2025 Annual Conference

Peter Osborne

Chair, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation

Peter has been involved in some of the key civil and peace building developments in Northern Ireland at a very senior level of leadership, policy and decision-making roles. This has included public roles with significant media, political and government engagement, requiring high standards of delivery in public life and significant scrutiny.

Peter has a thorough knowledge of central and local government in Ireland, North and South. He has managed and delivered programmes and assignment relevant to public policy on leadership, community cohesion, community support, open government, and planning throughout Northern Ireland and the border counties. He has been used by several agencies to provide mediation and negotiation on several issues, sometimes with high sensitivity. Peter has also worked in and with government bodies and community-based delivery organisations.

Currently Peter:

• Is Chair of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, exploring and promoting relations North-South and East-West.
• Chairs Remembering Srebrenica NI and on the board of the charity in the UK.
• Chairs the Integrated Education Fund.
• Is a member of the NI Policing Board.

Peter was Chair of the Community Relations Council and was a Northern Ireland Board member of the BIG Lottery Fund, and of the International Fund for Ireland. Peter was voluntary Director of Extern and Extern Ireland and is a former Director of the Northern Ireland Partnership Board from 1995, the precursor to SEUPB implementing Peace I. He was Commissioner or Chair of the Parades Commission for ten years and spent six years as Chair of the Community Relations Council.

Peter founded and chaired for the first seven years, Landmark East, a large property-based social enterprise in Northern Ireland, with an asset base of £5 million, during which time he picked up the Aisling Award for Business Achievement. Most recently Peter received an award for his contribution to inter-faith understanding and cooperation.

Cllr Seán Kelly

Cathaoirleach (Mayor), Louth County Council / Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor

Cllr Seán Kelly was elected Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council in June 2025. He is the 38th person to hold the office in the local authority’s 126-year history. Hailing from O’Hanlon Park in Dundalk, Seán was first elected to represent the electoral area of Dundalk Carlingford in 2019 and re-elected in 2024 topping the poll. Seán has worked as a political advisor in Leinster House for the past 14 years, most recently for the Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd and 33rd Dáil. He is heavily involved in community work in his hometown of Dundalk having been involved with Darkness into Light, St Patrick’s Scout Group, the Friary Youth Club and Knockadoon Youth Week.

Seán is a graduate of Dublin City University (Economics, Politics and Law). He completed a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs and Political Communication at Technological University Dublin in 2011.

Paul Hannigan

Vice President for Cross-border Engagement, Atlantic Technological University / North West Tertiary Education Cluster

Having graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Commerce and Masters of Business Studies, Paul worked in Dundalk IT from 1987. In 1992 Paul became Head of Department of Business Studies at Dundalk, until his appointment as President of Letterkenny IT (LYIT) in 1998.

He subsequently completed an MSc in Management Practice at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and in January 2008 was appointed as President of LYIT for a further ten years. Paul commenced a further five-year contract as LYIT President in January 2018 and after the designation of the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) on 1 April 2022, he holds the role of VP for Cross-border Engagement/Head of College at ATU Donegal.

Paul is a former member of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), a former Director of Central Applications Office (CAO) and a former Board member of Eurashe, the European Association for Technological Higher Education Institutions. He has served on the Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and is a current member the North West Regional Executive of IBEC.

Paul has recently taken on the role as Chairman of the Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC).  He served as one of two first time independent Directors of Swim Ireland from 2016-2020 and was Chair of their Audit and Risk Committee. In 2022 Paul was appointed to the Board of Directors of Catalyst.

Dr Rory O’Sullivan

Adjunct Professor, Further Education and Training Research Centre, Dublin City University

Dr Rory O’Sullivan is an Adjunct Professor in the Further Education and Training Research Centre (FETRC) and School of Policy and Practice in Dublin City University.

His main research interests are tertiary education, skills development policy, work integrated learning, and inclusive pathways from education to work. In 2023, he was appointed to the Board of the Higher Education Authority.

Having spent his entire career in FET in Ireland, he retired as Principal of Cathal Brugha College of Further Education (formerly Killester and Marino College of Further Education) after 22 years in January 2023. He was the Chair of the FET Colleges Ireland, and member of the National Executive of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals.

