Annual Review of Employment Law 2023 NI - Online and In Person

Programme

Click here to view Long Programme for Annual Review 2023

Short Programme

Testimonials

"The content and speakers are amazing and the amount that is packed into this course is fantastic.  It is the must attend course for HR professionals."
Ruth Mulholland, Senior HR Business Partner, Habinteg Housing Association

"Excellent conference, great chairs in the sessions, and the speakers as usual were really good. Lots of great learning and take-aways from the two days."
Margaret Davern, HR Adviser, Irish League of Credit Unions

"Excellent conference with a variety of different topics discussed. Speakers were all very clear and knowledgeable. Thoroughly enjoyed the case law reviews and roundtable discussions."
Joanne Mallon, HR Manager, Inspire Wellbeing

"Excellent conference, very informative and lots of practical advice. "
Melissa Hasson, HR Advisor, North West Regional College

Organisations represented included:

Presenters

• 

  Christine Swail

  Christine is Director and Co-Founder of People Management Solutions, an award-winning HR Consultancy with offices in Belfast and Dungannon. Christine works with small to medium sized organisations putting best practice HR in place as well as working with larger multi-nationals on specific HR projects and complex workplace disputes.  Christine has worked in HR throughout Ireland for over 25 years with some of the leading and most innovative companies. Key areas of expertise include workplace investigations, mediation, employee relations and HR related training. Christine was recently awarded the CIPD NI HR Consultant of the Year award.

• 

  Damian McAlister Chief People Officer

  ‎Ulster University

  Damian McAlister is Chief People Officer in Ulster University. Prior to joining the University in 2018 Damian worked within the NI Health and Social Care system and from 2014 – 2018 was the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Prior to this Damian was the Human Resources Director for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and also worked as a Co-Director within HR in the Belfast Trust.  

• 

  Deiric McCann Managing Director

  Genos International

  Deiric McCann leads Genos International Europe – the EU division of a world-leading provider of emotional intelligence solutions.

  He has 20+ years of experience at the highest levels of management in multinational organisations, and a further decade of experience working with multinational clients worldwide, helping them to develop the resilience, emotional intelligence, psychological safety and engagement of their teams.

• 

  Eileen Chan-Hu

  CRAICNI

  Born in Belfast, of first generation Chinese, Eileen is passionate about adding diversity, inclusion, creativity and colour to our society. With over 25 years’ experience in the field of race covering English language teaching, community development, community safety initiatives and health and well-being.

  Eileen has sat on an array of boards, was a member of the Centenary Forum and an Equality Commissioner (2018 – 2020). She is currently on the All-Island Women’s Forum, Vice Chair of Migrant and Minority Ethnic Council NI, Trustee of New Europeans UK and a Patron of Horatio’s Garden.  

  Eileen has been a member of the Belfast Speaker’s Circle and has spoken on race equality, social entrepreneurship and women issues at events. In 2021, Eileen was a TEDxSpeaker for TEdxStormont. Her TEDxtalk, reached the TEDTalk platform: ‘GaiWaak, Made in Belfast, Made with Purpose’, which presents both her cross-cultural experience and the philosophy she inherits from her parents. These influences all she does. 

• 

  Gareth Walls Partner & Head of Employment and Incentives Group

  A&L Goodbody LLP

  Gareth Walls is a Partner and Head of the A&L Goodbody's Employment group in Belfast. Gareth represents a number of local, national and international brands in business support, strategic workforce planning and high-profile tribunal matters. He also has significant experience advising stakeholders on complex redundancy, re-structuring and TUPE issues. Gareth is an accomplished commercial litigator with particular emphasis on procurement challenges and injunctive relief in the Employment context, as well as being a sought-after speaker on Employment issues in Northern Ireland.

