The Management Team Our Management Team have a wealth of experience and ensure that the charity's mission, vision and strategic objectives are met. Expand Senior Management Andrea Brown, Chief Executive Officer Andrea Brown is the new CEO to lead the organisation in a manner which upholds the rights of and delivers the best possible outcomes for disabled people, their families and carers. Andrea joined the charity in 2003 and has been Interim CEO since March 2020. She took up her role on Tuesday 1 June 2021, with overall responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the organisation. During her 18 years with Disability Action, Andrea has undertaken various Finance and Corporate Services roles, and has 15 years significant business experience having previously worked in management roles in the private sector. Andrea’s dedication and experience will ensure that the charity's mission, vision and strategic objectives are met. She is passionate leader committed to the 3rd sector in Northern Ireland, leading with integrity, honesty and a positive outlook. A lifelong business background ensures a strong financial knowledge, great organisational and planning skills with a logical and analytical approach to problem solving. Driven to develop teams to perform at their best. A committed volunteer Co-Founder/Director/Treasurer with Disability Aid Abroad, delivering livelihood and awareness programmes in East Africa supporting people with disabilities since 2007. Currently Treasurer of CADA (Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies in NI). Committed to delivering the 2030 Agenda and SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals). Management Sean Fitzsimons, Employment Advocacy Coordinator and Face 2 Face Project Manager As a disabled professional working in the field of disability rights, Sean is intimately aware of the barriers, challenges and social injustices that disabled people face. His work in employment and broader strategy / policy cuts across public, private, third sector and political spheres positively challenging barriers at local, national and international levels. Sean is an engaging and articulate speaker. He delivers talks and training for a wide range of organisations and is regularly interviewed by local, national and international television and print/online media. Sean has strong working links with Academia; which includes supporting research into matters affecting disabled people (he recently represented Disability Action in helping establish the Global University Disability and Inclusion Network). He has also been called upon to deliver lectures, most recently at both Queen’s University Belfast (School of Management) and Ulster University (School of Applied Social and Policy Science). Internationally Sean has responded to invitations to speak at the Harkin Summit on Global Disability Inclusion in Washington D.C. and he regularly undertakes ‘on the ground’ efforts across numerous other countries at the request of respective Governments /NGOs to shape policy/strategy in respect of disabled people’s rights. Sean sits as an expert on the British Council’s Disability Advisory Panel. He provides ongoing, discrete professional advice on matters affecting their operations in over 110 countries around the world. Sean is passionate about supporting other disabled people into positions of leadership and challenging the status quo societal narrative in respect of disability. He is widely respected for his ability to contribute, positively challenge, negotiate and influence at the highest levels. Sinead Campbell, Advocacy Team Leader Bio on Sinead to follow. Karen Smith, Head of Contracted Services A member of the Disability Action team since 2011, Karen Smith has recently (August 2020) been appointed to the role of Head of Contracted Services. Reporting to the CEO, Karen will work closely within a small senior management team to shape the strategy, inform best practice on current issues and promote the organisation at all levels. She will be responsible for providing innovative solutions to the current funding environment and advice for the CEO and the Board of Directors. Since 2015 Karen has led and managed our European Social Fund project Job Match delivering bespoke recruitment and job-related support and guidance to individuals and employers NI-Wide - Karen will continue to undertake this role. Karen has over 30 years’ experience of working in the public, private and voluntary sectors across the UK in disability and employment policy, practice, management and organisational transformation. She is a member of the Institute of Employability Professionals, a member of NICVA’s Joint Forum for Disability Action, also NICVA's ESF User Group and NIUSE’s Policy Group and have just joined the NI Education Authority External Stakeholder Advisory Group. Anne Reid, Job Match Manager Anne Reid has been appointed as Job Match Manager (September 2020). Anne will lead and manage the European Social Fund project Job Match, with a team of Supported Employment Officers and Employment Engagement Officers delivering bespoke recruitment and job-related support and guidance to individuals and employers NI-Wide. Anne joined Disability Action in 2015 as a Supported Employment Officer on the Job Match programme, with a 12 month secondment as an Employment and Training Officer on our Workable NI programme. Anne has over 25 years’ experience managing domestic and EU government funded programmes and has also held management roles in the private sector. Anne is an Associate Member of CIPD. Anne succeeds Karen Smith who is our new Head of Contracted Services. Angela Hutchison, Mobility Centre Manager Angela manages the Northern Ireland Mobility Centre which is a small unit within Disability Action. This unit provides information and advice to people with a disability to assist with getting back to or remaining driving. Angela has worked in the community and voluntary sector for 22 years, 17 of these have been with Disability Action. Orla McCann, Onside Project Manager Orla has worked with Disability Action for over 20 years with her professional experience primarily in the field of Design for All. Orla has working knowledge of Building Regulations, British Standards, Planning Policy, Transport Policy, Equality and Disability Discrimination Legislation. Orla is leading the ONSIDE project which will enable disabled people to take advantage of digital technology and the internet to become more engaged in their community and to promote good practice in accessibility and service provision. The ONSIDE project is a cross-border programme supported by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Gillian Rainey and Miriam Bacon, Workable NI Managers Gillian (pictured left) and Miriam (pictured right) have joint responsibility for leading and managing the Workable NI Programme within Disability Action. Workable NI is a programme that supports disabled people in employment by addressing barriers, negotiating reasonable adjustments and agreeing a comprehensible programme of support to both the employer and employee. Gillian and Miriam have each over 25 years’ experience of supporting people with disabilities to resolve employment issues and both have over 5 years’ experience of policy and strategic development in the field of employment and equality. Miriam is also team leader for the Employment Support programme. Tony Carmichael, Training Support Service / Apprenticeship NI Team Leader Tony leads and manages a team of Employment and Training officers across Northern Ireland who support people with disabilities on the Training for Success and Apprenticeship NI Training - delivering in Colleges and Training Providers -personal support and mentoring, employer awareness, visits and parental advice and support. Tony has a professional background in Social Work, Youth Training and Careers Guidance. He has over 20 years’ experience with Disability Action working for and with disabled people. He represents Disability Action on a number of government policy and strategy groups on issues related to Training, Education and Employment. Tony is passionate on disability and employment rights and on developing opportunities for people with disabilities in every aspect of our society. Michael McNulty, Transport Manager Michael has worked in both the private and public sectors for over 25 years. His experience has been in Transport and Service Delivery for both the Community and Voluntary Sectors. In his current role, Michael has responsibility for managing the Disability Action Transport Service (DATS) throughout N Ireland.