Rory has been involved in several international projects in the field of inclusive FET. In 2013, he was invited to speak at the European Parliament on the work being done in Killester College on inclusive further education. He was a member of the Board of AHEAD (2016-2021) and chaired the FET2HE project steering committee (2018-2021).

He is currently a member of the QQI Appeals Panel, and the Creating Pathways Advisory Group in SOLAS. He represented City of Dublin ETB on the Dublin Regional Skills Forum (2016-2022) and Dublin Chamber. In 2018, Rory was conferred with a PhD in FET Policy from Trinity College, Dublin. He was a member of the Adjunct Faculty of the School of Education in the University of Limerick (2018-2022).

Kathleen O'Hare

Chair, Northern Ireland Skills Council

Kathleen O’Hare was brought up in the townland of Closkelt and now lives in Newry. She has extensive involvement in education and skills. She was appointed Chair of the Northern Ireland Skills Council in 2023.

From 2002-18 Kathleen was Headteacher of two large post primary schools – St Cecilia’s College in Derry and Hazelwood Integrated College in North Belfast. She has a BA in History and an MA in History and Politics, as well as a Professional Qualification in Headship (PQH).

Kathleen is the former Vice-Chair of Council for Curriculum, Examination and Assessment CCEA. She also contributed to the Northern Ireland Curriculum by providing resources and teacher training for the Common Curriculum. Kathleen is a former member of Senate at Queen’s University Belfast and the Board of Belfast Metropolitan College where she was Vice-Chair and chair of the Curriculum, Quality and Engagement Committee.

Since her retirement as Headteacher, she has continued her services to education by working on international leadership and action research projects in Taiwan, Brazil, Middle East and Africa for the British Council. She is a recent member of the Department of Education Expert Panel on educational underachievement, Fair Start, and is also a panel member of the Teachers Regulation Agency in England and Wales.

She is a former teacher of History and Politics and was involved in writing textbooks for the new shared curriculum which emerged in the early 1990s after the conflict in Northern Ireland. She is a Fellow of the International Peace School at Messines and was made Freeman of the City of London in 2011 in recognition of innovative cross community work.

Her leadership in education has been recognised by becoming UK Head teacher of the Year and Head teacher of the Year in Belfast through the Blackboard Awards. In January 2024, she was named in the King’s New Years Honours’ List.

Rose Tierney

Chartered Accountant/Chartered Tax Adviser, TTax - Tierney Tax Consultancy

Rose Tierney is a Business and Finance Professional, a Fellow (FCA) of both Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, an Associate (CTA) of both the Chartered Institute of Taxation in the UK and the Irish Tax Institute in the Republic of Ireland. She is a qualified Customs Clearance and Trade Facilitator.

Rose spent several years working in practice in the UK and Ireland, in small, medium, and large firms. She finished the employment part of her career as a Director in EY before venturing out as sole practitioner and establishing TTax – Tierney Tax Consultancy in 2004.

The practice is based on the border with offices in Monaghan and Fermanagh and is a true cross border tax practice. The dual qualifications put the practice in a unique position to advise clients on both sides of the border across the island of Ireland and Great Britain. It is a boutique tax practice providing tax services across all heads – Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Capital Taxes, VAT, Employer, Customs, and Stamp taxes. They provide advisory and compliance services to private clients, companies and individuals in the Republic of Ireland and the UK and act as a consultant to professional accountancy and legal practices on both sides of the border for tax and VAT queries arising within their client bases.

Rose served as a Member of the Council of the Irish Taxation Institute between 2004 and 2007, provides CPD training to accountants and tax advisers through various bodies and sits on the examining team of one of the professional institutes.

Dr Paddy Hannigan

Senior Lecturer for Strategy, Atlantic Technological University

Paddy graduated from Dublin City University (DCU) with a BSc in Applied Mathematical Science in 1989, and continued his studies in Mathematics through the completion of an MSc by Research at DCU in 1992, and a PhD at Ulster University (UU) in 1999.

