Annual Review of Employment Law 2022 - Digital Bundle

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

"Digital platform is very user friendly and with all sessions recorded I can now go back and watch the sessions I couldn't attend at a time that suits me best - so I don't miss out on anything anymore. Also supports our Net Zero Carbon strategy with reduced business travel."
Jennifer Cruickshank, Group HR & CR Manager, Henry Group

"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

"Although the Annual Review was remote this year, the delegate experience was excellent. The speaker sessions were highly informative and interesting and the platform was very user friendly and interactive. The chairs played a key role over the two days."
Maeve McKavanagh, HR Consultant, Willis Employment Services

"Excellent course 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

"I really enjoyed the conference it was very well put together and well structured and the technical aspects and navigating my way around the stages etc were exceptional."
Petra McGuirk, Human Resources Manager, Southern Regional College

"Straight forward platform and up to date information on stages. Time management was excellent."
Linda McSparron, Payroll Supervisor, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

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

"The days were jam pact with topics, chat and the interaction was super!"
Tracey McCabe, Director of Human Resources, Mount Charles

"Very well set up and organised. Great selection of speakers and materials were available in advance. I really enjoyed the whole event."
Nicola Strahan, HR Officer, NIAO

"Some of the presenters were fantastic. I liked the ability to network/ direct message and setup calls with people that you normally meet at the in person events  Facilitators were great, timings/ breaks good."
Marie Matthewson, HR Manager, AXA

Organisations represented included:

Presenters

• 

  Becky Jones Consultant, Coach & Speaker

  Becky is a qualified lawyer in England and Wales and Ireland with significant commercial and legal leadership experience from law firms and leading FMCG companies. She is a commercial, practical and solution focused lawyer who is passionate about businesses and their employees, most recently she worked as Global Employment Lawyer for Citco Group.
  
  Through SPARC 2C Limited, Becky works with a range of clients (businesses and individuals) on HR, GDPR and commercial legal matters as well as providing Personal, Leadership and Executive Coaching.
  
  Becky is passionate about diversity and inclusion, gender inequality, mental wellness in the workplace, mentoring and employee engagement. She co-founded a number of women’s and diversity networks and is an active mentor/coach. She also speaks regularly on various topics including D&I.
  
  Formerly the Legal Director, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer for the Island of Ireland (IOI) responsible for strategic leadership and legal advice across Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company's IOI business and a member of the Senior Management Team.
  

• 

  Sam Davidson Group HR Director

  Henderson Group

  Since graduating from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1985, Sam has spent his entire career working within the HR field. Starting in Northern Ireland Electricity, Sam spent five years learning the ropes of what was then ‘personnel management’ as a graduate and during this time helped to set up the first Equal Opportunities unit in the organisation. Sam left NIE to join Nortel Networks, and has acted as HR Business Partner for a number of international business units. Sam joined Henderson group in 2004, as their first Group HR Director, and is still thoroughly enjoying the journey as they continue to grow and become a truly leading organisation within the food sector on the island of Ireland and indeed Great Britain.

• 

  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.

• 

  Ciara Fulton Partner, Head of Office

  Lewis Silkin LLP

  Ciara Fulton is partner and Head of Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP.

  Ciara is dual qualified and advises on all aspects of employment law in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She has significant experience of advising clients on the full range of employment issues including complex discrimination issues, bullying and harassment claims, disciplinary and grievance matters, business reorganisations, senior executive severances, restrictive covenants, employment related litigation and TUPE.

  Ciara’s approach is to partner with clients providing practical, commercial advice to resolve HR issues whether contentious or non-contentious. Ciara works with a variety of sectors with particular experience in the construction and infrastructure sector.

  Ciara regularly speaks on a range of employment issues at internal and external events and delivers bespoke training to clients on the differences between NI and ROI employment law. Ciara is a member of the Employment Lawyers Group and the NI Representative for the Employment Lawyers Association. Ciara is also a legally qualified member of the Appeals Tribunals NI.

• 

  Majella Culbert Senior Manager, Head of Employment Law

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  Majella heads up the Northern Irish legal team. Since qualification in 2005, Majella has specialised in the area of employment law and she has experience of acting on behalf of employers in relation to all aspects of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious. This includes advising in relation to recruitment, contracts of employment, employment policies, disciplinary and grievance procedures, compromise agreements, dismissal, discrimination, redundancy and TUPE matters. She has also represented employers in Northern Ireland Tribunal and Court of Appeal claims in respect of a wide range of matters including discrimination, unfair dismissal, TUPE disputes, working time and payment of wages claims. Majella is an experienced employment law practitioner and an expert in employment law compliance. Majella regularly assists clients in internal appeal processes, whistleblowing investigations and pre-litigation strategy and negotiations.

• 

  Orlagh O'Neill Partner

  Carson McDowell

  Orlagh O'Neill is a Partner and Head of the Employment Team at Carson McDowell Solicitors in Belfast. She advises mainly employer clients on a wide range of employment issues and acts for some of Northern Ireland's largest employers. Her education clients include universities, regional colleges and a number of voluntary grammars. This year Chambers and Partners Guide to the Legal Profession ranked Orlagh as Band One for Education. She is a committee member and Chair of the Employment Lawyers Group of Northern Ireland, a member of both the UK and Irish Employment Law Groups (ELA and ELAI) and a regular speaker at annual employment law update conferences.

