OUTSCAPE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of Strategic Projects
Aideen leads our Strategic Projects Team providing a strategic and insight-led focus to the development of strategies, frameworks and plans on behalf of key organisations at the forefront of outdoor recreation in Ireland.
Aideen has recently facilitated the development of ‘Embracing Ireland's Outdoors - the new national outdoor recreation strategy for Ireland, prepared frameworks to guide the development of long-distance walking trails such as the Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Walking Trail and the Beara Breifne Way.
Outside work, Aideen enjoys trail running, keeping fit and walking the beaches and coastline of Co Down and Donegal. Watching sport is her guilty pleasure, from rugby to netball, but especially her beloved Tyrone GAA team!
Job Titles:
- Head of Communication and Training ( Currently on Maternity Leave )
Beverley leads our Communications and Training Team to raise the awareness of Outscape and outdoor recreation opportunities, deliver high quality training and knowledge initiatives and develop insights relevant to the sector.
Beverley's 15+ years with Outscape has seen her grow from a Placement Student to a key member of the Senior Management Team. This experience coupled with a diploma in Professional Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing means Beverley is well placed to lead the outputs of this team.
Before becoming a parent, you would have found Beverley cycling the roads of County Down with her local cycling club but now she has had to resort to less strenuous outdoor activities she can do with a toddler!
Caro-lynne has over 25 years' experience in the field of outdoor recreation and is responsible for driving forward the organisation's vision and strategy whilst keeping an eye on the day-to-day delivery of key projects for our clients and stakeholders.
As a champion of sustainable development and management, Caro-lynne works to ensure that people can enjoy the outdoors today whilst considering the need to protect the outdoor environment for future generations.
In her spare time Caro-lynne can be found in the mountains walking, running, mountain biking and skiing. She is well known for her love of tea and buns both before, and after (and sometimes in the middle) of training sessions!
Chris works alongside Outscape's Executive Director to set the strategic direction of the organisation with particular focus on raising the profile of Outscape, promoting the benefits of outdoor recreation to key influencers and planning innovative future funding strategies to allow Outscape realise its vision, mission and key priorities.
With over 20 years' experience of working in the outdoor recreation sector, Chris is responsible for prospecting new opportunities to allow Outscape to apply our skills, expertise and experience. Behind the scenes he ensures connectivity between our teams.
When not boring everyone about his kids' latest antics, Chris enjoys sailing, running and coaching his son's mini-rugby team, if only to offset his love of eating out.
Claire's background as a Civil Engineer with a PhD in Environmental Engineering has brought great expertise to the Outscape team.
Claire is currently delivering a wide portfolio of projects including community trails, green space masterplans and long-distance recreation trails.
In her spare time, Claire enjoys swimming, running, cycling in all its forms, and loves nothing more than a good long walk with her dogs on a deserted Donegal beach. She also paints when time allows, taking much of her inspiration from nature and her experiences in the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chartered Civil Engineer
David is a Chartered Civil Engineer, lately retired as Head of Civil Engineering from Queen's University Belfast. He continues to act as a Consultant Engineer, recently working on projects in Uganda and more locally with Amey and Translink on geotechnical assets management on the rail network. He has a long-standing interest in multi-modal transport and was a past Chairman of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation. He has worked across the globe, mainly on road infrastructure projects, in locations such as Africa, Nepal, SE Asia and South America.
Well known for the first Irish ascent of Mount Everest in 1993, Dawson is a mountaineer with a strong affinity to the natural environment. He is widely respected for his insightful and balanced views. An architect by profession, Dawson is a past Chair and current board member of Mountaineering Ireland.
Diane holds an MSc in Conservation which allows her to bring an insightful knowledge of environmental conservation to our projects, ensuring our work remains sensitive to the environments and landscapes in which we operate.
Diane provides technical insight to many of our trail projects ranging from short community trails to iconic long-distance trails. Diane also plays a key role in the delivery of greenspace masterplans and feasibility studies.
Diane enjoys getting back to nature in her spare time by travelling, camping and walking with family and friends.
Edel has studied Environmental Science (BSc), Environmental Engineering (PGDip) and Town and Country Planning (MA). She worked as a Town and Country Planner in Planning Service Headquarters Environmental Unit, then in a local Divisional Planning Office, before moving to a local Council following the Review of Public Administration. A number of years ago she took up a new role as an Outdoor Recreation Officer in a local Council and is actively involved in delivering recreation infrastructure and facilities in that Council area.
She has volunteered for the National Trust for many years and served on their Regional Advisory Group in Northern Ireland. She also volunteers as part of the Heart of Down Reds Squirrel Group. In her spare time, she enjoys sea kayaking and also hill walking on the island of Ireland and abroad such as Nepal, Peru, Morocco and New Zealand.
