2026 Speakers

Sarah Travers – Conference Host

Sarah Travers is co-founder and Director of Bespoke Communications, a leading training and professional development company serving the UK and Ireland.

Sarah is a former BBC news journalist and TV presenter, with a keen interest in stories and the people that shape them. Sarah is a familiar face to many in Northern Ireland, where she was news anchor in the BBC newsroom for 17 years, covering high profile stories throughout the Northern Ireland peace process, and key events like the London 2012 Paralympics and BBC Children in Need. Sarah has also presented lifestyle programming for UTV and is in demand as an event and conference MC and podcast host. She is also the Lead Presenter for InBroadcast.

Sarah is passionate about communication and helping leaders communicate effectively to their relevant target audiences no matter what the subject area may be, and bringing the best out of event and conference audiences.

Sarah is a proud ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society in NI, Tinylife and Young Enterprise. She currently presents The Public Eye podcast and The Lens podcast for Business In The Community.

Matt Whittaker

CEO PBE (Pro Bono Economics)
Matt is CEO at PBE, a charity and think tank that undertakes research and policy work designed to better understand and tackle the causes and consequences of low wellbeing in the UK. He joined the organisation in 2019 to help drive its expansion into the policy space, and he served as a founding member of the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, the research and policy programme run by PBE to bring together experts from across the public, private and social sectors to help “unleash the potential” of civil society over the next decade. Matt is an economist by training and was previously instrumental in establishing the Resolution Foundation as a leading economic think tank.

Diane Yentel

President & CEO, National Council of Nonprofits
Diane Yentel is President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, the largest network of nonprofit organizations in North America. Since joining NCN in January 2025, Diane has been a leading national advocate and thought leader for the nonprofit sector. Under Diane’s leadership, NCN has filed four landmark lawsuits to protect nonprofit funding and programs, achieved significant public policy wins, launched a major national narrative campaign to build public support for the vital work of nonprofits, doubled its team, and expended its network.

Diane has spent the entirety of her nearly 30-year career working for, with, and in support of nonprofits. Prior to joining NCN, Diane was President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition for 9 years, leading multiple national campaigns to historic success. Diane has also held leadership roles at Enterprise Community Partners and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and worked to advance equitable public policies with Oxfam America and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. Diane also served over 3 years as a community development Peace Corps volunteer in rural Zambia.

In 2025, Diane was named Influencer of the Year by The Nonprofit Times, and one of Washington DC’s Most Powerful Women by the Washingtonian.

Stephen Dallas

CEO Bytes Project and Chair, NICVA
Stephen Dallas accepted the CEO role at Bytes in 2021. Bytes is a regional voluntaryyouth work organisation, established in the 1990s, supporting young people to develop digital skills through youth work–led approaches. Since then, Bytes has expanded its reach across Northern Ireland, now operating more than 10 local youth hubs and supporting over 1,000 young people each week. Stephen’s work has focused on how youth organisations can renew themselves by blending public funding, social enterprise, and social value partnerships. Over the past five years, he has researched emerging practice, listened closely to practitioners, and tested new digital technologies within constrained funding environments. His current area of exploration examines how digital mental health tools can enhance and extend traditional place based youth work.

Paul Sweeney

Chair, Northern Ireland Committee of The National Lottery Community Fund

Paul Sweeney was appointed Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee of The National Lottery Community Fund in May 2021. He is also a member of The Fund’s UK wide Board. He has a wealth of experience working in the voluntary, community and public sectors in Northern Ireland.

From 1987 to 1994 Paul was the Director of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, which supported community-based self-help initiatives. He joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) in 1994, initially on secondment, as an adviser on community development and reconciliation. Throughout his subsequent career in the NICS he held a number of senior positions including Deputy Secretary in the Office of the First and deputy First Minister, Permanent Secretary in the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure and Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education.

Since retiring from the NICS in 2017, Paul has undertaken a trustee role in a number of not-for-profit organisations involved in regeneration, culture and young people.

Professor Deirdre Heenan

Professor of Social Policy, Ulster University
Professor Deirdre Heenan was appointed as a Professor of Social Policy in 2009. She is a former Dean of Academic Development, Provost of the Magee and Coleraine campuses, and a former PVC of Communications.

