THE 2020 PRAMERICA

AWARDS

14 & 15 SEPTEMBER 2020 WELCOME Lidia Ballocchi PROGRAMME Sasha Barrett-Ferris Pramerica Systems Ireland, the National Association of Principals & Deputy Principals Monday 14 September and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland welcome you to our virtual Gavin Bennett awards ceremony in honour of the 20 Finalists of the 2020 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards. Jemma Campbell Workshop for 2020 honourees The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards programme was launched in 2006 to recognise post-primary / second-level students for volunteer work in their communities. The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards is sponsored by Pramerica Rebecca Colley Systems Ireland Limited, a Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) * company; the Tuesday 15 September National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD); and the General Jessica Collins Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI). It is modelled after PFI’s Spirit of Community Awards, a youth-recognition programme that has been very successful for Keira Culleton Awards Ceremony many years in the United States, , Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil. Jamie Duffy Each of the 20 Finalists will receive engraved silver medallions and a €500 award. The Opening by Naomi Hegarty two highest placed junior honourees will receive an additional €500 towards a charity Vice President, Risk & Privacy, Pramerica of their choice. Two Finalists will be named “All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Lauren Gaynor Year” and will receive gold medallions, an additional €1,000 prizemoney plus €1,000 for a charity of their choice. This year due to COVID-19 there will be no trip to Charlotte Gallaher Address by Ciaran Harvey Washington, D.C. to attend the national recognition events for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards programme. Liadh Hanley Senior Managing Director & CIO, Pramerica Pramerica Systems Ireland provide strategic, innovative and cost effective business and technology services and solutions that enhance Prudential’s business performance. Rebecca Irvine Introduction to 2020 Honourees Pramerica provides Professional Services, Technology Solutions and Operations Services to all of Prudential’s business groups and corporate centres. Pramerica’s global Grainne McGlynn footprint spans across all time zones, allowing it to operate across all of Prudential. Address by Brendan Morgan Julie Reddan Chairperson, General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland Established under the auspices of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is the independent Jake Redmond professional body for teachers in Northern Ireland. It is dedicated to enhancing the Address by Alan Mongey status of teaching and promoting the highest standards of professional conduct and President, National Association of Principals & Deputy Principals practice. Aurora Riddiough

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) represents Sophia Shally Adam Harris Principals and Deputy Principals at post-primary level. The Association aims to Guest Speaker provide a united voice nationally for Principals and Deputy Principals on issues of Aaron Smith common concern in the Republic of Ireland. Emma Smyth Awards Presentations Two top placed 2020 Junior Volunteers *Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc, which is headquar- tered in the Teagan Stanley 2020 All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year Closing Remarks THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Lidia Ballocchi (Co. Down), a student at Assumption Grammar School, Lidia’s volunteering journey began at a local St Vincent De Paul charity shop, where she spent her weekends volunteering, giving her time and learning crucial life lessons along the way. Gavin Bennett (Co. Offaly), a student at Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, began volunteering with the local Brosna Centre in order to give something back to a Volunteering in such an environment, Lidia was a helping hand and an ear to listen for community which he is very proud to be part of. those who would visit the shop and believes it has had a massive positive impact on her own life. Gavin participated in ‘Swim for a Mile’ for the Brosna Centre, training twice a week for three months in order to complete the swim and raise vital funds that the centre Lidia then began volunteering at a dementia ward in the Downe Hospital, which sparked needed to stay open for the local community. her interest in going to the Holy Shrine of Knock in Co. Mayo in order to help elderly pilgrims on their journeys. These experiences also impacted Lidia’s decision to fundraise Gavin regularly volunteers baking goods for the cake sales in school for charity and for Saphara India 2018 and spend three weeks in India, where she supported the recently enjoyed taking part in a fashion show in his school called ‘This is Me’, in aid education of young women from impoverished areas. of autism awareness. Gavin also helped coordinate the ‘Relay for Life in Edenderry’, a 24 hour walk to honour people affected by cancer, raising much needed money for Lidia believes these experiences are the reason she is the person that she is today. the Irish Cancer Society.

