HOMELESS CONNECT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Membership Support Officer
Cheryl joined us in November 2020 following 13 years experience in research and fundraising within the voluntary sector.
She is responsible for overseeing the membership offering to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the sector.
Cheryl thrives on the impact that our member organisations are making in tackling homelessness, and ensuring that staff are supported through quality training programmes.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Westcourt Centre
Cormac McArt is the director of the Westcourt Centre which is a charitable organisation with a focus on helping to reduce social exclusion through education.
Since 2008, Cormac has engaged with the homeless sector through various projects and initiatives aimed at supporting those impacted by homelessness. Cormac is also a board member of Edmund Rice International, a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Geneva and New York engaging in advocacy and human rights at the United Nations.
Declan joined us in 2010 and brought with him international business experience in both Australia and America.
Passionate about food manufacturing and distribution, he was one of two people tasked with setting up the Fareshare Model in Northern Ireland.
He became FareShare NI Operations Manager in 2016 before taking on the role of as Head of Operations for FareShare NI and Starter Packs in 2023.
Declan is responsible for leading and delivering the FareShare NI and Home Starter Pack projects, ensuring all operations are upheld to the highest levels of health and safety. Whilst delivering innovative services, Declan maintains exceptional relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
Job Titles:
- Director of Services & Development in Depaul
Dermot Murphy is Director of Services & Development in Depaul. Dermot has worked in the drugs and homeless sector since 2001. He has experience in working with a number of approaches from low threshold harm reduction through to stabilisation and recovery focused services. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Project Management, Diploma in Human Resource Management and also an MASoSc in Third Sector Management.
Job Titles:
- Certified Accountant
- Treasurer
Eddie is a Certified Accountant with significant senior financial management experience, most recently as Director of Finance & ICT with local housing association Radius Housing. He is a former Director with the Northern Ireland Hospice and member of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action; he has a good understanding of the issues and challenges faced by social enterprises operating in the Third Sector.
Job Titles:
- Home Starter Pack Project Manager
- Manager of the Starter Pack
Kathy has worked in the Homelessness Sector for over 21 years, volunteering with Homeplus Street Outreach and working within a family hostel.
She joined us in 2009 within the Substance Use Department, where she was responsible for the day-to-day administration of the project. She also delivered training and organised cross-sectoral placements between the homelessness sector and the addiction's sector. Kathy took up the position of PA to the CEO in 2015 and in the same year helped to set up the Home Starter Pack Project.
In 2019 Kathy was appointed Manager of the Starter Pack project and leads our staff and volunteer team. As Manager of the Starter Pack project, Kathy monitors all project activities and their impact on service users whilst producing regular reports to funders and management. She is responsible for all procurement and purchasing of goods and establishing excellent relationships with suppliers.
Mal initially worked as an addictions Social Work practitioner from 1999 - 2005 in Extern's Homeless Support Team. He has worked with Homeless Connect for over 20 years including delivering training sessions in the past and has always felt the advocate role of Homeless Connect is vital in supporting the sector. Currently, Mal holds the post of Assistant Director of Drug and Alcohol services in Extern. Mal is also a member of Belfast Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Team.
Prior to taking early retirement in December 2022, Maria was an Environmental Health Practitioner and worked for over thirty years in the NI public sector, much of it delivering food safety controls. Maria was a member of the FSA's Executive Management Team with responsibility for Regulatory Compliance, she was the HR Director and ran the FSA's Northern Ireland office. She is now on CO3s list of interim directors.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Mark joined us in 2021. He studied Law with Politics at Queens University Belfast before going on to work for a social policy charity in Belfast.
Mark leads on our policy and public affairs work. He provides the secretariat for the All Party on Homelessness at the Northern Ireland Assembly and regularly engages with policymakers and elected representatives across the political spectrum on issues related to homelessness.
Nicola joined us in 2020. She has worked in housing and homelessness for her entire career and believes in collaboration and the involvement of people with lived experience in ending homelessness.
Nicola has worked across Ireland and the UK where she has gained experience in governance, strategic and business planning, financial management, public policy, and research. Previously she was a senior associate with Campbell Tickell, Chartered Institute of Housing Director NI/ROI and Policy Manager with Housing Rights.
Nicola is studying a Masters Degree in Social Science Research.
Job Titles:
- Head of Business Solutions
Paula joined us in December 2023. She has nearly 20 years' experience working and volunteering within the community sector including 10 years as Chair of The Bytes Project.
Professionally she has spent the last 10 years working within the field of medical research, where she collaborated with organisations on a global scale. Throughout this time she held various positions of increasing responsibility including Director of Communications and Recruitment.
These roles offered Paula the opportunity to gain extensive international experience in a range of areas including communications, HR, finance and project & strategic management. Paula has a MSc in Political Communication and Public Affairs.
Paula has oversight of the Business Solutions Team, which include HR, Finance, IT and Facilities. Paula ensures the organisation is compliant with all regulatory and legal obligations, whilst guaranteeing all policies and procedures are up to date and adhered to.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager
- FareShare Operations Team As a Floor Supervisor
Róisín joined the FareShare operations team as a Floor Supervisor in 2021. With a background in managing people and projects, and developing teams within the pharmaceutical and communications industries, she has combined this skillset with a genuine passion for helping those in need, to support the work of Fareshare and Homeless Connect.
Róisín was appointed Operations Manager in 2024. Róisín manages the day-to-day running of the FareShare NI warehouse and the food delivery service, ensuring all policies and procedures are compliant with FareShare UK. She is responsible for the recruitment and retention of Community Food Members.
Sam Humphries is CEO at Harmoni, which includes Utility Street Hostel a supported 59 bed temporary facility for men experiencing homelessness. The charity also occupies a 5-acre site in Bangor where 33 individual modern apartments are located for a Supported Independent Living service. A mechanical production engineer by profession, Sam has a MSc in Executive Leadership.
Simon graduated in food technology and business studies, he has over 25 years involvement in the agrifood sector and has extensive experience in food manufacturing and food safety systems. Simon is currently a Director at Avondale Foods Ltd and is involved in continuous improvement and project management.