Developing young leaders Supporting new thinking Creating a shared future Annual Report 2012 Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2012 / 1 Contents Letter from the Chairperson 1 Executive Summary 2 An Appreciation: Hillary Rodham Clinton 3 Chapter 1 WIP Organization & Governance 4 Chapter 2 The WIP Class of 2012 7 Chapter 3 15 Host Families Chapter 4 WIP Alumni Community 16 Chapter 5 Key WIP Activities & Events in 2012 18 2 / Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2012 Kevin J. Sullivan Letter from the Chairperson For over 18 years, the Washington Ireland Program (WIP) has offered an outstanding and diverse group of university students the first stepping-stone to becoming part of a rising generation of Irish and Northern Irish leaders. We have asked them to look past The demand to be part of WIP remains WIP could not do the work it does the sectarian divides that have held overwhelming with 346 students without our network of partners: Northern Ireland back for too long and applying to be part of the Class of 2012. government, university, nonprofit, and to imagine an Ireland and Northern Our summer program in Washington, corporate friends who support us in so Ireland in a new, modern cross D.C. is gaining prestige and popularity. many ways. This network has expanded border context. We offered a wide variety of internships steadily over the years. In particular, in Congressional offices, federal I would like to welcome the Institutes This is not an easy task. The Republic agencies, newsrooms, nonprofits and of Technology, Ireland and the continues to face difficult economic businesses. This gave the Class of 2012 University of Liverpool, who joined challenges and Northern Ireland is still the opportunity to develop the skills it our University Partnership program struggling to find a way to talk about its needs to address the urgent challenges this year. past and indeed, to have a conversation of a post-conflict Ireland, from its about its future. The recent Loyalist flag The future of WIP lies in the hands of economic woes to its ongoing protests and riots in Belfast and the our supporters and friends. You provide sectarian divides. release of the McAleese report on the internships, homes for our students Magdalene laundries remind Ireland The Class of 2012 produced the second and financial support. In all these roles, of its difficulties in coming to terms annual WIP papers exploring some of your help allows WIP’s young emerging with its past. Finding solutions to these the most significant issues facing their leaders take on leadership roles in challenges is becoming more complex communities. Focusing on the areas of diverse fields, from public policy and with a new generation of young Irish Irish Constitutional reform, the shared journalism to business and advocacy. people required to emigrate to find work. future of Northern Ireland and how To all our supporters, partners, host third level education facilitates social families, volunteers and friends, thank It is with this context that we challenge and economic renewal, the classes’ you. We hope you will stay with us into each new class to consider the future of executive summaries were presented to the future as we continue to support Ireland and Northern Ireland. Equally members of both the Irish government Ireland and Northern Ireland’s leaders important, we seek to support our and the Northern Irish Executive. Alumni of tomorrow. 475 alumni who represent a rising engagement is expanding with regular generation of leaders. Their ascendency Kevin J. Sullivan events hosted in Dublin and Belfast. comes at a critical moment in the Chairman of the Board history of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2012 / 1 Executive Summary WIP is a unique nonprofit organization and prosperous Northern Ireland and Professional development courses, that fosters the next generation of Ireland. Past students have interned with networking opportunities, leadership emerging leaders in Northern Ireland then Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator dinners, fundraising and social events and Ireland. For nearly two decades, WIP John McCain, then Senator Barack and a mentoring scheme are some of has helped prepare an outstanding and Obama, the Library of Congress, the the activities WIP Alumni engage in. diverse group of university students Environmental Protection Agency, the Our 475 alumni now represent a rising to become a new generation of leaders American Chemistry Council, Habitat generation of leaders committed to dedicated to public service and peace on for Humanity, the Vietnam Veterans of service, peace and prosperity in Ireland the island of Ireland. America, the World Bank, the Embassy and Northern Ireland. of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Bureau, University students selected to ABC, CNN and C-SPAN. participate in WIP, travel from Ireland and Northern Ireland to face a As part of WIP’s commitment to service unique and challenging two-month