Lidia’s motivation for volunteering: “Since I was 14, my friends encouraged me to Gavin’s motivation for volunteering: “My motivation for volunteering was to give get involved in extracurricular activities. I joined sports clubs and participated in school something back to the Brosna Centre. I wanted to help raise much needed funds for activities; it was then that I decided to move onto the next logical step; volunteering.” the Brosna Centre, I know how vital funds are to keep the Centre going.”

Sasha Barrett-Ferris (Co. Down), a student at Sullivan Upper School, Sasha has been volunteering with Guides and Scouts from an early age, teaching girls from deprived Jemma Campbell (Co. Antrim), a student at Our Lady and St. Patrick’s areas the essential skills needed for life and helping them to grow in confidence. College. Growing up with a sister with Turner Syndrome and with three members of her family diagnosed with ASD, Jemma was determined to raise awareness and learn Also passionate about helping the homeless and poor, Sasha volunteered to make more about these conditions. She currently volunteers with Helping Hands Autism Christmas Food Parcels and gift bags for Dundonald food bank so struggling families charity and Turner Syndrome Support Society to do this. could still enjoy the holidays like everyone else. Late at night during the cold winter season, Sasha kindly offered up her own free time to hand out blankets, gloves, toiletries, Jemma has natural instincts to care for people and is a Ward volunteer at the Ulster food and other goods to those living on the streets of Belfast. Sasha is currently making a Hospital, taking care of patients and helping nurses. As a cadet leader for over two YouTube video of this to show how a small act can make a big difference; and ultimately years, Jemma volunteers with St. John’s Ambulance teaching first aid to the younger inspire others to do their bit to end homelessness. cadets and attending weekend classes to further expand her knowledge.

For the past six years, Sasha had been volunteering at RSPB’s annual Big Wild Sleep Out, In 2018, Jemma was selected to be part of a team of young people who went to in Omagh and Cultra. Putting up tents, leading children’s activities and games, running Texas to take part in volunteering and cross community work with the Ulster the campfire and encouraging families to enjoy nature whilst educating them on how to Project. While in America, Jemma undertook several volunteering activities preserve it. including ‘the Spirit of Hope Foundation’, in which she took a group of underprivileged children shopping for school essentials and hosted a banquet dinner Sasha also has a keen interest in sport and has led the NICS Hockey Club at a disability for a homeless shelter. hockey summer scheme for the past three years. The scheme allows one to one coaching for children and young adults, to allow them to engage with sport and unlock their full Jemma’s motivation for volunteering: “My family’s medical conditions inspired potential. With her brother, Sasha also donates some of her spare time fundraising for and motivated me to volunteer and my aim is to impact others by raising awareness Mental Health UK and once raised £800 from a JustGiving Page. and supporting those affected and their families.”