• 

  Jason Elliott BL BL

  Ulster University

  Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University.  As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal. At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

• 

  Jude Morrow CEO and Founder

  Neurodiversity Training Internationa

  Jude Morrow is an autistic best-selling author, motivational storyteller, and the founder of Neurodiversity Training International and the EndeeSphere App. Jude travels the world to showcase through his talks and workshops that Autistic and Neurodivergent adults can thrive at work and in business. Jude has helped weave Neurodiversity into the fabric of corporate giants such as Google, IBM, 3 Mobile, Baker Hughes, Chevron, and more. When not speaking, ranting, travelling, or advocating - Jude spends time with his son Ethan, his cat Dan, and training for his solo-skydiving A-License.

• 

  Karen McGonigle Employment Relations Manager

  Labour Relations Agency

  Karen McGonigle is an Employment Relations Manager with the Labour Relations Agency, managing the Alternative Dispute Resolution Services of the agency. 

  With previous experience working in a variety of HR roles in the retail and manufacturing industries, Karen joined the Labour Relations Agency in 2012 as a Conciliation Officer. 

  Karen is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, an accredited OCN workplace mediator and more recently achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Employment Law and Practice.  She lectures part-time on dispute resolution modules of undergraduate business degrees. 

• 

  Karen McShane Managing Director

  Kevin McShane Ltd.

  Karen McShane is a Trustee of The Rainbow Project – a health organisation that works to improve the physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ people and their families in Northern Ireland. She starred in the 2019 Channel 4 documentary “The Making of Me”. 

• 

  Mark Devenport Journalist & Broadcaster

  Mark Devenport is a Journalist, Broadcaster and Commentator. He is a former BBC NI Political Editor, and contributor for newspapers including the Irish Times, Belfast Telegraph, Belfast Newsletter & Daily Mirror NI. 

• 

  Mark McAllister Director of Employment Relations Services

  Labour Relations Agency

  Mark McAllister is Director of Employment Relations Services with the LRA and part-time lecturer in Law. He specialises in employment law, dispute prevention and strategic collaborative working in industrial and employment relations. Mark is the former Northern Ireland Convenor of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the Chair of the NI ICSA Governance Institute. He is an accredited mediator,  a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Group and the Industrial Law Society and is a regular speaker on the employment law circuit and contributor to employment law publications.

• 

  Paul Gillen Partner

  Lewis Silkin LLP

  Paul is a partner in Lewis Silkin’s Employment, Immigration and Reward division based in Belfast. He is qualified in England & Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He provides cross jurisdiction and comparative law advice to clients throughout the UK and Ireland. Paul advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters, including HR support, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, executive management, performance management, TUPE, outsourcing, discrimination law, and a full range of employment litigation.

  Prior to training as a lawyer Paul had more than a decade of experience working in in-house HR roles, including being Head of HR, across sectors covering retail, construction, manufacturing and logistics.

  Paul is a Band 1 ranked Employment Partner in Northern Ireland, Chambers noting my ‘wealth of experience assisting clients with a broad range of employment matters including TUPE and post-acquisition restructuring, in addition to day-to-day HR support.’

• 

  Ryan Calvert Manager of HR Recruitment for UK and Ireland

  MCS Group

  Ryan completed a Psychology degree before carving a successful career in Recruitment particularly within the HR Market. As part of the growing Professional Services Team at MCS Group, Ryan manages HR, Legal and Compliance roles. His approach is highly personable and customer service focused, building sustainable working relationships with both candidates and clients at all times.

• 

  Seamus McGranaghan Director - Commercial

  O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors

  Seamus McGranaghan qualified as a Solicitor in O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors in 2003 and is an experienced Commercial Lawyer dealing with employment, commercial and education cases.

  He has experience in the Industrial Tribunal representing both Claimants and Respondents and has provided seminars in relation to particular areas of employment law. Seamus is the only member of the Education and Law Association in Northern Ireland. He specialises in advising schools and colleges on policy matters, employment issues and student welfare. He is also responsible for the Education Law Quarterly Review.

• 

  Sarah Cochrane Partner

  Carson McDowell

  Sarah Cochrane joined the Employment Team at Carson McDowell in 2012. Sarah attained a degree in law (LLB Honours) from Queens University in 2005 before embarking on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law in Chester later that year. Sarah trained with DAC Beachcroft LLP in Manchester and qualified as a solicitor into the Employment & PensionsTeam in 2009.