Your North Down MLA

I am proud to call North Down my home and am very grateful to have served as your Alliance Party MLA since late 2019. My constituency office is based in Holywood Town Centre at 33 Church Road and if you need support as a constituent, please do let me know.

Since early 2024, I have been working as Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs with a focus on seeking to implement policies and strategies that benefit our climate and environment, while supporting our economically and socially significant agriculture, food and fisheries sectors alongside our important rural communities. 

As an Alliance MLA, I have previously been the Party Chief Whip, Finance and Infrastructure Spokesperson and the lead on Restoration and Reform of Assembly Institutions.  Prior to being an MLA, I was an Alliance Councillor for the Holywood area from 2010, acting as Mayor of North Down between 2013-14. 

Born and bred in North Down, I live locally and take a keen interest in my community. I currently serve on the Board of Governors of Rathmore Primary School in Bangor and, as a keen runner, I founded both Bangor and Crawfordsburn parkruns. I am also a member of North Down Athletic Club and North Down Cycling Club.

Before joining the Assembly, I was formerly a Senior Project Manager at Translink, where I was responsible for overseeing the rollout of the multi-million pound Future Ticketing System Project. In 1999, I graduated with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at Ulster University.

I have completed eleven marathons with a personal best of 3:07.