Sasha’s motivation for volunteering: “I have always had a desire to help others, and because many members of my family suffer with illness, I feel that seeing them struggle on a daily basis planted a seed within me to want to help others in any way I could.” THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES Keira Culleton (Co. Derry), a student at Loreto College, is a volunteer with cross-community programme SPARK. Keira is a key member of this initiative which focused on celebrating people’s similarities rather than the differences between various groups in the community. Kiera takes part in activities each week which can Rebecca Colley (Co. Dublin), is a student at Castleknock Community College. include litter picking, visiting residents in local care homes, interacting with local As a volunteer with Special Olympics, Rebecca coaches a team of 18 individuals of businesses and cleaning neglected graves. all ages in swimming with the aim of improving their confidence, communication and integration skills. Rebecca sees first-hand the positive impact that giving young Diagnosed with Scoliosis in 2018, Kiera wears a back brace, but she does not let this people time and attention can have on them. stop her doing the things she loves. Kiera has presented to her class and Camogie team to help her friends and teammates understand about what Scoliosis is and why Working with Special Olympics allowed Rebecca to meet other wonderful and she needs to wear the brace. inspiring volunteers who share her love for helping others. Rebecca has also shown great dedication to volunteering by travelling to Kolkata to work in homes for Keen to show her positive side and inspire others, Kiera attends the Michaela people with intellectual disabilities with Bekind Ireland, a local charity who support Foundation Camps each year which promotes and encourages positive values to live slum and street children in India. life to the full and embrace opportunities to succeed in all that we do. Kiera also visits a local Care Home for the elderly and is heavily involved with her local church Rebecca’s motivation for volunteering: “My mum worked as a social care worker by helping her dad, who is the sacristan. with people with intellectual disabilities, so she was my inspiration to begin to volunteer coaching, including coaching for the Special Olympics Ireland Team.” Kiera’s motivation for volunteering: “Regardless of my own personal challenges I always try to think of others less fortunate and work within my local community to spread random acts of kindness.” Jessica Collins (Co. Cork), a student at Skibbereen Community School, is a passionate animal lover. Jessica was given the opportunity to volunteer for five weeks in China at the Slaughterhouse Survivors, Harbin Animal Rescue, looking after ill Jamie Duffy (Co. Monaghan), a student at Beech Hill College, is extremely and unwanted dogs and cats. As well as playing with the animals, Jessica worked in passionate about the community and environment in which he lives and has gruelling heat every day giving the dogs and cats water and their vaccines, shaving been involved in organising and partaking in numerous activities in his role as and bathing dogs that had matted hair, transporting dogs between rooms as well as Chairperson of the Glaslough Junior Tidy Towns committee. power washing and cleaning the yard. As Chairperson, Jamie with the help of a friend, organised the revamp of an old Over the course of her trip and as one of the youngest volunteers, Jessica became ice cream cart and trained the younger members of the committee, introducing an integral part of the animal Rescue Centre even mentoring some of the new them to the world of volunteering. This cart serves as a successful, creative, unique volunteers. and enriching amenity for his village. As leader and founder of the Junior Tidy Towns, one of the first of its kind in Ireland, Jamie also helps to organise litter picks, Jessica overcame the daunting task of travelling to China on her own and following gardening and other activities. a visit to a dog shelter which housed thousands of abused dogs, she was determined to come back to Ireland and raise awareness of the cruelty that these animals were Jamie regularly gives complimentary walking Heritage Tours of his village to the facing. She has set up an animal cruelty project and overcoming her own mental many tourists who visit from around the globe. health difficulties is working to promote this within her school. She had planned to travel back to China during her summer holiday in 2020 to work with the animals Jamie provides training for young people as part of the ‘Greener Glaslough’ once again. campaign which aims at making his community a more sustainable and eco-friendly place and has garnered a huge amount of time volunteering to create and manage Jessica’s motivation for volunteering: “I knew it was my responsibility and duty the project. to help these animals when nobody else would and I am determined to make a difference to this world one animal at a time.” Jamie’s motivation for volunteering: “I firmly believe in the importance of promoting greener living in our society. Like many other young people, I am concerned about the dangers our world is facing and I use my volunteering to spread awareness of issues such as climate change and plastic pollution which will hopefully make a change.” THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY

AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES Liadh Hanley (Co. Cork), a student at St. Angela’s College, has since Transition Year been actively volunteering. She volunteers as a barista in Roots Coffee House, and in the summer assisted with money management, coffee making, and customer Lauren Gaynor (Co. Tyrone), a student at Loreto Grammar School, has been service. involved in volunteering from a young age and has organised and participated in fundraising activities regularly such as, bag packing, baking and serving at coffee A talented writer, Liadh wrote a children’s book about disabilities called ‘Upside mornings. She was chosen by her school to participate in an exchange programme Down’ that incredibly went on to get published. News reached The Cork University and subsequently volunteered in a Washington D.C. Soup Kitchen. The Soup Maternity Hospital who provide copies to patients and families with children with Kitchen was established to help feed and provide shelter for the homeless people in Down Syndrome - Liadh hopes this will help to raise as much awareness as she can the city. about disabilities.