Job Titles:
- Communication and Training Specialist
Outside work, Elizabeth enjoys gardening, introducing her puppy to local walks, and taking the campervan for weekend breaks to enjoy the hills and mountains further afield.
As a recent Geography Graduate from Ulster University, Emma is busying applying her skills to developing Northern Ireland's first authoritative map of all publicly accessible greenspace and off-road trails. As well as using her GIS skills, Emma liaises with government departments and agencies, Councils, and eNGOs to refine and verify data before it is imported into the Greenspace Layer. When published, the map will be available on OutmoreNI, SpatialNI and OpenDataNI.
A true lover of all things outdoors, Emma enjoys nothing more than exploring the mountains to find a waterfall, cycling the County Down coast or running trails in the forest. Provided she's not cheering on the Ulster rugby team, listening to rock music or sampling a local beer with friends!
Job Titles:
- Communication and Training Executive
Ethan plays a key role delivering innovative communication campaigns to make it easier for people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Key channels include Outscape's consumer brands OutmoreNI and MountainBikeNI alongside campaigns such as the Right Side of Outside and Get Wet Stay Safe.
Ethan also executes the design, production and installation of orientation and waymarking signage at a range of community trails developed by Outscape across Northern Ireland.
Ethan enjoys running, reading, Irish dancing and visiting outdoor places with his wife and kids. He also loves podcasts! Hook him up with your favourite with a message on LinkedIn.
Fiona has project managed a wide portfolio of outdoor recreation projects from Ireland's greatest forest adventure play trail, green space master plans to community walking trails offering doorstep opportunities - and everything in between.
Fiona has become our expert in nature and adventure play, researching best practice from around the UK and executing several projects in Northern Ireland's parks and forests.
Work is a nice break for Fiona, as home life involves looking after two children, five chickens, two dogs and countless honeybees! In the little spare time she has, Fiona enjoys walking, sea swimming and escaping in her caravan.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Project Specialist
Gemma applies her project management skills to a diverse range of our projects within our Strategic Projects Team. Recent projects have included angling action plans, signature walk frameworks, parks and play strategies.
Gemma enjoys getting out and about with her family, packing everyone up and exploring her favourite spot - the North Coast.
A recent recruit to Outscape, Harry joins us following graduation from Queen's University Belfast with an Economics with Finance degree. Harry's ‘fast track' role see s him assisting with project delivery across all the teams of the organisation.
In his spare time, Harry will typically be found playing rugby. However, when not chasing the egg-shaped ball, Harry enjoys hiking with his dad in the Mournes and attending music gigs with friends.
Job Titles:
- Communication and Training Executive ( Currently on Maternity Leave )
Jayne plays a key role in delivering innovative online and in-person training and knowledge share events for the Outdoor Recreation Network, Visitor Safety Group (both UK and Ireland wide networks) and a range of other stakeholders.
Joe assists the Place Shaping Team to undertake the feasibility, planning, design and project management of high-quality, sustainable, participant-focused outdoor recreation experiences.
Joe is quickly becoming an expert in preparing applications for planning permission - a key task in ensuring successful delivery of our trail projects
In his spare time, Joe enjoys going out for a run or into the hills. He likes to get away on a city break as often as possible or, at the very least, to the North Coast.
John has over 30 years' experience in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) consulting. He has acted as a strategic advisor to both Ordnance Survey's in Ireland as well as developing GIS Strategies for a number of public sector bodies in the UK and Ireland. He has led projects that have won UK IT Awards as well as Esri's Special Achievement in GIS Awards. Most recently he acted as Principal Consultant for Sport Ireland on their Get Ireland Active programme. He has a keen interest in the outdoors, enjoys hill-walking and loves to tell stories about our cultural, natural and built heritage through maps. He is also a committee member of the Association of Geographic Information (AGI) in Northern Ireland and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Karen is passionate about all things outdoors and is always planning her next adventure! She particularly loves mountain biking, climbing, trail running and walking in the mountains.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Projects Principal
Kathryn brings significant expertise in delivering strategic projects to the Outscape team. She has worked with early-stage businesses through to multi-national corporations in the UK, Europe and Asia-Pacific region.
Outside work, Kathryn enjoys hiking especially when combined with her other great love, travel. She has undertaken several iconic treks including the Inca trail and Overland Track. She is the proud owner of a beautiful Hungarian Vizsla, who is her faithful companion on her weekend adventures.
