC’s appeal to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, as part of a wider package of support from the UK that will be used to provide life-saving interventions to those who need it most in the region.” 

Stay up to date with developments in Turkey and Syria, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts with the DEC on Twitter or on Facebook.  

Young girls put cybersecurity skills to the test at schools competition

Glenlola Collegiate Girls School in Bangor crowned winners in Northern Ireland competition supported by Allstate NI

Year Nine pupils from Glenlola Collegiate Girls School in Bangor lift the CyberFirst Girls trophy.

Girls from twelve schools across Northern Ireland have put their cybersecurity skills to the test in the Northern Ireland final of the UK CyberFirst Girls competition.

The flagship UK cybersecurity competition for schools, CyberFirst Girls is supported in Northern Ireland by Allstate NI.  The team from Glenlola Collegiate Girls School, Bangor were crowned the winners in a live final at the company’s Belfast office on Saturday.

Designed to introduce girls to the discipline of cybersecurity and help them understand what a career in cyber might look like, the competition involved a series of puzzles and group exercises covering topics from cryptography to AI to logic.

Regardless of their ability, literacy or numeracy skills, the competitors were given the opportunity to learn why cybersecurity matters, where it could take them in future, and that they already possess many of the attributes needed for a successful career in the field.

After a challenging online qualifying round, the top twelve teams of Year Nine girls from schools across Northern Ireland took part in the live final on Saturday.

Established by the National Cyber Security Centre, which is a part of GCHQ, the competition was attended and addressed by Lindy Cameron, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre.

As the official sponsor and one Northern Ireland’s largest IT employers, Allstate NI hopes the competition will address the continued underrepresentation of women in the local cybersecurity workforce. Northern Ireland is the top international investment location for US cybersecurity firms and a renowned location for research and innovation in cybersecurity.

Several individual and team prizes were awarded. A grand prize giving and celebration day for all finalists, including the overall winners Glenlola, will be held later in the year.

The schools who competed in the CyberFirst Girls competition are as follows:

  • St Dominic’s Grammar School, Belfast

  • Ballymena Academy

  • Glenlola Collegiate Girls School, Bangor

  • Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch

  • Thornhill College, L’Derry

  • St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College, Claudy

  • Strathearn School, Belfast

  • St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon

  • Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry

  • The Royal School, Armagh

  • Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock

  • Dalriada School, Ballymoney

Teacher at Glenlola Collegiate Girls School Janine Heron added:

“I am so proud of our four CyberFirst winners at Glenlola. The girls have been truly dedicated to this competition and have enjoyed every second of this opportunity. I would like to thank Allstate NI and the National Cyber Security Centre for hosting this event and demonstrating the incredible opportunities the sector presents.”

Keith Lippert, Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Allstate NI, said:

“CyberFirst Girls is an inspiring initiative that fits with our goals at Allstate NI to education and inform the next generation of cyber technologists. Northern Ireland’s cyber sector is growing rapidly, but gender diversity is a real concern and we have a responsibility to address it. It was a pleasure to see the dedication of the competitors on Saturday, and we hope the competition has inspired more young females to launch their careers at the cutting edge of this industry.”

Lindy Cameron, National Cyber Security Centre CEO, said:

“Congratulations to all the girls who took part in this year’s CyberFirst Girls Competition in Northern Ireland, and a special well done to Glenlola. The growing cybersecurity industry desperately needs more female representation, so it’s great to see thousands of girls nationwide taking part in the contest, many for the first time. I thank Allstate NI and the local schools for their work helping us uncover new cyber talent and I hope for many of the girls that this will be just the start of their interest in this area.”

BelTech returns for tenth annual conference

(L-R) Kevin Higgins, Technical Lead at Allstate Northern Ireland; Kyle Davidson, Solution Architect at Kainos; Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast City Council, Councillor Michelle Kelly; Chloe McAree, Senior Software Engineer at Hamilton Robson and Graeme Clarke, Director of Software Engineering, Devops and Business Development at Expleo.

BelTech, the popular technology conference that unites technologists under one all-encompassing banner, is returning to Belfast for its tenth year.

Taking place at Titanic Belfast on 8 and 9 March, BelTech 2023 will be addressed by Sebastian Stücker, Director of Research Science at Zoom. Carlos Gutiérrez, EMEA and Latam ADM Product Group Leader, at Micro Focus in Madrid will also deliver a keynote address on sustainability.

BelTech is this year curated by individuals from four of the region’s largest technology companies; Kainos, Allstate Northern Ireland, Hamilton Robson and Expleo.

Set to inspire a burst of activity among local innovators, BelTech will focus on breaking down barriers and empowering people and organisations to success anywhere, anytime.

Sessions will cover:

·        Distributed Enterprise and Innovation with talks focusing on how organisations are evolving to build hybrid workplaces and shifting mindsets to transform the way we work and deliver products to market.  

·        Artificial Intelligence to explore its rapid growth across the global economy in fields such as healthcare, finance and manufacturing. Talks will delve into topics on Digital Experience Intelligence (DXI) and Practical ML in Cyber Security.

·        Sustainability to discuss the practice of designing, developing and using technology in a way that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable.

BelTech will continue to support the next generation of tech businesses with its Dragon Dens partnership with Techstart Ventures. The winner will receive a £10,000 grant to kickstart an innovative or novel business idea. Two runner ups will also receive £5,000 each.