He has been employed at what is now Atlantic Technological University (ATU) since 1990. In his strategy role, he was involved in establishing the North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC); this cross-border tertiary education collaboration includes ATU, Ulster University, North West Regional College, and Donegal Education and Training Board. Paddy has been the Programme Manager for NWTEC since 2019, where he is now commencing work with NWTEC partners on the PEACEPLUS-funded North West Digital Employment Pathways Training Hub (NW DEPTH) to deliver employment-focussed digital skills training to 2,000 individuals.

His teaching commitments have an artificial intelligence (AI) focus including Data Science and Machine Learning to final year Engineering Students.

Fergal O'Brien

Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence, Irish Business and Employers Confederation

Fergal O’Brien is Ibec’s Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence. He leads and coordinates the organisation’s activity across a range of business policy issues and public affairs activity.

He represents Irish business on a number of fora at both national and EU level and is currently a member of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council and a council member of the Foundation for Fiscal Studies and was a member of the Commission on Taxation and Social Welfare. Fergal is a regular commentator on the economy and domestic and international policy issues.

Prior to joining Ibec in 2005, Fergal worked for 5 years as an Economic Consultant with Fitzpatrick Associates, where he delivered a large number of consultancy assignments for a range of public and private sector clients. He also worked as an economist with the Irish Dairy Board. Fergal holds his primary and masters degrees from the University of Limerick.

Aidan Campbell

Research Programme Development Manager, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation

Aidan Campbell was appointed Research Programme Development Manager in April 2024 and manages the strategy to support the Centre’s mission to strengthen cross-border cooperation and engagement. He is responsible for increasing the research profile by commissioning and, when required, undertaking unique and relevant pieces of research. Before joining the Centre, Aidan was previously employed as Policy and Public Affairs Officer with Rural Community Network where he coordinated the Network’s work on policy and research, delivered training, and curated the Policy Link newsletter. He studied at Queen’s University and Maynooth University.

Kate Clifford

Chief Executive, Rural Community Network

Kate Clifford leads Rural Community Network, an organisation representing rural communities across Northern Ireland. She has worked extensively on rural development, equality of access to services and rural proofing in public policy. Kate is a recognised advocate for rural voices in policymaking, ensuring that the needs of dispersed and marginalised communities are reflected in government decisions.

Sarah Daly

Executive Director, Creative Spark

Sarah Daly is the Executive Director at Creative Spark, Centre for Creativity and Innovation, where she leads a team providing workspace and training solutions for small businesses, startups, and learners in the creative industries. Sarah oversees operations and strategy, delivering entrepreneurship support to clients. The centre’s FabLab, Print Studio, and collaborative spaces empower businesses in a creative environment. Passionate about community development through creative practice, Sarah creates initiatives that connect creatives, entrepreneurs, and communities to transform shared spaces. She holds a Fine Art degree and a Master’s in Social Practice for the Creative Environment.

Dónal Kearney

Head of Programmes, Grow Remote

Dónal Kearney is Head of Programmes at Grow Remote, a social enterprise on a mission to solve the challenges of remote employment by unlocking social, economic and environmental impact for companies, employees and local communities. He manages the organisation’s social impact programmes, supports their policy and advocacy activities, and leads on PR and communications.

Dónal was the co-founder of arts non-profit Irish Institute of Music & Song, based in Balbriggan, and formerly worked at the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in Geneva.

Caitriona Mullan

Senior Research Associate, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation

Caitriona Mullan is a cross-border cooperation and governance specialist working across the EU. She is a senior Expert with European Commission DG REGIO (structural funds) where she is currently advising on the design and resilience of cross-border health systems in Central and Eastern European countries.

Caitriona also works with the Council of Europe’s Centre of Expertise in Multilevel Governance, with recent missions supporting the Government of Armenia in building local government capacity for intermunicipal and cross-border co-operation, and supporting the Finnish government in relation to local government systems development.

In addition, she advises on the EU b-Solutions initiative delivered for the European Commission by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), which addresses and solves cross-border obstacles to mobility, integration and EU citizens’ rights across the EU and on EPA borders. Her work includes supporting AEBR on cross-border co-operation and Ukraine.