Job Titles:
- Communication and Training Executive
Kerry delivers key projects across the Communications and Training Team to make it easier for people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly via Outscape's consumer brands such as OutmoreNI and GetWetNI. Kerry also plays a key role in the delivery of engaging training and knowledge share events as well as supporting colleagues to provide meaningful consultation workshops both online and in-person.
On retirement from BT as Director of Customer Service, Maynard returned to the University of Ulster to study for a Masters Degree in Business Administration. On conclusion he has taught at both the University of Ulster and the Queens University Management School for some twelve years.
He is a keen outdoor walker with a lifelong interest in young people and holds a number of volunteer positions within the Scout Movement.
Maynard has a continuing interest in fitness training, has an interest in cycling and is a member of several cycling groups.
Neil joined the Outscape team following the completion of his PhD at Queens University Belfast, using spatial analysis to study soil erosion processes. His experience in geospatial data management, combined with his analysis and visualisation skills, adds value to the Outscape team and allows us to deliver a first-rate service to stakeholders and clients.
Aside from regularly convincing everyone that his PhD research is very interesting, Neil spends much of his free time playing and coaching GAA across Co. Antrim. You're also likely to see Neil catching up with friends over a coffee or a few pints of Guinness.
Philip leads our Place Shaping Team which undertakes the feasibility, planning, design and project management of high-quality, sustainable, participant-focused outdoor recreation experiences.
Philip currently spends a significant portion of his time managing the planning and delivery of Community Trails which provide much needed doorstep walking opportunities for local communities.
Job Titles:
- Head of Communications and Training ( Acting ) & Strategic Projects Principal
Rachel brings significant project management experience to the Outscape team, gained through event / programme management and marketing / communications roles within international consultancies, the National Trust and SMEs.
Rachel is currently delivering a broad range of projects including masterplans for iconic long distance walking routes, community trails, innovative sculpture trails, and strategic activity audits.
Rachel has swapped London life for seaside living in a remote coastal cottage in County Down. She has yet to perfect the local accent. She enjoys walking in the Mournes, canoeing on Strangford Lough and coastal rowing.
Reg spent his career in the private sector retiring early from the position of Senior Computer Project Manager in a large international manufacturing company.
He has a life-long interest in the outdoors. His voluntary involvement has included Chair of Hostelling International NI, Chair of the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs, and assisting with Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. He is currently a Ranger with Outdoor Recreation NI. He served as the Chair of Governors of a large Belfast Grammar School for many years and as a Governor of a Belfast Primary School.
Reg is a regular hill-walker in NI and Europe and has completed many of the long distance trails in the UK. He is an ardent traveller having visited over 140 countries to date.
Roisin delivers a critical support and coordination role for the whole organisation and ensure s the seamless and efficient delivery of all non-revenue generating operations and systems. This includes financial management, HR, internal communications, IT, facilities management, and procurement.
In her spare time, Roisin can be found hiking or sea swimming. She also likes to spend time going on mini adventures with her niece and nephew.
Ross is a qualified Surveyor and Town Planner who also holds a Master's Degree based on research on the Strategic Management of ‘Protected Areas' for Recreation, Amenity and Tourism. Ross headed the Access and Recreation Unit within the former Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment (NI) and in that role was involved in numerous practical management issues. Ross also has a Degree in Public Administration and Policy and has extensive experience of that sector.
Sarah brings a decade's experience working in outdoor education across the UK prior to joining the team. As a Place Shaping Principal, Sarah provides leadership on a range of projects including community trails, forest masterplans, walking and canoe trail development.
Sarah brings valuable insight and an extensive knowledge of outdoor recreation to each project in order to develop excellent visitor experiences but also the future management considerations.
Passionate about outdoor adventure, Sarah is an all-rounder in the outdoors, albeit participating at the less extreme end these days with 3 young children in tow!
Job Titles:
- Strategic Projects Principal
Sarah leads key projects within our Strategic Projects Team providing a strategic and insight-led focus to the development of strategies, frameworks and plans on behalf of key organisations at the forefront of outdoor recreation in Ireland.
Sarah applies a strategic mindset to all projects to bring innovative and intelligent approaches and solutions to our clients' challenges. Recent projects have including contributing to a Visitor Experience and Development Plan for Wicklow Mountains National Park and a Review of the Potential for Peatlands Eco-Tourism in Ireland.
In her spare time Sarah is a regular runner and swimmer. She likes travelling to explore mountainous areas, especially when there is a nice meal to be had at the end of the journey.
Sylvia is responsible for keeping Outscape's office running as smoothly as possible, covering everything from admin, HR, finance and IT to making sure there is enough coffee!
When not buried under piles of invoices, Sylvia enjoys walking, sampling all sorts of different foods on her travels and a nice glass of prosecco!