Latest Speakers

Thanks are extended to recent guest speakers for their most interesting addresses.

In a very emotional address guest speaker Martin Walls, Sense NI’s Head of Operations, spoke about the work Sense NI does supporting children, families, young people into adulthood to live their best lives and the difficulties faced by those with complex needs and by their families. He also reflected on their successful work with adults in supported living in Holly House. His interesting and personal address was very well received and generated several questions.

In his very interesting, well-illustrated and detailed presentation Chris McCracken MD Linen Quarter Business Improvement District (BID), highlighted BIDs past successful projects and their vision for the Linen Quarter area. The BID represents 300 organisations in the area across a wide spectrum - public and private sector, professional services and hotels and hospitality. Over the period 2015-2030 £1b will be invested in the area through many projects. The biggest being the new transport hub behind the Europa which will double the train and bus capacity bringing many more people into Belfast and BID want to ensure they get a good impression! The current station will be redeveloped into Weavers Court a brand new vibrant district with mixed use - offices, hotels, residential, retail and hospitality.

David Eagleson who was deputy director of the NI Prison Service and has held leadership roles in a number of prisons, in particular Magilligan, spoke passionately about how Restorative Justice is being used in prisons and the need for it to be more widely used. He noted that he joined the prison service in 1982 and gradually rose up the ranks culminating with being Governor at Magilligan and HydeBank Prisons before retiring. He revealed that he had been at the Maze at the time of the release of prisoners and that his interest stemmed from his time at the Maze in the 90's when he became interested in its philosophy. He stressed that RJ happens when someone harmed by crime or conflict is put in contact with those responsible for the harm but emphasised that for it to happen those responsible for the harm must admit to it. 

Enda Young spoke enthusiastically in great detail about his role in mediation and the work of Mediation NI. He advised he has been involved with negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution for over 20 years and joined Mediation NI as its MD 8 months ago. He advised they have worked with individuals, communities and organisations in the public, private and third sector for over 30 years as an impartial third party helping people find their own solution to an issue. He stressed the importance of this as ownership of the solution results in a lasting solution. He stressed there is a need for people to be trained to handle conflict and recognise emotional legacy can result in a difficult working environment and there is a gap between intention and impact which is hard to close. He revealed the number one reason people fall out is from personality clashes! He noted that Mediation NI still are needed to work on the community interfaces even after 25 years with legacy issues concerning education and housing especially not going away. Enda concluded that he particularly loves the sweet spot when theory meets practice and advised that people mostly come to Mediation NI when it is too late; that it is necessary to nip things in the bud and never under estimate the small things in a conflict situation - most importantly how people are made feel by comments etc.