An experienced chief executive, board member, community theologian and peacebuilding practitioner, I have worked and held office in regional, national and international faith-based organisations and public bodies.

In 1987 I was co-founder of ECONI (Evangelical Contribution on Northern Ireland) which acted as a catalyst for evangelical protestant involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process. As principal strategist I developed the organisation from a small voluntary network of concerned activists to being a recognised leader in both the church and civic sector as a faith-based peacebuilding and reconciliation agency, with a strong research, resource publication and training portfolio.

I have extensive leadership experience in developing effective organisations, structures and governance procedures, significant skills in project, people and event management and a successful fundraising record with charitable trusts, statutory funders and individual donors.

Over the course of my career I have contributed to and led major organisational change, developing strategy, reviewing and establishing organisations and structures, leading teams of highly skilled and knowledgable peers and working to boards and committees.

Most recently, as Chief of Staff, I have led the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, and served as the senior adviser across all areas of his responsibilities. This involved extensive intercultural, interfaith, ecumenical and political engagement in international and national contexts.

Throughout I have maintained an active interest in politics and public affairs, engaging professionally in arange of public policy areas including community relations, international relations, conflict transformation, security and policing, rights and equality and constitutional affairs.

As a practitioner I have wide experience in facilitation and training and have developed and managed a number of major social research and publishing projects. My personal expertise is in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, community relations and track-two political dialogue.

My academic formation is as a missiologist and my interest in peace and reconciliation comes from a concern for the mission and witness of the church in situations of civil conflict and post conflict societies. A passionate Anabaptist I have worked ecumenically, sustaining an effective personal ministry within the Church of England as a non Anglican.

My particular interests are: the relationship between religion, politics and national identity; religion as both a source of conflict and a resource for peace; relating community peacebuilding to political processes; handling diversity in multicultural societies; and the theological foundation, moral vision and practical outworking of reconciliation, particularly in dealing with the deep wounds of historical conflict.