Aaron has worked with National Museums NI since 2018 and has played a key role in strategic projects including. Reawakening the Ulster Folk Museum. He was appointed Director of Public Engagement in 2023, a role which is responsible for ensuring that our four museum continue to deliver high quality experiences to the widest possible audience. […]
Alice is Chief Executive at Tourism Ireland, with leadership responsibility for marketing the island of Ireland to overseas visitors. Collaborating with industry and government partners, Alice and the Tourism Ireland team are proud to support and grow the contribution overseas tourism makes to economies and communities island-wide. Previously, Alice spent 19 years leading large scale
Jacqui joins NITA after a 25 year career with BBC NI where she was an Assistant Editor and Senior Producer in news and political programmes. A Business Studies graduate, Jacqui, has worked closely with politicians and business leaders for the last three decades and has a keen interest in the development and growth of the
Colette is a freelance tourism consultant and educator with over 25 years of experience in the design, delivery and management of tourism training and development programmes. Her career began with leading Irish tour operator, JWT in sales and marketing before moving into education and training. A Steering Group member of Tour Guides NI, Colette developed
Caroline is the owner of McComb’s Coach Travel. After working in hospitality from the age of 13, and then studying Travel & Tourism at the Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, Caroline moved into the Transport sector of Tourism in 2002. Caroline owns and operates McComb’s Coach Travel with a team of 20, offering luxury coach
Brendan Kenny has been the CEO of Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism (IAAT), since 2019. IAAT is the representative body for activity tourism operators on the island of Ireland. With over 200 members offering an incredible mix of outdoor experiences, IAAT has a mission to see Ireland recognised as a world class adventure tourism destination. Brendan’s career has seen
Heather McLachlan has worked in the natural, built and cultural heritage sector for over 19 years and is currently the Regional Director of the National Trust in Northern Ireland. During her time with the National Trust, she has overseen the £8.5 million restoration of the mansion at Mount Stewart, the acquisition of the remainder of
Gerry Lennon has been Chief Executive of Visit Belfast since October 2000, during a period of intense tourism growth for Belfast. As the city’s official Destination Marketing Organisation, Visit Belfast’s core purpose is to create and service visitors for Belfast in order to generate economic benefit for the city region creating jobs and wealth. Previously,
Emma McCausland attended Methodist College before moving to Newcastle upon Tyne, where she gained a BA (Hons) degree in Business with Marketing from Northumbria University. On completion of her degree she moved back to Belfast where she started her professional journey as a Marketing Executive at Ardmore Advertising, learning a lot in her time there
Michelle has been employed in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism for over thirty years. The majority of her career to date has been in Senior Management /Marketing Consulting roles and she is also a former lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism. Michelle is the current Chair at Visit Derry. She has seen the tourism industry grow
Allison has recently taken up the position of Global Alcohol Policy Director with Molson Coors Beverage Company. Until January 2024, Allison was Corporate Affairs and Engagement Director at Belfast Harbour. She joined Belfast Harbour in 2019, after spending more than ten years at Diageo, as Corporate Relations Director GB and as Communications and Public Affairs
Luke Petherbridge is Senior Public Affairs Manager at ABTA – The UK’s largest travel trade association. Luke joined ABTA in July 2011, initially to focus on the association’s European policy portfolio and the revision of the EU Package Travel Directive, in particular. Luke is now the day-to-day lead of ABTA’s public affairs and policy agenda,