and leadership, each student also leadership course in Washington, D.C. completes a thirty-hour public service The leadership curriculum includes placement in their local community professional development training from before departing for D.C. The students Accenture, master classes with leaders also participate in projects while in D.C., from Academia, Business, Diplomacy and giving back to the local community. the Sciences, and policy development on The WIP program culminates with the important issues relating to the issues Graduation ceremony in September. facing Ireland and Northern Ireland. Upon graduation, WIP students join the As part of the experience, students WIP Alumni Community – undertake a demanding internship an active and vibrant network of Pictured above: in various roles that will help train young professionals based in Ireland, The graduates of 2012 gather on the steps them for roles as leaders of a peaceful Northern Ireland and across the globe. of Capitol Hill in Washington. 2 / Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2012 An Appreciation: Hillary Rodham Clinton Over the course of a decade eleven WIP “Many of WIP’s four hundred alumni are interns had the exceptional opportunity now emerging as a new generation of to work for Hillary Rodham Clinton leaders committed to peace, stability in her capacity as First Lady and U.S. and prosperity in both Northern Ireland Senator for New York. The relationship and the Republic.” first began in 1998 when two WIP Former U.S. Secretary of State interns worked at the White House and Hillary Clinton the internships continued throughout the years. Her former WIP interns have also had the opportunity to meet her when she returned to Belfast in 2010 and 2012. WIP would very much like to extend its deep appreciation to the former Secretary for her long standing commitment to the people of Northern Ireland and Ireland and for her enduring support for WIP. The then Secretary made a special point on her last visit to Belfast to meet with her former interns and to recognize Sharon Haughey (2003), who is now the Lord Mayor of Armagh, Northern Ireland. Pictured above: Noel Rock, Caroline McNeill, Secretary Clinton, Sharon Haughey, Aoibhin O’Hare, Bryan Patten. Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2012 / 3 Chapter 1 WIP Organization & Governance 1.1 / WIP Board & Executive issues, for the past 20 years. From his for the Bipartisan Policy Center and Management time as Director of Government Relations Executive Director of the Western for United Airlines, he was an early and Governor’s Association. 2012 marked a substantial transition in active supporter for President Obama’s Board membership as seven long time Dr. Duncan Morrow, University of Ulster first Senate campaign. members completed their terms of office Duncan recently joined the University of and seven new members joined. WIP Jim Carroll, Senior Director of Ulster to lead their community outreach. owes a great deal of thanks to Claudia Government Relations, Accenture. Duncan previously led Northern Ireland’s Corcoran, Shane Carmichael, Timothy Jim has led Accenture’s Government Community Relations Council as their Curry, Joyce Flynn, Breidge Gadd, Holly Relations work in DC for the past 10 CEO for 12 years, providing a strong voice Hassett and Terry O’Sullivan. Joyce years. A long-time supporter of WIP, on the issues around a ‘Shared Future’. and Terry were very strong links to the he has been instrumental in securing Heather McCormick, WIP Class of 2008: American Labor movement, Claudia Accenture’s internal training for WIP Heather is a graduate of the University of was and remains a substantial funder students and Alumni. Edinburgh, and has worked in Stormont and helped to launch the Celtic Cup. Professor Roger Downer, Ret. President for Chris Lyttle MLA (Alliance) and Holly Hassett along with Breidge Gadd of University of Limerick. in Westminster for Alistair Burt MP helped in the WIP class selection process Roger is a respected academic and (Conservative). She is currently a Global and Timothy was a link to our younger educator, having led both the Asian Proposal Writer for Accenture in their generation of supporters. For many years Institute of Technology and the Belfast Office. Shane has been the voice of our Alumni University of Limerick. A Trustee of the on the Board. A special thanks is owed Chris Bollard, WIP Class of 2005: All Ireland Scholarships, he has helped to Breidge Gadd who chaired our Ireland Chris is an Associate Solicitor at Arthur WIP in identifying talented students Committee for many years. Cox, Dublin. He has previously worked from disadvantaged backgrounds. for the University of Malawi and the WIP also welcomed seven new board Kevin Moran, American Irish Government’s Department of members, including two WIP alumni: Chemistry Council Communications. He currently acts as a John Buscher Kevin is the Executive Director of the mentor for new technology companies in Senior Vice President, Forbes & Tate.