Schools for Hope conference 4th June 2021 – Speaker Biographies

Mr Peter Weir: Minister for Dept of Education Dr Karen Kirby, Professor Siobhan O’Neill,

Peter Weir MLA, is a DUP member of the Assembly. Mental Health Champion Dr Karen Kirby (PhD, MSc, BSc, C.Psychol, AfBPS, SFHEA) is a Following the 2016 Assembly Election Mr Weir was appointed senior lecturer of Psychology, based at Ulster University (since Minister for the Department of Education. Mr Weir has been involved Siobhan O’Neill is a Professor of Mental Health Sciences at Ulster 2004). Dr Kirby specialises in child, adolescent and family mental in politics for more than twenty years, and first represented the North University, and Interim Mental Health Champion for Northern health, developmental trauma, CBT, family therapy and schema Down Constituency in the . Peter Weir served Ireland. Her research programmes focus on trauma mental illness as a member of the Environment Committee; a member of the therapy (teaching, researching, and practicing in these subject and suicidal behaviour in Northern Ireland, and the Finance and Personnel Committee and a member of the NI Assembly areas). She is an active researcher and full member of the transgenerational transmission of trauma. As Interim Mental Psychology Research Institute, and Institute of Mental Health Commission. Mr Weir represents the DUP on the Assembly All Party Health Champion for Northern Ireland, she will advise and assist Sciences. She has published over 70+ peer reviewed publications Group on Human Trafficking; the Assembly All Party Group on in the promotion of mental health and wellbeing though all and conference proceedings, book chapters, and has secured European Environmental Regulations, Directives and Decisions; and policies and services throughout the province over £1 million in grant funding (either as a research collaborator the Assembly All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy. Mr Weir is or chief investigator). Dr Kirby is also a Chartered/Registered barrister by profession. He attended and Practitioner Psychologist (counselling & health specialisms). graduated from the Queen's University of Belfast in Law and Accountancy. He was called to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1992 and is

a former editor of the Ulster Review.

Mr Cathal Mallaghan, Chair, Mid Ulster District Council Mrs Annette McGleenan, Mrs Claire Kerr, The Royal School, St Joseph’s Grammar School, Donaghmore Councillor Cathal Mallaghan (SF) is the current Chair of Mid Ulster . Dungannon District Council and was appointed for a 1 year term from 1 June Annette McGleenan is the Pastoral Vice Principal in St. Joseph’s 2020. Having previously served on Cookstown District Council Grammar School, Donaghmore where she has lead the Pastoral Team Claire has fulfilled the role of Senior Teacher Pastoral in the Royal since 2011 he was elected on to the new Mid Ulster District for 22 years. She is a keen advocate for student welfare and for the School Dungannon since 2015. In this role she has overseen the Council in May 2014 to represent the new Cookstown DEA. introduction of bespoke programmes promoting positive health and Councillor Mallaghan was the Presiding Councillor for the Interim revitalisation of the pastoral provision in the school. She has also well-being being delivered to all year groups in all schools. She strives Council from May 2014 to April 2015 and replacement Chair for used her position to lead a community wide mental health to ensure young people and their carers can access support and his party from May 2016 to June 2016. He sits on the Planning awareness campaign. For the last number of years, she has driven services in a timely manner. Her vision is to see a centre in South Committee and was chairperson from 2017-2020 and is a a local fundraising effort to secure the work of Reach Mentoring Tyrone providing a range of therapies, treatments, education and member of the Audit committee. He is Sinn Féin’s group leader in in schools in the Dungannon area. Royal School Dungannon was training for students, staff, parents and the local community which can Mid Ulster District Council. recently awarded the Derrytrasna Pastoral Care Award 2020. be easily accessed.

A project supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and match-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland and The Executive Office in Northern Ireland Schools for Hope conference, 4th June 2021 Biography of speakers

Mrs Hilary Johnston Ms Marie Dunne Dr Donal McAteer

Marie’s work as a specialist in the field of mental health Dr Donal McAteer is a Lecturer in Counselling Hilary Johnston is a Health and Social Wellbeing Psychology, and Course Director for the MSc Applied promotion has involved supporting the implementation Improvement Manager in the Public Health Agency Psychology programme, in the School of Psychology at (PHA). Hilary’s remit is to improve health and social of the Regional Mental Health Promotion Strategy Ulster University. He is a BPS Chartered and HCPC wellbeing and tackle inequalities through partnership within the WHSCT area. Marie has worked regionally, Registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Systemic working. Her work areas include: reducing the impact locally and on a cross-border basis on numerous Practitioner. Donal teaches in the area of mental health of poverty, working with the education sector, initiatives and facilitates a range of training and psychological therapies. Research interests include preventing accidents in the home and older people. programmes including mental health first aid, cognitive systemic and vicarious traumatisation, the exploration

behaviour life skills training, stress management and of the helping relationship in a range of fields, and the impact of this relationship on the helper. mental health promotion training

Mr Justin . Dr Laura Bakosh; Inner explorer-

MacLochlainn audio guided mindfulness

Laura Bakosh is a mindfulness teacher, published researcher and

co-founder of Inner Explorer, a mindfulness-based social emotional Justin is a a PhD researcher in psychology at Ulster learning (MBSEL) programme. University. His study interests encompass childhood

adversity, adolescent psychopathology, and trauma- Laura has practiced and studied mindfulness for more than 27 informed schools. years, initially as a way to manage the stress of work and travel and

recently as a way to transform education.

A project supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and match-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland and The Executive Office in Northern Ireland