Caitriona’s policy, research and advisory work is informed by three decades’ hands-on public sector and cross-border experience in Ireland and Northern Ireland, gained in executive and non-executive roles in the central government, regional development and local government, health and social care, and higher education sectors. She has authored a range of publications and articles on a range of territorial co-operation themes with NESC, CCBC, ICLRD, the European Commission and AEBR.

Caitriona holds senior research associate roles with the Centre of Cross Border Cooperation and the International Centre for Local and Regional Development; and she provides strategic advisory support to a number of North South cooperation initiatives including the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.

Prof Kristel Miller

Principal Investigator, EPIC Futures NI

Kristel Miller is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at Ulster University. Her expertise intersects the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy and regional competitiveness.

Kristel’s research has attracted over £5 million of research funding to date working with businesses, community and voluntary sector and policy makers. She is the principal investigator of a £4.8 million UKRI-funded Local Policy Innovation Partnership called EPIC Futures NI, which seeks to provide an evidence base for policy and programmes related to helping individuals access fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.

She is also a co-investigator on a €4 million Shared Island cross-border project, Atlantic Futures, which explores how to enhance regional development on the west coast of the Island of Ireland.

Kristel has published widely in internationally renowned journals, and is a regular speaker at international conferences and events. She is a director of Innovation Ulster Limited, which is a university technology commercialisation spin-out vehicle. Kristel is an expert reviewer for the European Commission and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and also engages with SMEs to help them grow their business.

Annmarie O'Kane

Border People Project, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation

Annmarie joined the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation over 16 years ago. As Information Manager she manages the Centre’s flagship project, the Border People project, which provides cross-border information and support for people living and working in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Through the project she fosters cross-border cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge sharing between advice sectors and strategic stakeholders both jurisdictions.
Prior to working with the Centre, Annmarie enjoyed roles in business support organisations in both jurisdictions including a number of Chambers of Commerce, Meath Leader, and Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency. She holds a BA (Hons) in Business Enterprise Development from Ulster University, and accreditations in community development and welfare rights.

Manus Reid

Information Officer and Advocate, North Connacht & Ulster Citizens' Information Service

Manus Reid is an Information Officer and Advocate with North Connaught & Ulster Citizens’ Information Service (CIS), where he has worked since 2016. He specialises in social welfare, employment, immigration, housing, and cross-border issues, helping individuals and communities navigate increasingly complex and overlapping systems. He holds a First Class Honours Degree in Law and a Master’s Degree in International Business and Human Resource Management.

Manus began his career with Citizens Advice in Derry & Strabane and has since developed a strong specialisation in the challenges of cross-border living and working. He has contributed for over a decade to the Border People project, led by the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, supporting publications and resources that improve practical guidance for mobile workers and families.

He is a member of the CIS Social Policy Advisory Group and represents North Connaught and Ulster on the National Community and Voluntary Sector Committee of Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union (SIPTU), advocating for stronger investment in advice services and alignment of cross-border policy.

Manus also works with community groups and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) in rural and border areas, promoting access to education, employment, and sport for young people. Through club development roles with Swim Ireland, Swim Ulster, and Irish Swim Coaches Association (ISCA), he has developed a practical understanding of administrative and policy barriers to youth development across jurisdictions.

Owen Reidy

General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions

Owen Reidy has been General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) since October 2022. The ICTU organises and represents the interests of over 760,000 workers across the island of Ireland through its 46 affiliate trade unions. The ICTU is the coordinated voice of the Irish trade union movement representing the interests of workers in dialogue with government and the EU and with other social partners.

Prior to this appointment, he was the Assistant General Secretary of the ICTU for a six-year period with responsibility for Northern Ireland. Owen represented NI unions on issues such as Brexit and engaged with both the UK Government and Stormont during this period.

He started his trade union career in SIPTU in 1998 working in a number of capacities and has represented and organised a diverse range of workers in both the public and private sector. Before joining the ICTU in 2016 he was a member of the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union (SIPTU) senior management team and was involved in several high-profile disputes including the Luas, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and Irish Rail strikes, and the Greyhound lockout.