Board of Directors Disability Action’s Board of Directors is responsible for the strategic governance of the organisation. Expand Melanie Douglas (Chair) Melanie has over 15 years' experience in HR including resourcing, employee relations, attendance management and learning and development, and is currently working for a Public Sector Healthcare Organisation as a HR Manager. Melanie has her roots in the private and public education sector and her particular interest has been in special education and the rights of children to equality and inclusion. She has also been awarded outstanding practitioner by NCSL and attained coaching and mentoring, designated child protection officer and middle management certification. In her spare time Melanie volunteers for a Rare Disease organisation where she currently holds position of Chair and is also part of Soroptimist International, a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls. Leonard Sproule Leonard took early retirement from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive after 37 years service. He obtained corporate membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing and completed a number of management development programmes including Common Purpose.As Chairman of Disability Action’s Board Leonard hopes to use his housing management experience to focus on the needs of people with disabilities. Leonard has a particular interest in user involvement and strengthening the quality of service provision to the disability sector. Gerry Maguire M.B.E. (Vice-Chair) Gerry works for the Western Health & Social Care Trust in administration. He also works part time for the Appeals Service N.I.C.S. He sits on the Advisory Panel for Disability for the Fermanagh / Omagh District Council; is a member of the Advisory Panel for Day Care in the Western Trust: a member of the Local Housing Executive Scrutiny Panel; a member of the Regional Disability Housing for NIHE; and a member of the local Museum Advisory Panel. He was awarded a M.B.E in 2005 for services to Disability in Northern Ireland. Patricia Bray Patricia is the co-founder of the North West Forum of People with Disabilities in 1994 and is currently Chairperson of the Management Committee. The Forum is a human rights organisation and is 100% led by disabled people. Patricia has been involved in the human rights movement for over 30 years. During this period she worked with Disability Action as Statutory Duty and Policy Officer - working to ensure that the public sector equality duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Disability Discrimination Order 2007 were implemented. Patricia continues through North West Forum of People with Disabilities, various fora and committees to promote the human rights and voice of disabled people in all aspects of political, economic and social life in Northern Ireland. John Carberry M.B.E. John is a Deaf Awareness and Sign Language Trainer working in the sector for more than thirty years. John works in a freelance capacity for many clients throughout Northern Ireland and on the Sign Language Project in conjunction with the University of Ulster. Previously John worked for 23 years for Action on Hearing Loss (RNID) and a national body for communication skills with Deaf people. John has served as a committee member on the following organisations: The National Deaf Children's Society (NI), Northern Ireland Disability Council (forerunner of the Equality Commission) and the Ulster Television Regional Advisory Group. John has been a long-serving member of the Board of Trustees and Governors of Jordanstown School for Deaf and Visually Impaired Children. Ursula Marshall Ursula is currently Chair of Mid-Ulster Disability Forum. She has a background in community activism over a 20 year period providing her with a broad, comprehensive understanding of social issues, particularly in relation to disability. She champions disability through a range of organisations that she is involved with such as; NIHE Housing Community Network, NIHE Disability Forum, Town Centre For a (Cookstown and Magherfelt), Womens Aid (both local and regional), Mid Ulster Child Contact Centre, CYCSP Locality Group, Shopmobility Independent Member of Mid Ulster PCSP (dealing with policing and community safety). Drennan McBride Drennan took early retirement from Belfast City Council and turned back to his first love, the community and social economy sphere as a volunteer and director. His wide interests though confined to North and West Belfast have latterly included: Executive Chair of Argyle Business Centre, facilitating employment of 420+ people and economic regeneration in the Shankill area of Belfast; Chair of Governors of Hazelwood Integrated Primary and Nursery School in North Belfast, full to capacity with 460 happy pupils; Board Member of Paisley Park Sportsplex working to redevelop a multi-use sports ground for community use in West Belfast. His interest and support for ‘Disability’ stems from contracting Polio in 1957. Arthur O'Brien Arthur is senior finance leader recognised for building board-level strategies that strengthen the fiscal controls of global organisations across complex industry landscapes. Combines over 25 years’ expertise within a Big 4 firm with a deep knowledge of audit, governance, in-depth finance expertise, people development and business development to guide seamless transformation journeys in both start-ups and large corporates. Mobilises cross-functional teams with integrity to ensure the deliver of multi-million-pound projects and fosters strategic partnerships to engage stakeholders and secure C-level buy ins. Provides strategic oversight and constructive challenge to unite executives under a shared vision, elevate business performance, stabilise financial efficiency and maximise revenue generation. Arthur runs his own accountancy and business advisory practice. Ian Elliott Ian has over 40 years' experience in social housing including at the NI Housing Executive; BIH Housing Association where he worked with BCS on developing Clifton House sheltered housing; leading the Choice Group including significant community engagement and most recently with Abbeyfield. He developed a large number of local charitable partnerships as well as founding Oaklee Housing in Dublin. He has a particular interest in our local heritage and now serves on the Disability Action NI board.