As Assistant Director, Deirdre contributes to the management and strategic direction of NCB’s practice development work in Northern Ireland. She also manages NCB’s work on participation and engagement.
Prior to this role, Deidre was Programme Manager for BELONG NI – an inter-agency family support programme that promotes a sense of Belonging amongst Black Minority Ethnic (BME) children and young people in Northern Ireland. She’s also worked for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International.
Most recently at NCB, Deidre has lead on the transfer of knowledge and practice from the BELONG NI family support programme to its statutory partners in health and education. She also established the Incredible Years Co-ordination Project for Northern Ireland (IYNI) and facilitates the IYNI learning community for practitioners, managers and commissioners.
Deirdre represents Northern Ireland on the European Incredible Years Implementation Network.
Before moving into the children’s sector, Deidre worked in TV and theatre, both as an actor and writer of children’s programmes and plays.
“Working at NCB offers an opportunity to work strategically, across disciplines in a way that has real capacity to change children’s lives. I’m passionate about children’s rights and involving children and their families in plans and decisions that affect them.”