Lauren also had the opportunity to visit Cambodia on a four week expedition and Liadh has also volunteered in Douglas Nursing Home, serving residents tea, coffee took part in numerous projects such as designing concrete cylinders for the local and their meals as well as playing the violin, providing much needed entertainment drainage system, helping to build a dam which allows the locals to transport food for the residents to enjoy. Fundraising for many charities including the Hope over the river and planting banana trees for the poorest family in the local village. Foundation, the Cork Simon Community and Pieta House, Liadh has a true passion Lauren also donated some of her own money to buy the local people she was helping for helping those in need and travelled to Kolkata with the Hope Foundation’s with food and livestock which was instrumental in creating an income for families. Immersion Programme volunteering with local projects that help and support children and adolescents in the slums of Kolkata. Both trips were an eye opening and life changing experience for Lauren. Lauren used these events not only to fundraise but to raise awareness of the plight of those Liadh’s motivation for volunteering: “I first volunteered in Transition Year when I in need. visited Kolkata with the Hope Foundation. I found this experience so rewarding that I was inspired to carry out more volunteer work closer to home.” Lauren’s motivation for volunteering: “I want to make a difference to people’s lives and, coming from Northern Ireland, I understood I was in a fortunate position compared to many others across the world.” Rebecca Irvine (Co. Antrim), a student at Carrickfergus Grammar School, has a passion for medicine and helping others and began volunteering with St John Ambulance cadets, putting to practice a wide range of life saving first aid skills from Charlotte Gallaher (Co. Dublin), a student at Our Lady’s School was primary survey to CPR to bandaging wounds. diagnosed with Leukemia at age ten, Charlotte became the youngest member and volunteer of the Sarah Jennifer Knott Foundation (SJK). A close friend of Charlotte’s Rebecca has volunteered at a local nursing home every week, helping those with family, Sarah passed away in 2015 aged 31 from Cancer of Unknown Primary dementia by assisting in dinner time responsibilities and with large scale events to (CUP). Unable to find the source of Sarah’s cancer, her family set up the foundation help raise vital funds. to raise awareness and pay for research. Charlotte has been working relentlessly to spread the word about CUP amongst her peers and school friends. In July 2019 Rebecca travelled with Habitat for Humanity to Buftea, Romania for 10 days as part of a ‘youth build’, to help construct an educational community At the annual SJK Christmas carol event, Charlotte helped to sell candles and centre to be used by two local schools, assisting with homework and educational raffle tickets to help raise money for the Foundation. Following their confirmation activities. Rebecca raised over £1000 to contribute towards the project by organising Charlotte’s class decided to choose a charity to donate some of their money to a show jumping competition at her local horse-riding school. and Charlotte focused on telling her classmates more about the foundation and explaining about her own illness. Charlotte was delighted when her class chose the Rebecca’s volunteering duties have also seen her travel to Ghana independently for SJK Foundation and a cheque for €1,000 was presented to Sarah’s sisters. two weeks where she spent her mornings in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in four different wards. She also spent afternoons volunteering at an orphanage, teaching, Charlotte’s motivation for volunteering: “Even though I was going through playing and learning from the children from both the orphanage and the primary chemotherapy treatment for my cancer, I really wanted to lobby for the SJK school beside. Foundation to try and help raise money and hopefully one day find a cure.” Rebecca’s motivation for volunteering: “My motivation for volunteering revolves around the need for change and my love for medicine and healthcare stems from a desire to make a positive impact on those around me.” THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Grainne McGlynn (Co. Donegal), a student at Rosses Community School, Jake Redmond (Co. Dublin), a student at Larkin Community College, is a is passionate about trying to better her community. Grainne jumped at the dedicated Peer Educator with Jigsaw youth mental health service, helping teenagers opportunity to be part of the Donegal Youth Council giving up much of her free between the ages of 12 to 19 years with their mental health difficulties. For several time to deal with issues in her local area including highlighting worthwhile topics. years he has taken part in events to raise awareness and funds for charities such as The topics that she chose to focus on were drugs and alcohol usage within young Pieta House, Localise and the Peter McVerry Trust. people, mental health and sexual health, areas which Grainne believes are serious issues amongst young people. As part of her volunteering role, Grainne gave A member of an advisory group for a government led citizens assembly, on the presentations and speeches as well as recording a radio advert for the Donegal Road reform of education, Jake worked with educators and policy makers to give young Safety working group to prevent deaths on Donegal Roads. people a voice and a say in their education that was then brought to the attention of the Minister for Education. Grainne also volunteers with her local GAA club taking drills and skills sessions, especially encouraging the talented young girls to keep playing and building their Passionate about education, Jake went on to train for two days in the National confidence. Grainne also worked with young people when she took part in a two College of Ireland to become a Relationship Keeper. This taught him how to help week Speak Teen summer camp teaching English to Italian students. young students entering secondary school cope with the change and get the best out of the school environment. Another key part of Grainne’s volunteering is the time she spends at The Angel Day Centre. As someone with a sister with Down Syndrome and Autism, Grainne felt Enthusiastic about a variety of issues, Jake actively volunteers during annual school that people with learning disabilities were sometimes misunderstood and she spends Open Days, local festivals, climate change protests to Leinster House and with local her time helping young adults improve their social and communication skills. primary schools.

