Northern Ireland, Our Water, Our Environment, Our Place: spotlight on Lough Neagh conference 2025 | LOUGH NEAGH | IN-PERSON

Michelle McNally | Chair | CIWEM Northern Ireland branch

Michelle McNally was appointed Chair of the CIWEM Northern Ireland Branch in June 2025, bringing a wealth of experience and a clear, focused vision to the role.

A dedicated environmental professional, Michelle has been an active member of the CIWEM NI Branch Committee since 2018. Her theme for her tenure, ‘Northern Ireland, Our Water, Our Environment, Our Place,’ reflects her deep commitment to the local landscape and its unique environmental challenges and opportunities.

Professionally, Michelle's expertise is rooted in a strong academic foundation, holding a zoology degree and a master’s degree in environmental management. With a career spanning over fourteen years in environmental management and regulation, she has developed specialised knowledge in water quality and protection.

Her practical experience is demonstrated in her current position within the Water Pollution Response and Enforcement Team at the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Based in the Water Management Unit in Lisburn, Michelle is on the front line of safeguarding Northern Ireland's water resources, dealing directly with incidents and regulatory enforcement.

Tomas Magill | Project Engineer | Avove

Tomas Magill is a Project Engineer with Avove Ireland (formerly Jacopa), where he has worked for three years delivering engineering solutions for the water industry. He holds a BSc in Design Engineering from Ulster University. Tomas manages pricing for Northern Ireland Water projects under the IF105 Framework, ensuring efficient and cost-effective delivery. He has also advanced Avove’s green initiatives, leading pump energy efficiency projects to cut energy use and operational costs.

Alongside his role, Tomas serves on the CIWEM Northern Ireland Committee as Social Media and Marketing Champion, promoting activities and boosting sector engagement.

Sara Mitchell | Project Scientist | RPS Tetra Tech

Sara Mitchell is a Project Scientist in the Water Environment section at RPS Tetra Tech, having worked there for over five years. With a background in Geography, she has recently completed a part-time MSc in Net Zero Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast.

Sara’s work encompasses strategic assessments, a range of renewable energy projects, and the coordination of multiple Environmental Impact Assessments. Additionally, she supports the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS), which RPS delivers on behalf of Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, AFBI and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, DAERA.

Ashley Johnston | Chair | CIWEM Northern Ireland Early Careers committee and Senior Environmental Analyst | Northern Ireland Water

Ashley Johnston is the current chair of the CIWEM Northern Ireland Early Careers committee. With a background in Marine Biology from Queen's University Belfast and PG Cert in GIS from Ulster University. Ashley’s previous roles include a Research Assistant, Offshore Seabird Observer, and Marine Ecosystem Scientist.

Ashley is currently a Senior Environmental Analyst at Northern Ireland Water. Ashley oversees water quality projects, which involves developing Integrated Environmental Models (IEMs), Urban Pollution Management (UPM) models, and Integrated Drainage Models (IDMs) which are all vital for prioritising wastewater investments to enhance water quality.

Keynote speaker | David Reid | CEO | Northern Ireland Environment Agency, NIEA

David Reid became Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) in January 2024 following a range of roles in a career which has spanned almost 25 years in Northern Ireland’s public sector.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and began his career working in the Northern Ireland Audit Office where he qualified as an accountant in 2004.

David then joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 2006 taking up roles in finance and governance across a number of NICS departments, before being appointed as Finance Director to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in 2017.

In 2019 David was appointed as Programme Director for the Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System Programme, and in June 2021 became Director of Rural Affairs.

David became Acting Deputy Secretary for Rural Affairs, Forest Service, Estates Transformation and Brexit Operational Readiness in September 2022.

David is driving forward an ambitious agenda for NIEA as Northern Ireland’s principal environmental regulator and environmental advisor, tasked with protecting and enhancing our natural environment whilst regulating the activities that can have an adverse impact upon it.

Niamh McNally | Poet

Niamh McNally is a Belfast-based poet, facilitator, and events co-ordinator. She completed her MA in Ulster University where she co-created and was a poetry editor for The Paperclip; a student-led literary publication. Niamh facilitates workshops in The Seamus Heaney Homeplace and has been published widely in journals such as The Tulsa Review, Tír na nÓg, and HOWL: New Irish Writing.

Her poetry has featured in two climate crisis films, commissioned by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, (NIHRC) and Business in the Community Northern Ireland, (BITCNI), and she performed at the One Young World Summit opening in 2023. Niamh’s poem ‘If Stone Could Speak’ was showcased by Bushmills for 'The Causeway Collection’ and her long poem 'New Impressions' was published by The John Hewitt Society & ACNI.