Owen is a graduate of University College Dublin with a BA in History and Politics and an MA in Politics. He is a father of two and is from Donegal.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA

Economy Minister

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA was appointed Economy Minister on 3 February 2025.

Previous to this, Caoimhe served as Finance Minister from February 2024.

Caoimhe grew up in Coleraine. She attended Loreto College, Coleraine, and graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast, with a BSc in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Molecular Biology by research with a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development studentship. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in Management and Corporate Governance at Ulster University.

Caoimhe was elected as an MLA for East Derry in May 2016 and re-elected in March 2017 and May 2022.

She is formerly Chair of the Assembly’s Economy and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs committees.

Prior to being elected in May 2016, Caoimhe had worked for almost a decade in applied horticulture and plant pathology research including on collaborative EU-funded projects.

Maureen O'Reilly

Senior Research Associate, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation

Maureen O’Reilly is a respected independent economist with over 25 years’ experience providing applied economic research, policy evaluation and strategic analysis across public, private and non‑profit sectors. As Senior Research Associate with the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, she leads evidence‑based research and policy advice on labour markets, cross‑border mobility and island‑wide economic integration.

Since founding her consultancy in 2011, Maureen has built a diverse portfolio of work delivering evidence-based economic insight to support policy development, strategic planning, and investment decisions across the island of Ireland. Her previous senior roles include Senior Research Economist at the Economic Research Institute for Northern Ireland (ERINI), and heading the Policy Evaluation Unit at the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre. She also lectured in economics at the Open University.

Maureen is currently a member of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council, bringing greater transparency and scrutiny to public finances. She serves as a Board Member of Enterprise Northern Ireland, shaping the enterprise support landscape across the region and as a Non-Executive Director with Mutual Energy which owns and manages key gas and electricity assets in Northern Ireland. She is also an active member of several expert advisory groups, contributing to economic policy development and public sector reform across Northern Ireland and the wider UK-Ireland context.

Maureen holds a First Class Honours degree in Economics and a Master’s (with distinction) in Applied Economics.

Christine Kelly

Tax Advisor, IDA Ireland

Christine Kelly joined IDA Ireland as Internal Tax Advisor in 2001 and in currently located within its Strategic Policy Division, based at the Dublin Headquarters.

IDA Ireland is the Irish non-commercial, semi-state agency responsible for the attraction and development of foreign direct investment into Ireland for its economic and social benefit. IDA Ireland operates under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and works as a strategic partner to assist multinational companies to set up and grow in Ireland. IDA Ireland works with client companies across several key sectors of focus: International Financial Services, Technology, Content, Consumer and Business services, Biopharmaceuticals, Medical Technologies, Emerging Business, Engineering, Green Economy and Growth Markets.

Joanne McMullan Chanyuka

Head of Labour Market Solutions, Invest NI

Joanne McMullan Chanyuka is Head of Labour Market Solutions at Invest NI, where she leads efforts to increase business engagement with alternative talent pools, particularly among economically inactive individuals and refugee communities in Northern Ireland.

In her role she collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders – including businesses, business support organisations, government departments and community groups – to foster inclusive growth. Her work focuses on supporting businesses to remove barriers to workforce participation and create pathways that enable underrepresented groups to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Joanne’s professional career began in public relations and marketing, followed by a move into the broadcasting sector. She held positions in commercial radio and later at Sky Television, the BBC Trust, and the broadcasting regulator Ofcom. She joined Invest NI in 2013 and initially worked on cluster development initiatives, before taking up her current role in 2021.

Elaine Patterson

Programme Manager for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, InterTradeIreland

With over three decades of experience in international sales, business development, and strategic leadership, Elaine has been instrumental in driving significant market expansion and revenue growth across Europe and the Middle East.

As Contract Sales Director at Ulster Carpet Mills, she played a key role in substantially increasing contract and export sales, strengthening the company’s presence in the hospitality, leisure, and marine sectors while leading high-value negotiations and managing key client relationships.

In early 2024, Elaine joined InterTradeIreland as Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager, taking the lead on the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, with a particular focus on Women’s Entrepreneurship. In this role, she spearheads initiatives for InterTradeIreland, working to empower and support women entrepreneurs through targeted programmes, funding opportunities, and strategic collaborations.