Grainne’s motivation for volunteering: “As well as wanting to grow my Jake’s motivation for volunteering: “I think it is because of the great people that independence, I wanted to be able to make a change in my community and in the are in my life such as my teachers, parents and amazing people in my community greater Donegal area.” that really encouraged me to begin volunteering.”

Aurora Riddiough (Co. Antrim), a student at Ballycastle High School, Julie Reddan (Co. Tipperary), a student at Borrisokane Community College, with support from her mum, Aurora dresses up as famous characters visiting sick volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Romania for a week and worked in local children as well as attending larger events and local fundraisers. After meeting two towns and villages building houses for those in need. Every year, Julie volunteers amazing young children, Noah and Gracie Coates, who have a terminal illness called with Team Hope and works in their warehouse sorting the pre-filled shoe boxes, Vanishing White Matter, Aurora wanted to dedicate her time to raise money to making sure those less fortunate have the essentials they need to survive and live further fund research and in some small way try to make a difference. a normal life. Julie also fundraised and skydived raising €1500 for Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland. When Noah passed away aged 12, Aurora performed a guard of honor at his funeral and while she has to overcome the emotional challenges attached to her Struggling with her mental health and being diagnosed with depression over four volunteering, seeing the difference she can make and the smiles on the children’s years ago, Julie found that helping others and volunteering gave her a sense of self- faces helps her to overcome any obstacles she may face. worth and happiness. Helping others is in Julie’s nature as she selflessly takes care of her mum who suffers from MS for the past 13 years. As well as personal family engagements, Aurora has taken part in larger events including Bark in the Park, Paint the Town Pink, walking the streets to raise money Julie’s motivation for volunteering: “I have a love for helping others and find that towards finding a cure for breast cancer. it helps me manage my own mental health.” Aurora’s motivation for volunteering: “I wanted to help young people forget about their pain and make them smile. Noah and Gracie motivated me to help everyone live a happy life and raise money to help those in need.” Emma Smyth (Co. Antrim), a student at St Louis Grammar School, Emma has THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY been volunteering within her local community and beyond since her brother was sadly diagnosed with cancer. Emma and her family have helped to raise funds for AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES charities such as Cancer Fund for Children and donated regularly to help the other families who were going through the same situation. (Co. Mayo), is a student at St Louis Community School. Sophia Shally Emma volunteers and fundraises for charities such as Autumn Leaf Club, an Following an accident at home when she was seven months old, Sophia was left with organisation for elderly people that allows them to meet others through organising life-changing burns across her face, hands and scalp. Despite the painful treatment, old-style dancing events, day trips and meals. She also volunteered in Ghana which is ongoing, tedious travel and long periods of time away from her friends and for two weeks working in a local village school and hospital and successfully family, Sophia finds the strength to stay positive. fundraised £1800 for the local village in order to improve living conditions. Emma also organised and ran a bake sale for Children in Need, raising £200 and has A gifted musician, Sophia uses her talents to give back to the community and contributed to the Road of Hope charity for over 14 years by taking part in their recently created a CD with her mother which helped raise €10,000 for the Kevin Shoebox appeal every year. Bell Repatriation Trust. The Trust has repatriated 800 bodies to date including Sophia’s godfather Sean Corrigan who died tragically in Boston following an Emma participated in an International exchange program with Erasmus for ten days accident clearing snow from a roof. to Denmark, delivering a presentation to individuals from five different European countries on the differences within Northern Ireland and went on to join a Young Sophia also sells calendars every year in aid of the Dogs for the Disabled and Sophia Leadership International program where she spoke about NI politics. and her mother are part of the Ministry that helps to feed the homeless in the Boston Common every week. Emma’s motivation for volunteering: “My motivation for volunteering came from the support I received from various charities when my younger brother was Sophia’s motivation for volunteering: “I wanted to turn a negative experience into diagnosed with cancer. As I got older, I realised that there were many problems in a positive one. I want to help those who see themselves as marginalised, those who the world that needed support to find a solution. This encouraged me to partake in are hurt physically and mentally and those who need love and time.” different fundraisers and begin to volunteer.”

