RECONNECT ABI - Key Persons

Anne Leitch

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Audrey McClelland

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Trustees

Elizabeth Kennedy

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Director
  • Senior Management
Elizabeth was educated at Victoria College in Belfast and later joined Ulster Television (UTV) where she was involved in programme scheduling strategies and finance within the accounts department. In 1992, after a highly successfully 10 year career at UTV, Elizabeth joined what was then known as Garden Reach (now Reconnect), where she was instrumental in fundraising £500,000 for the development of a new state of the art, purpose built training centre in the Castlereagh Hills which now serves as the charities head office. Elizabeth is now the Deputy Executive Director at Reconnect.

Evelyn Greer

Job Titles:
  • First Chief Executive of Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped People
  • Patron
Evelyn Greer OBE was appointed First Chief Executive of Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped People (MENCAP) Having launched MENCAP NI, starting with 2 staff, the current organisation is one of the foremost services working within mental health and its programme of works includes Parents Groups, Gateway Clubs, Residential Homes (one named after Evelyn Greer), Nursery Units and Toy Libraries. In 1972, she was awarded a Churchill Travelling Fellowship allowing her to study services in 15 European countries and introduce new services to NI. In 1978, she became a founder member of Special Olympics, Ireland, liaising closely with Eunice Shriver Kennedy who, in 1980, invited her to serve on the International Special Olympics Board. Evelyn then went on to found the Northern Ireland Special Olympics. In 1979, she was awarded an MBE. In 1999, she was a Board member for 2003 Special Olympics Summer Games. This event went on to win the prestigious Event of the Year 2003-4 at the Annual Tourism (NI) Awards ceremony. In 2004, her efforts were recognised in the New Years Honours List where she was awarded an OBE for services to the 2003 World Special Olympics. Evelyn has held other key positions including the following: NI Chairperson of SENSE, representing NI on the UK SENSE Council in London (services for deaf and blind children and adults) Vice Chairperson (currently in post) of Reconnect Vice President of Speech Matters (offers services for stroke and speech impaired people) Trustee of Ulster Theatre Trust (offers training for young people in art and drama) Trustee of Blossom Trust - Keady (assisting parents to set up services and a centre) Lay Magistrate in Belfast Juvenile Court Justice of the Peace Appeals Board member for Edgehill College for Methodist Ministers Appeals Chair for Belfast South Methodist Church. Evelyn previously held the position of Vice Chair of Reconnect and has played a key role in securing Reconnects current success.

Jill Gillespie

Job Titles:
  • Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees

Patrick Cross

Job Titles:
  • Honorary Treasurer
  • Member of the Board of Trustees

Susan Carnson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Trustees