CRAFT NI - Key Persons
Adele was a long time member of the Craft Design Collective and joined the Craft NI team in 2018.
Adele has been involved in the craft sector in NI for many years as a maker, usually of things that don't quite fit into any of the traditional craft disciplines. These days she makes wildlife themed paper art.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Communications Officer
After graduating Journalism and Advertising, Andreea has spent a few years in the luxury jewellery retail and travel sector and subsequently found her passion for jewellery, arts and crafts. Andreea has joined Craft NI in 2020 after managing a well-known jewellery and art gallery in Dublin for the last 7 years.
Chris McHugh has been Lecturer in Ceramics at Belfast School of Art at Ulster University since 2017. As well as teaching, his research interests focus on three inter-related areas: (a) artistic approaches to archives and museum collections with an emphasis on community engagement and participation; (b) an exploration of the relationship between artistic and archaeological research methodologies; and, (c) an interest in the role clay, ceramics and grassroots making can play in encouraging wellbeing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Human Resources Specialist
Gail is a senior Human Resources specialist with over 20 years experience in the Financial Services sector and more recently in the NI voluntary sector with Autism Initiatives NI. Her areas of specialism include employee engagement, talent and performance management, employee relations, team leadership and development, Coaching and Mentoring and absence management. She joined the Board of Craft NI in 2020 and she has also worked in a voluntary capacity as a counsellor with Victim Support for over 10 years.
In his spare time, James is a Business Mentor to various organisations and start-ups including Young Enterprise Year Groups. He is a previous member of the NI Committee of the Institute of Directors and a previous Chairperson of the Education and Skills Committee of the Institute of Directors in NI. Now as Chair of Craft NI, one of James' key objectives is to raise awareness of the high quality of craft in Northern Ireland and to develop craft retail here even further.
Job Titles:
- Gallery Assistant
- Assistant With
Jodi Coyne graduated from the Limerick School of Art & Design in 2007 with an honours Degree in product design. She is primarily a ceramic artist working in sculptural forms. Originally from the west of Ireland she moved to Belfast in 2016, joining the Craft NI team in 2018.
Jodi is primarily a gallery assistant with Craft NI and has spent recent years working alongside the Craft NI sector team on the August Craft Month program.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Is Director of Craft
Katherine has been Director of Craft NI since 2019, having previously worked in public relations, as well as in a range leadership roles in charities and third sector organisations.
Katherine is Director of Craft NI and is responsible for delivery of overall strategy for the organisation. Please talk to Katherine about ideas for the Maker Forum, exhibition proposals, issues affecting the sector, ideas for training or CPD, or collaborations with other organisations. Contact Katherine by calling the gallery on 028 9032 9342 or email her at katherine.mcdonald@craftni.org.
Job Titles:
- Digital Development Officer
- New Digital Development Officer
Katya Buryakova is Craft NI's new Digital Development Officer. After graduating from Moscow Academic Art College and Nation Design Institute, she finished Ulster University MFA in 2022. During her studies, she worked as an Art Teacher for youth and adults, a Photo Reporter for a local newspaper, participated in the organisation of various events, taught Graphic Design for adults and young people.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Project Board for the Redevelopment of the Ulster Museum
Job Titles:
- Craft Development Officer
Lorna graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2018 with a degree in the History of Art and postgraduate in Art and Business. She has had significant experience working in the tourism and events sector in Northern Ireland and came to Craft NI in 2022.
Rachel graduated from University of Ulster in 2005 with a degree in textiles and fashion specialising in weaving. Following on from this she worked in retail management for many years and recently, her passions and experience have merged into the role of Gallery Manager.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Artist / Designer
Rory Shearer is an established Artist/Designer/Maker with his own studio in County Antrim, producing wheel-based vessel forms in Porcelain and Reduced Stoneware. He was Specialist Lecturer in Ceramics at Belfast Metropolitan College, having studied Ceramics at the Ulster College of Art and Design. With extensive experience in and of the Craft, Applied Art and Design Sector in Northern Ireland, Rory was also a founder member and first secretary of The Guild of Designer Craftsmen (NI) and Crafts Development Officer with Craftworks. Rory is also the Chair of Craft NI's Craft Advisory Panel.