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Board of Directors
Joy Allen- Chair
Alyson Kilpatrick- Vice Chair
Freda McCormick- Secretary
Fred Smyth- Treasurer
Hugh O'Connor
Joy Allen
Joy joined the Board in 2007. As a foster carer for teenagers since 1993, she is passionate about homelessness issues, especially in relation to young care leavers.
She has been a Non-Executive Director of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust since it was formed in 2007. Joy was previously a member of the Board of The Fostering Network (UK), the Board of the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust and Chair of VOYPIC (Voice of Young People in Care).
She is recognised by the Institute of Directors as a Chartered Director, and runs her own business ‘Focus on Governance Ltd’ providing training and support to charity Boards in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Her qualifications include MSc Executive Leadership and BA Business Studies.
Joy’s passions include motorcycling, travelling and walking with her dogs.
Alyson Kilpatrick
Alyson Kilpatrick BL is a barrister who practises in public law with a particular interest in housing law, homelessness, human rights and local government law. Having studied at Queens University Belfast, the Inns of Court School of Law London and the College of Europe Bruges, she commenced her practice at the Bar of England and Wales in 1992 as a founding member of Arden Chambers, London.
She joined Cobden House Chambers in Manchester in 2001 where she retains a door tenancy. She is the author of Repairs and Maintenance: Law and Practice in the Management of Social Housing, Lemos & Crane; Discrimination in Housing, Lemos & Crane; Housing Law and Practice in Northern Ireland, SLS Legal Publications (forthcoming); and a contributor to Human Rights Act 1998: A Practitioner’s Guide, Sweet & Maxwell. While at Arden Chambers, Alyson was an editor of the Encyclopaedia of Housing Law and Practice; the Housing Law Reports; and ‘Health & Housing Update’.
She has assisted the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on accommodation issues, socioeconomic rights and the Bill of Rights. Throughout her career, she has acted for a number of public authorities, commercial enterprises, voluntary agencies, charities and private individuals. Alyson represented the objectors at the Westminster (‘Homes for Votes’) Audit Inquiry, which investigated gerrymandering and malfeasance in public office, resulting in the surcharge of council members and officials. Between 2005 and 2007, she was junior counsel to the Robert Hamill Inquiry.
In December 2008, Alyson was appointed as the Human Rights Advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board (as an independent consultant) and has since authored a number of reports on issues such as domestic violence and children and young peoples’ rights. In April 2009 she was appointed as a Commissioner on the Future of Housing for Northern Ireland, which reported formally in May 2010. Alyson was a member of the Irish Government’s delegation to Timor Leste on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (women, peace and security).
She is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Alyson now practises exclusively from the Bar of Northern Ireland. She is a member of the Housing Rights Service, Liberty, Justice and the committee of the NI Bar’s Pro Bono Unit. She is a member of the Board of the Simon Community Northern Ireland.
Freda McCormick
Freda is a qualified personal and business coach specialising in career development and also a consultant in human resource management. With over 25 years within the field of Human Resource Management at a senior level, Freda has extensive experience throughout the public sector and the voluntary sector.
Freda spent the first 19 years of her working life in Health and Social Services, with subsequent experience in Local Government and Further and Higher Education. Since 2008, she has used her experience, passion and enthusiasm to help others achieve their personal goals through her own consultancy work.
Freda is an accomplished pianist and also devotes many hours to voluntary activities within St John Ambulance. Freda has been involved with Simon Community NI since June 2009.
Fred Smyth
Fred Smyth is Head Of Branches-East at Bank Of Ireland.
Roy Toner
Roy is currently the Chief Information Officer for the Public Safety & Security Sector for Capgemini UK. He has been a Simon Community Board member since 2010 but was previously a member of the fund raising committee for 3 years. He holds a BA Hons Degree in Public Policy and Management and an MBA both obtained from the University of Ulster. Roy’s interests include walking, cycling and the restoration of both classic cars and motorcycles.
Kathryn Thomson
Kathryn Thomson was appointed Chief Operating Officer in December 2007 following three years as Director of Finance & Business Planning at NITB. Overseeing the Corporate Development and Organisational Development Directorates her key role is to build an effective organisation that both supports and delivers for the tourism sector in Northern Ireland. Working closely with the Chief Executive this includes strategy development, corporate engagement, governance and operational effectiveness.
Kathryn holds a BCom (Hons) degree in Business Studies from the University of Edinburgh, completed her accountancy training at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and has a professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Prior to joining NITB Kathryn worked in the senior finance team within NHS Greater Glasgow, primarily involved in business and financial planning to influence strategic decision making.
Deirdre Ward
Deirdre is the Head of Customer Experience for Land and Property Services. This role includes co-ordination of citizen facing frontline activities including face to face, telephony and e – services. The Agency deals with over a million customer contacts a year.
Deirdre was the Business Development Director of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland® from March 2007 until April 2008 when Land and Property Services Agency was created.
Between 2002 and 2007, Deirdre was a Business Development Manager for Invest Northern Ireland, responsible for the implementation of an Accelerated Entrepreneurship Strategy. Prior to this role, Deirdre was located in America working for Invest Northern Ireland for 3 years. She was tasked with selling Northern Ireland to American Companies so that they would relocate here and benefit our economy.
Originally from a scientific background, Deirdre has since completed a Masters in Business Administration and numerous development courses.
In her free time, Deirdre travels and enjoys gardening and reading.
Noel Brady
Noel Brady is Managing Director of his own company, Consult Nb1 Ltd, which has provided executive support services to a range of national and international ICT and Infrastructure companies including Accenture, Microsoft, Steria, Capita, Fujitsu, BT and HP. He is a leading member of the business community in NI. As Managing Director, Noel brings over 36 years experience in both the public and private sectors to the business, most recently as Managing Director with Sx3.
Noel is a Belfast Harbour Commissioner. Noel is an Honorary Fellow and is Chairman of the Sales Institute of Ireland, Northern Branch and is also member of the Northern Ireland Membership Committee of the IoD. He is a Board member with Simon Community and also chairs the Corporate Fund Raising Committee.
Dawn McKnight
Dawn is a Partner in the Corporate and Commercial Department and Head of the Commercial Team in Carson McDowell. She has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of company law and commercial issues for clients operating both within and outside of the public sector. Dawn also has particular expertise in private equity and venture capital transactions and enjoys niche practices in the areas of Partnership Law, Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Data Protection Law.
Dawn is a keen traveller, an avid walker and a slightly nervous kayaker.
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