Pen Pics

CNCC Pen-Pics

Patrick Casement lives in Ballycastle where he has run a family farm for 35 years. He is a member of the National Trust's Council, and formerly served on their Northern Ireland Committee from 1998 to 2010, and on their Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2011. He is also a former Chairman of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group in Northern Ireland, and served on the RSPB Northern Ireland Committee from 1996 to 2000. He was a member of CNCC from 1989 to 1996. He also worked for the National Parks Service in Ireland as a wildlife biologist. He is a member of the National Trust, The Woodland Trust, Ulster Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation, and  the British trust for Ornithology.

Peter Archdale lives in Omagh .He is a retired Royal Naval officer with a wide experience of Oceanography. He has been involved with voluntary groups since 2006 and was a Board Member of Tall Ships Belfast 2009. Peter is currently a landowner on an Ulster Wildlife Trust Reserve near Omagh and is also a Director and Vice Chairman of the Ulster Wildlife Trust and a Director of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and Camphill Communities (NI). He is a member of the Woodland Trust and National Trust and a representative on Lough's Agency Stakeholder Forum.

Doctor Tony Bazley lives in Newtownards. He is a Chartered Geologist and is the local director of Tamboran Resouces Ltd which hasan exploration interest in County Fermanagh. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of an all-Ireland magazine aimed at Earth science educational outreach and conservation. He was previously Director of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and past Honorary Professor of Queen's University andhas worked as a geological surveyor in all counties of NI, as well as in Wales, England and the Middle East.

Doctor Richard Horton lives in Belfast. He is a chartered engineer with the Institute of Mining, Minerals and Materials having carried out scientific research into energy conservation and renewable energy technology at Harwell Laboratory. Healsoserved withthe Commission for Communications Regulation (COMREG) and was First Secretary, Technologyin the UK Diplomatic Service at the British Embassy in Washington for 4 years.

Doctor Hilary Kirkpatrick lives in County Derry. She is an environmental consultant with particular expertise in the area of upland ecology and has experience of policy work at devolved and EU level. Dr. Kirkpatrick has conductedresearchon the effect of fire and grazing on vegetation and on the impacts of agri-environment schemes.

Andrew Upton lives in Killyleagh. He is currently the Coast and Countryside Manager with the National Trust, with responsibility for Strangford Lough and Ards Peninsula properties. He previously worked for the Ulster Wildlife Trust for 10 years, most recently as Nature Conservation Director. He has over 32 years field experience as an ornithologist and general natural historian. He has published a number of reports on seabird conservation through work with the JNCC and possesses a Degree in Countryside Planning.

Doctor Jade Berman lives in Belfast. She is currently the Living Seas Manager within the Ulster Wildlife Trust and has extensive experience in various areas of marine research in various parts of the world. She brings an international perspective and knowledge of the marine and coastal environment and environmental educational programmes to the Council.

Professor Sue Christie lives in Lisburn. She is currently the Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Environment Link. She has previously been a Special Advisor to the Environment Committee for Climate Change Inquiry within the NI Assembly. Sue is an ecologist with considerable experience of NI's environment, and was lead author for the NI chapter of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment.  She has worked in the voluntary sector for many years and has a particular interest in biodiversity, ecology, waste management and climate change.

Doctor Alan Cooper lives close to Derrygonnelly in Fermanagh. He is a senior lecturer in Plant Ecology within the University of Ulster, where he is also a member of the Environmental Science Research Institute. Alan is a member of the NI Native Woodland Group and has previously been a member of the CNCC Ecology Sub-group and the NI Committee for Nature Conservation. Dr Cooper has a professional working knowledge of the structure and function of terrestrial habitats, plant species and environments across NI, acquired from his applied research on biodiversity management and the ecological effects of land use change.

Andrew Cunningham lives in Crumlin where he owns and runs his own farm. He also owns Crookedstone Conservation, which carries out large scale landscaping and tree planting. He was previously the Chair of Farranshane Community Trust and Antrim Borough Council Recreation Forum. Andrew has had a lifelong interest in conservation and is sympathetic to the integration of farming and providing wildlife habitat.

Professor Julian Orford lives in Carryduff. He is Professor of Physical Geography, and past Head of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology at Queen’s University Belfast, where he currently researches in coastal response to climatic variation. He was Chair of NI Environment Link, and is a member of the National Trust's National Nature Conservation Panel. He will bring a knowledge of natural physical environments to the Council's work.

Tony Traill lives in Ballycastle. He is currently a director within Element Consultants Ltd where he is an Energy and Environmental Consultant. He was previously a self-employed consultant providing consultancy services in sustainable building and in financial services. Tony will bring a detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of renewable energy installations, their impact on the environment and current planning policy affecting them to the Council.

John Witchell lives in Newtownards. He is currently a director of Blakiston Houston Estate Company and chairman of the Steering Committee of Conservation Volunteers NI. He has been qualified as a Rural Chartered Surveyor for thirty years and has extensive experience in agriculture and rural land management. John was previously a member of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group from 2004 to 2010.

Shane Wolsey lives in Bangor. He is currently a self-employed economic development and environmental consultant. He is the Northern Ireland Representative of the British Trust for Ornithology. He is also a committee member, Editor and Duty Officer within the Copeland Bird Observatory, a committee member of the RSPB and a member of the Ards/North Down Local Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group. Shane will bring extensive knowledge of bird monitoring through large scale surveying and volunteer engagement to the Council.