Meet the VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel
The VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel was formally established in Spring 2020, following an open call selection process managed by NICVA on the Community Planning Partnership's behalf. Membership of the panel was initially for a four-year term; due to COVID-19 this was extended by one year.
As the Panel enters its second term of office, the membership has been refreshed via a further independent nomination and selection process. In April 2025, the Community Planning Partnership agreed a new Panel for the next four-year term, 2025-2029.
The Panel comprises 30 representatives, drawn from across Belfast's large and diverse voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors, reflecting a spread of areas of the city, Belfast Agenda priorities, and large and small organisations.
The Panel's aims are:
- to ensure that the sector's voices are represented as part of the community planning process
- to develop and improve cross sectoral relationships and partnerships
- to promote effective community engagement
VCSE Panel Membership 2025-2029
Panel Member | Representing |
Susan Russam | GEMS NI |
Peter Lynch | Blackie River Community Group |
Terry Quinn | West Belfast Strategic Health & Wellbeing Forum |
Michael Briggs | Inner East Neighbourhood Partnership |
Charlene Brooks | Belfast Healthy Cities |
Emma Shaw | Policy 360 |
Angie Mervyn | Upper Andersonstown Community Forum |
Perla Mansour | Wild Belfast |
Paddy O'Donnell | Lenadoon Neighbourhood Partnership |
Laura Feeney | Save the Children |
Judith Searle | Barnardo's |
Sinéad McConnell | Altram |
Stephen Barr | Start 360 |
Danny Power | Greater Falls Neighbourhood Partnership |
Deirdre Quinn | Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) |
Paul Fleming | NIACRO |
Irene Sherry | Ashton Trust |
Róisín Wood | Community Foundation for Northern Ireland |
JP Sukumaran | Karma Kalakendram |
Jahswill Emmanuel | Multi Ethnic Sports and Culture NI |
Emily Keenan | South Belfast Health Forum |
Lekan Ojo-Okiji Abasi | Counselling All Nations Services (CANS) |
Ciarán Hargey | Inner South Neighbourhood Partnership |
Maria Morgan | Ligoniel Neighbourhood Partnership |
Michael Donnelly | Upper Springfield / Whiterock Neighbourhood Partnership |
Paul Millar | Tullycarnet Neighbourhood Partnership |
Julianne Skillen | Arts Care |
Jackie Redpath | Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Partnership |
Kim McGary | Extern |
Ask the Panel a question
Submit a question to be put to the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sectoral Advisory Panel. The Panel will endeavour to respond at their earliest opportunity.
Contact person
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Strategy, Policy & Partnerships