She is a National Teaching Fellow and Fellow of The Higher Education Academy. She is a Senior Associate of the Nuffield Trust London.

She has written extensively on healthcare, politics, and devolution.

She is a co-founder and former co-director of the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey.

In 2012 she was appointed to the Irish Council of State as one of the seven personal nominees of President Michael D Higgins.

She was a trustee of the British Irish Association from 2011 to 2024.

Prof Heenan is currently the Northern Ireland lead for IMPACT, a £15 million UK wide project on social care funded by the ESRC and the Health Foundation.

She is a board member of ARINS. A research collaboration between the Keough-Naughton Institute of the University of Notre Dame and the Royal Irish Academy.

She is the chair of the International Foundation for Integrated Care Ireland.

She is currently working in collaboration with Prof Mark Lawler QUB on an all-island cancer care policy funded by ARINS.

She is the Northern Ireland Honorary Consul to Austria.

Gordon Lyons MLA

Minister for Communities

Gordon Lyons MLA was appointed Minister for Communities in the Northern Ireland Executive in February 2024. He has served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Antrim since 2015.

As Communities Minister, his portfolio includes responsibility for housing, community development, urban regeneration, social security, sport and culture. Housing delivery and reform are central priorities, including implementation of the Housing Supply Strategy and increasing social and affordable housing supply. He has a strong focus on delivery, cross‑departmental working and making a positive impact on local communities.

Prior to his current appointment, Minister Lyons has held several senior ministerial and executive roles, including Minister for the Economy (2021–2022), Junior Minister in the Executive Office, and a period as Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Grainia Long

Tina McKenzie MBE

CEO Staffline Recruitment Ireland and UK Policy and Advocacy Chair, FSB
Tina McKenzie MBE is a prominent business leader, policy advocate and diplomat recognised for her contribution to economic development, job creation and public service across the UK and Ireland. After graduating from Ulster University, she built an international career in recruitment and employment services before returning to Northern Ireland in 2013 to found Staffline Recruitment Ireland. Under her leadership, the business grew rapidly into a market-leading workforce solutions company, reaching £145 million turnover within five years, expanding across Ireland and supporting thousands of people into employment across both the public and private sectors every year.

Alongside her executive career, Tina has played a significant role in shaping economic and business policy. As UK Chair of Policy and Advocacy for the Federation of Small Businesses, she represents the interests of millions of SMEs and engages directly with senior Government Ministers. Her work has influenced major policy outcomes including increases to the Employment Allowance, legislative action on late payments, business rates relief and financial support for businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. A long-standing advocate for Northern Ireland’s economic potential, she also championed the concept of an Enhanced Economic Zone during the Brexit negotiations and has consistently worked to ensure the voice of business is heard across the UK, Ireland and the EU.

Tina’s commitment to international engagement and civic leadership is reflected in her role as Honorary Consul of Finland in Belfast and former President of the Consular Association of Northern Ireland. She is also a Visiting Professor at Ulster University Business School and serves on the Global Board of The Ireland Funds, while actively mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting charitable causes. Her contributions have been widely recognised, including an MBE for Services to the Economy, receiving the Freedom of the City of London, a Belfast Telegraph Lifetime Achievement Award and recognition as one of the most influential figures in UK politics by Politico. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to enterprise, diplomacy and expanding opportunity through work.

Permanent Secretary, Department for Communities
Grainia Long joined the Department for Communities (DfC) as Permanent Secretary in April 2026. DfC is the largest of the nine Executive departments with a particular remit to improve the lives of people and households by enabling housing supply, providing excellent welfare and social security services, boosting employability, investing in community infrastructure and supporting the arts, culture, heritage and libraries. With a budget of £1.2 billion and employing 11,018 staff people, the Department works with its Arms Length Bodies and other partners to enable communities to thrive.

Prior to her appointment Grainia was the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland and one of the largest public landlords in Europe.

Previously, Grainia was the Commissioner for Resilience for the City of Belfast, and co-chaired the Belfast Climate Commission. Grainia was also the Chief Executive of the National Child Protection Charity in the Republic of Ireland, ISPCC Childline. This position followed several years working in housing, including as Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), and previously National Director of the CIH in Northern Ireland. She has served two terms as a member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, was a member of the Lyons Commission on Housing Supply and Advisor to the Best Commission on the Future of Housing in Northern Ireland.