Supported by Belfast City Council, the conference will also see the return of the first BelTech EDU since 2019 which will see school pupils use their creativity and skills to compete against each other and design a new app. The finalists will present their apps on day two of the conference.

Curated by technologists, for technologists, BelTech 2023 is sponsored by Kainos, Allstate Northern Ireland, Unosquare, Liberty IT, Expleo, TechStart, Gearset, Open NMS and Visa.

Speaking at the launch of BelTech 2023, Kyle Davidson, Solution Architect at Kainos said:

“Northern Ireland’s tech professionals will unite once again this March at BelTech, a conference that has adapted and evolved over the past ten years to provide timely and valuable insights for the industry. This year, we look forward to celebrating the diverse nature of the tech industry while delving into important topics such as artificial intelligence, distributed enterprises and innovation.”

“Carefully curated to be a useful and beneficial event for professionals across all areas, it will also examine the practice of designing technology that that is environmentally friendly and socially responsible. BelTech 2023 will foster leadership, advancement and collaboration and we have no doubt the two-day event will help inspire partnerships, ideas and innovations across the industry.”

Chloe McAree, Senior Software Engineer, Hamilton Robson said:

“We are pleased to be supporting BelTech, a conference that will examine the latest and emerging advancements in technologies such as distributed enterprises, artificial intelligence and sustainable computing practices. Northern Ireland’s tech industry is well known for its collaboration, and it is always fantastic to see the community coming together once again to share knowledge and experience that will inspire and empower innovators. There’s an extremely strong programme of lively discussions and presentations and I have no doubt it will bring great value for local technologists, both of today and of the future.”

Victims of Crime Commissioner warns rape victims forced to choose between healthcare and justice

Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, Geraldine Hanna.

Victims of Crime Commissioner for Northern Ireland expresses concerns over the disclosure of counselling notes in serious sexual crime trials ahead of Sexual Violence Week. 

  • Commissioner Designate Geraldine Hanna working with stakeholders to explore proposals to restrict or wholly exclude these counselling notes from criminal trials.

Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Victims of Crime has warned that victims of serious sexual assault are being forced to choose between healthcare and justice due to disclosure of counselling notes in criminal trials.

Commissioner Designate Geraldine Hanna, appointed by former Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA in June 2022, has said that victims of rape and other serious sexual assaults are being asked to consent to excessive amounts of personal data being handed over during trials, including counselling notes taken after their attack. A recent report by the Information Commissioner (ICO) outlined a series of recommendations for police and prosecuting authorities to tighten the safeguards governing access to a victim’s personal data. 

The Commissioner Designate has been working with the ICO, PSNI and Public Prosecution Service to help inform this work. However, she has expressed additional concern regarding access to counselling records.  Currently, in Northern Ireland, victims of sexual crime may be referred to counselling after their attack to help them process the trauma. However, during the investigation or subsequent court case, the police, prosecution, or defence may seek access to their counselling records which the victim may then be questioned about in court.

Commissioner Designate Hanna has said she is deeply concerned that this is putting some victims off accessing crucial therapeutic support and is causing those that do avail of support to censor what they say for fear of how it may be used against them.

Speaking as Sexual Violence Week (6 February – 12 February) launches this week, Commissioner Designate Hanna has said she is engaging with stakeholders including the legal profession, victim support organisations, the Public Prosecution Service, the PSNI, and counselling organisations to explore proposals to restrict or wholly exclude these counselling notes from criminal trials.

Speaking as Sexual Violence Week launched, Commissioner Designate Geraldine Hanna said:

“As Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime in Northern Ireland, one of my key priorities is to strengthen the protection afforded to victim’s personal data including the disclosure of counselling notes. It is crucial that victims of crime, especially victims of rape and sexual violence, feel safe and confident to report these crimes and that they can work confidentially with an appropriate health professional to process their trauma.

“However, I am deeply concerned that the disclosure of third-party counselling notes in rape and sexual assault trials is forcing victims to choose between accessing healthcare and accessing justice. The disclosure of excessive amounts of data and information, which can then be used in court by the defence, has the triple effect of retraumatising victims, making some victims reluctant to access crucial counselling services, or resulting in victims censoring their accounts of their experience to their counsellors in the knowledge that it may be used in court.

“The criminal justice system has an obligation to support victims and to foster an environment which makes victims confident that their experiences will be dealt with sensitively. I am concerned that the disclosure of counselling notes does the opposite of this, however, and makes victims of serious sexual assault less likely to come forward. For crimes which are already underreported and have lower prosecution rates, this is even more concerning.

“I am working with my colleagues in the Bar of NI, the judiciary, voluntary sector, the Public Prosecution Service, the PSNI, and counselling organisations with the hope of finding a positive way forward on this issue. If we are serious about our aim to have a criminal justice system that victims can have confidence in, we must ensure that their rights and needs when engaging with the system are appropriately safeguarded.”

UK Information Commissioner John Edwards said:

“We know from our investigations that the excessive collection of information from victims of rape and serious sexual assault leaves people feeling revictimised by a system they expected to support them.

“The important work by Commissioner Designate Geraldine Hanna for Victims of Crime in Northern Ireland, alongside broader work across the UK, is vital to making progress to prevent victims feeling as though they are being treated as suspects.”