An experienced business leader, Elaine has a wealth of experience in managing global teams, establishing international offices, and developing market-specific strategies. As a French and German linguist, she also brings a deep understanding of international trade, having negotiated high-value contracts and driven business success in diverse regions.

Beyond sales and entrepreneurship, Elaine is a respected industry speaker, having presented at key events such as the NI Chamber of Commerce’s Learn Grow Excel Programme and Invest NI’s Explore Export event. With board-level experience and a strategic mindset, she continues to contribute to corporate leadership, HR decision-making, and financial planning.

Passionate about fostering innovation and supporting women in business, Elaine is dedicated to shaping inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Kevin McShane

Senior Development Executive for Shared Island, Enterprise Ireland

Kevin McShane is a seasoned senior management professional with over 25 years of experience across public, private, and social enterprise sectors. In his current role as Senior Development Executive for the Shared Island initiative at Enterprise Ireland, Kevin leads strategic efforts to foster cross-border collaboration, drive regional innovation, and support high-potential enterprises across the island of Ireland.

Kevin combines strong commercial acumen with a passion for entrepreneurship and technology and is deeply committed to enhancing regional impact through innovation hubs, stakeholder engagement, and ecosystem development to shape the future of Ireland’s regional enterprise landscape through inclusive and collaborative development.

Colin McCabrey

Director of Trade, InterTradeIreland

Colin McCabrey is Director of Trade at InterTradeIreland, where he leads a specialist team driving cross-border trade, innovation, and investor readiness.

InterTradeIreland is the only organisation that has been given responsibility by both governments to boost North-South economic cooperation on the island. Since InterTradeIreland was established, cross-border trade has grown from €2bn in 1998 to a record €15bn.

Colin’s team is committed to building on this momentum, driving initiatives to boost business capability, productivity, and export growth, while helping firms navigate evolving trade challenges and strengthening their supply chain resilience.

With over two decades in senior economic development roles, including at Belfast City Council, Colin has led transformative projects in regeneration, investment, and entrepreneurship. Notably, he played a key role in the £850m Belfast Region City Deal and the development of a £10m Innovation Centre on a Belfast peace line.

Dr Anthony Soares

Director, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation

Anthony is Director of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation where he leads in the development and advocacy of policies at regional, national and European levels that support sustainable cross-border and transnational cooperation.

He has coordinated CCBC’s responses to the UK’s referendum on EU membership and its aftermath, publishing briefing papers and reports, submitting evidence to parliamentary committees in both Westminster and Dublin, and consulting with a range of political representatives and organisations on the island of Ireland, Great Britain and in Europe.

Anthony is Secretary to Universities Ireland, Secretary to the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS) and Convenor of the Ad-Hoc Group for North-South and East-West Cooperation. 

He is CCBC’s lead on the New Common Charter, and a member of the International Centre for Local and Regional Development and Transfrontier Euro-Institute Network.

Dr Ryan Feeney

Board Member, CCBC

Dr Ryan Feeney, Vice-President for Governance and External Affairs and Registrar at Queen’s University Belfast, and was appointed a Board Member at the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation in 2024. 

Ryan holds a Doctorate in Governance specialising in political science and public policy from the National University of Ireland with a specific focus on the operations and functions of the Strand Two structures of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. He was the Executive Producer for an RTE documentary, The Agreement, on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement negotiations and has been a Visiting Professor in Governance and Public Policy at Ulster University. 

Dr Feeney has organised and curated numerous major international conferences at Queen’s University, including the 20th and 25th anniversary events for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. He led the organisation of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils’ Global Innovation Summit in November 2024, on the theme of Advancing Global Sustainability and Economic Inclusion. He was an independent member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2011-2018.

@BorderIrish (The Irish Border)

@BorderIrish began tweeting about Brexit in 2018, amassing an embarrassingly large number of followers, being interviewed in newspapers in Ireland, the UK, Germany and France, and writing the book I Am the Border, So I Am.

Having retired from Twitter once Brexit was kind of solved, @BorderderIrish makes a very rare in-person appearance at the Centre’s Annual Conference.