Aaron Smith (Co. Antrim), is a student at St Louise’s Comprehensive College. Teagan Stanley (Co. Waterford), a student at Newtown School, first began After one of Aaron’s close friends tragically took his own life in 2016, he began volunteering when she was nine years old with Irish Girl Guides and has since went struggling with his own mental health and was diagnosed with depression and on to expand her volunteering horizon. anxiety disorder. Looking for help and support, Aaron turned to volunteering for help and joined a cross-community programme, Uniting Communities Young Extremely passionate about raising mental health awareness, Teagan developed a Leaders. mental health support system to offer a support network to vulnerable students who feel they don’t have a safe person to discuss problems with. Within this programme, Aaron successfully planned and delivered workshops to young people aged 11-16, working with several organisations, like Todd’s Leap. Teagan was selected to be part of the Irish National Contingent and got the Aaron was selected to represent the Department for Communities in in 2018 opportunity to travel to India as part of a Leadership and Community Action for the European Democratic Action Week and presented a workshop to 85 young Programme in August 2019 and spent several days volunteering in Bal Kalyan people and leaders in Berlin. Sanstha, a centre in Pune, for children with disabilities.

Aaron is vice-chair of his local youth forum, ROOTS, which allows young people Teagan has also been involved in helping to develop a nationwide programme for to voice their concerns to members of the NI Assembly. Aaron joined the Young Irish Girl Guides to work on the ‘Responsible Consumption and Production Goal’ Ambassadors programme and was approached in early 2019 by the Northern Ireland which is focused on working with the government to promote a better quality of life Commonwealth Games Association to help co-design a declaration on Human for all. Rights and Sport. The declaration was a huge success and Aaron was invited to accompany the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Association to the 2019 Volunteering during Transition Year, Teagan also fundraised for the Solas Cancer Commonwealth Games Forum General Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda where he Support Centre through events such as Youth Dance for Life, 10km Run for Life helped deliver this declaration to 71 different Commonwealth Games Associations. and car washes. As a talented sports person, Teagan regularly assists with sports coaching in local primary schools and with Waterford Hockey Club. Aaron’s motivation for volunteering: “I began volunteering at around twelve as I had very low self-esteem, so in an effort to boost my self-confidence, I tried Teagan’s motivation for volunteering: “I get so much out of being part of a volunteering at local events through my youth club and found myself growing more community. I want to give back as much as I can to help others around me and to confident and self-assured.” allow them to have the kind of opportunities that I have had.” EXECUTIVE SPONSOR 2020 FINALISTS’ Naomi Hegarty Naomi established the ISACA Northwest Conference in Letterkenny in 2017, the first of its kind in the area, Naomi Hegarty is bringing local companies, colleges and Cybersecurity Lidia Ballocchi, Sixth Year, Assumption Grammar School, Co. Down Vice President of Risk experts together. She has co-hosted this conference since and Privacy within its inception with this year’s conference plan in progress. Sasha Barrett-Ferris, Sixth Year, Sullivan Upper School, Co. Down Pramerica, Prudential’s Also holding membership to the International internal global delivery Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Naomi Gavin Bennett, Third Year, Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, Co. Offaly center for IT, business has qualified for 3 of their industry-leading credentials: and operations, located Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe Jemma Campbell, Sixth Year, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Co. Antrim in Letterkenny, Co. (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) & Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), the