This is a candidate statement for the position of UNA-UK Trustee. Please note that this profile has not been edited for factual accuracy or language, and that UNA-UK does not accept responsibility for any mis-statements of fact.
I have been a member of UNA for over 30 years and currently chair UNA Northern Ireland.
Serving as a Trustee on the UNA UK Board since 2011, I have seen evidence of the excellent work carried out by our members and how they operate through their regional and local UNAs around the country in their efforts to promote the aims of UNA-UK.
I joined UNA-UK as the one vehicle we have that enables us to promote and support the work of the UN, which, I believe, is the organisation that can be instrumental in helping bring about world peace. I believe that our branches and regions throughout the UK should celebrate their diversity and recognise their strengths, knowing where they can be most effective in reaching out to their communities.
For much of my career, I worked in the charity sector in the areas of fundraising, public relations and event organisation. More recently, I have worked in volunteer management and in the training of volunteers through the World Host programme, used for the 2012 Olympics volunteers. This has given me an appreciation of how vital volunteers are to any organisation. As chair of Women’s Forum NI, an umbrella group for women’s organisations, I recognise the issues that affect women and how agencies such as UN Women need our support.
In the new UNA-UK strategic plan, with its emphasis on outreach, it will be even more important for the elected Trustees to strengthen links between local UNAs, regional UNAs and the Board, to ensure that their voices are heard, opinions considered and their work valued.
Therefore I would welcome this opportunity to serve as an elected Trustee, and could bring lots of enthusiasm to this post and a desire to help develop and carry forward the much needed outreach work.