She was commissioned to write for, and perform in, The Guildhall as part of the Field Day Lecture 2024. Niamh wrote and voiced the compilation video for Belfast 2024 and is the Poet-in-Residence for Translink's new Grand Central Station, Belfast. Her most recent achievement was co-ordinating Look North! The North Belfast Festival 2025, and Guest Curating The John Hewitt International Summer School 2025.

Dymphna Gallagher | Head of Drinking Water Regulation | Northern Ireland Water

Dymphna is a member of NI Water’s Senior Management Team. As Head of Drinking Water Regulation, Dymphna’s leadership role spans: (a) the development and implementation of strategies to protect public health through the provision of clean, safe drinking water, working with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Health Authorities in Northern Ireland; (b) Analytical Service provision for water, waste water and industrial effluent and (c) Sustainable Catchment Area Management (SCAMP) for drinking water catchments across Northern Ireland, including European funded projects and partnerships with Environmental NGOs - all in the hope of playing her part in protecting public health and enhancing environmental and social conditions across Northern Ireland. Dymphna is a strong believer in the power of collaboration, for the betterment of society.

Craig McCoubrey | PhD Student | Queen's University, Belfast, School of Biological Sciences and AFBI

Craig McCoubrey is a PhD student jointly based at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB).

His research investigates the re-emergence of pike in Lough Neagh, structured around four core aims: understanding habitat development and pike distribution; examining the biology of Lough Neagh pike; assessing migration and foraging behaviour; and evaluating potential management scenarios for any identified stock.

Michael Meharg | Ecologist and Regenerative Farmer | Nature Friendly Farming Network

Michael Meharg spent 30 years in Northern Ireland Environment Agency, (NIEA), in later years heading up R&D, Wildlife Protection and Biodiversity. Michael took an 'early exit' from the Agency in 2015 to pursue his interests in Nature Friendly Farming and ecological consultancy.

Along with his wife Judy, he provides a conservation grazing service for non-farming landowners and they deliver Farm Resilience and Sustainable Catchment Planning for farm and other businesses within the Lough Neagh Catchment.

Fionntan O’Dowd | Sporting Nature Project Manager | Ulster Gaelic Athletics Association, (Ulster GAA)

Fionntan O’Dowd manages the Sporting Nature Project, which works with Gaelic Athletics Association, GAA clubs and local partners to improve biodiversity and promote environmental awareness through sport. He coordinates the project’s activities in collaboration with Ulster GAA, RSPB Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Water, and The National Lottery Community Fund.

Fionntan’s role involves planning, stakeholder engagement, and supporting local clubs to deliver practical nature-focused initiatives within their communities.

Brendan O’Kane | Deputy Principal and Lough Neagh Blue Green Algae SBRI Project Manager | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Affairs, (DAERA), Marine and Fisheries Division

Brendan O’Kane is a Deputy Principal within the Marine and Fisheries Division’s (MFD) Marine Strategy and Catchments team at DAERA. Brendan is the project manager for the Lough Neagh Blue Green Algae Small Business Research Initiative otherwise known as SBRI.

Previously working in the MFD Executive Support team, Brendan provides governance support to the MFD Director and prior to this was an internal auditor with ten years’ experience from working within the then Department of Finance and Personnel.

Elmarie Swanepoel | Forever Lough Neagh Project Manager | National Trust

Elmarie Swanepoel recently joined the National Trust team in Northern Ireland following the completion of the highly successful Lough Erne Landscape Partnership scheme. As Project Manager for Lough Neagh, Elmarie now leads on a large-scale partnership project, which seeks to take a collaborative, long term, and strategic approach to build a positive and sustainable future for Lough Neagh.

Elmarie’s role focusses on developing and delivering a joined-up approach and a pathway to recovery for Lough Neagh and its communities. Working closely with DAERA and a range of public, private and third sector organisations, the Roadmap to Recovery project aims to define and develop a number of deliverables, which will fill the gaps in our knowledge, create the necessary frameworks and develop the recommendations for partners and communities to more forward together.

Claire Young | Marine Ecologist | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Affairs, (DAERA), Marine and Fisheries Division

Claire Young is an experienced marine ecologist with over 16 years in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. She holds an Honours Degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s in Environmental Management and Conservation from Queen’s University Belfast.

At DAERA, she has played a key role in developing intertidal monitoring programmes to meet legislative requirements and has been instrumental in advancing the use of UAVs and satellite technologies for environmental data collection and analysis.

Claire currently leads the Marine Strategy and Catchments Branch, with responsibility for bathing and shellfish water quality, marine litter, and the implementation of the UK Marine Strategy.