Donegal. Sixth Year, Castleknock Community College, Co. Dublin latter is the Association’s highest award, recognizing Rebecca Colley, leaders in the privacy field. Naomi has 20+ years of IT experience starting her Jessica Collins, Fourth Year, Skibbereen Community School, Co. Cork career as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. She has held roles such as web developer, IT consultant, Passionate about education and future talent, Naomi is Keira Culleton, Third year, Loreto College, Co. Derry Project Manager, Business Information Security Officer a mentor for the all-girls student leadership at Loreto and Business Continuity Officer. Her primary focus is College. Naomi also serves as executive sponsor for Sixth Year, Beech Hill College, Co. Monaghan to “enable but protect business” with a low-ego/high both the Pramerica’s Ladies GAA team and ADAPT Jamie Duffy, impact approach and a horizontal view across Risk, (Abled and Differently-Abled Partnering Together) and Privacy, Cybersecurity, Law and Compliance. has taken the helm of Pramerica’s hugely successful Lauren Gaynor, Sixth Year, Loreto Grammar School, Co. Tyrone national Spirit of Community awards for youth A longtime ISACA member, Naomi has achieved 3 of volunteers for 2019. Charlotte Gallaher, First Year, Our Lady’s School, Co. Dublin their flagship credentials: Certified Information Security Manager (CISM); Certified Information Systems Naomi has a Higher National Diploma and a Degree Liadh Hanley, Sixth Year, St. Angela’s College, Co. Cork Auditor (CISA) and Certified in Risk & Information in Computer Science from the University of Ulster. She Systems Control (CRISC). Naomi placed first in also has a Diploma in Interior Design. Rebecca Irvine, Sixth Year, Carrickfergus Grammar School, Co. Antrim Ireland for her CISA exam/top 5% worldwide and On a personal level, Naomi loves spending time with second in Ireland for CRISC. Committed to Donegal, her husband, two boys and their dog Cody. Grainne McGlynn, Fourth Year, Rosses Community School, Co. Donegal GUEST SPEAKER Julie Reddan, Sixth Year, Borrisokane Community College, Co. Tipperary Adam Harris Adam founded AsIAm.ie based on his experiences of liv- Jake Redmond, Sixth Year, Larkin Community College, Co. Dublin ing with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the Autism Adam Harris is a 25-year- Spectrum. Adam spent 3 years in Special Education, 5 in Aurora Riddiough, Fifth year, Ballycastle High School, Co. Antrim old social entrepreneur and mainstream primary education with the support of an in- Founder-CEO of AsIAm. credible Special Needs Assistant and completed Secondary Sophia Shally, Third Year, St Louis Community School, Co. Mayo ie, an organisation working School without the support of an SNA. to build an Ireland where Aaron Smith, Sixth Year, St Louise’s Comprehensive College, Co. Antrim every person with Autism As Adam benefited from early intervention, he felt the can “live and succeed as need to do something to give back to the Autism commu- Emma Smyth, Sixth Year, St Louis Grammar School, Co. Antrim they are”. nity in Ireland and felt that a poor online presence and a society which does not truly understand the condition Teagan Stanley, Fifth Year, Newtown School, Co. Waterford AsIAm.ie provides a central were key elements of the challenges people with Autism online hub for the Autism face, which needed to be addressed. community which aims to inform and empower those Today, Adam is a frequent contributor in media and at affected by the condition, their families and supporter. conferences home and abroad, around Autism issues and Through online engagement with users, AsIAm creates the need to have a whole-community approach to Autism. training programmes and campaigns to engage various A Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awardee, Adam sits on the aspects of Irish life to understand Autism better and to Board of Specialisterne Ireland and a number of statutory become more Autism friendly. consultative committees. For more information, follow Pramerica Spirit of Community on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@Pramerica_SOC) or visit spirit.pramerica.ie.