• 

  David Babington Chief Executive

  Action Mental Health

  CEO since 2010, David has led AMH in supporting 1,500 recovery clients and reaching 56,000 people pa through early intervention and suicide prevention programmes across the region. AMH has Learning Disability, ASD and Eating Disorder services as well as 3 Men’s Sheds and an Employer Consultancy. AMH also delivers therapeutic services through their New Life Counselling service to over 2,700 service users pa including adults, young people and families.

  David is passionate about the mental health sector and has raised a range of issues and client concerns at Stormont and Westminster. He played a leading role in advocating for the recently established Mental Health Champion role and has consistently lobbied against the imbalance in funding for mental health for NI. AMH has grown to meet the wellbeing and mental health issues of the region and recently celebrated achieving IiP Platinum accreditation.   

  He has previous experience with the banking, property, consumer and retail sectors and having been raised in NI he has since worked in Europe, Africa and the Middle East delivering leadership and transformation programmes. 

• 

  Emma McIlveen

  Barrister

  Emma McIlveen is a barrister with extensive experience of employment law and discrimination issues.

  She has appeared in the Employment Tribunals, Court of Appeal and in front of Regulatory Panels. Emma represents both Claimants and Respondents and has acted as sole counsel in a wide range of matters including complex discrimination matters dealing with disability, age, race, pregnancy and sex discrimination. She also has experience of handling claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination by association, unfair recruitment and selection procedures, TUPE and unlawful deduction of wages. In addition to this, she has experience of representing vulnerable Claimants and is well versed on Galo adjustments.

  Emma serves on the committee of the Employment Lawyers Group in Northern Ireland. Emma is also called to the Bar of Ireland and is an accredited mediator with the Resolution Centre in Belfast. 

• 

  Leeanne Armstrong Legal Director

  TLT

  Leeanne joined TLT as a Legal Director in the Employment team in July 2018. 

  Leeanne has experience of advising a range of public and private sector clients on a broad range of employment issues.

  Her experience includes support and representation of clients in the Industrial Tribunal and the Fair Employment Tribunal, TUPE, outsourcing, absence management, grievance and disciplinary procedures, redundancy, equality and diversity issues (including monitoring obligations). In addition, Leeanne has extensive experience supporting on employment aspects of multi million pound M&As. Leeanne's depth of experience enables her to bring a practical and commercial approach to the advice she provides to clients, including in the management of tribunal litigation, so as to provide the client with the most favourable and cost effective outcomes.

• 

  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.

• 

  Charles Cotton Senior Performance and Reward Adviser

  CIPD

  Charles Cotton is the senior adviser for performance and reward to the CIPD. He directs its reward research agenda and recently produced a survey on UK reward management. He is also responsible for the CIPD’s public policy work in the area of reward and has given evidence to select committees on banking pay executive remuneration and politicians’ expenses as well responding to various consultations, such as on pensions, retirement and corporate governance.

  Charles frequently appears in the media commentating on reward and is often invited to present at events.

• 

  Michelle McGinley Director of Legal & Policy

  Employers Federation

  Michelle is the Director of Legal & Policy with the Employer’s Federation. She exclusively advises and represents employers on all employment law matters acting for some of the largest employers in Northern Ireland. She qualified as solicitor in private practice in Birmingham before returning to Northern Ireland in 2001. Michelle is also qualified in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

  Michelle is a Board Member (Employer Representative) for the Labour Relations Agency.

  Additionally, Michelle sits as a Solicitor Member on the Solicitor Disciplinary Tribunal, is an accredited Mediator and accomplished Solicitor Advocate, regularly running full cases to Hearing at the Industrial & Fair Employment Tribunals.

• 

  Seònaid Ó Murchadha Workplace Coordinator

  See Change - The National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partner

  Founder of Amputee Disability Federation Ireland, Seònaid Ó Murchadha (pronounced ‘Show-nid Oh Muraku’) has been promoting the employment of disabled people for more than two decades, regularly contributing pieces across news media, Irish national radio, and television.

  With certification from the International Disability Management Standards Council as well as recognition from the Canadian National Institute of Disability Management & Research (NIDMAR), she helps organisations embrace disability and difference by providing creative solutions to disability inclusion at work, facilitating inclusive recruitment processes, and advising on policy. She also represents the Independent Living Movement Ireland on employment issues at government level and was honoured to be elected to their board of directors last year. She currently lectures at Maynooth University on Disability Studies and provides HR support for members of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.

  Nicknamed the Bionic Business Woman by broadcaster Conall Ó Morain when she received her new bionic arm in 2017, she uses the moniker as her social media handle as it is much easier for others to spell or remember!

• 

  Robert Baker CEO

  Potentia Talent Consulting

  Robert left Mercer in January 2020, after 42 years with the firm, to start his "Next Stage" portfolio career. He set up my own consulting business: Potentia Talent Consulting Limited and advises a number of companies on their approach to the D&I market. Robert is also focussing on how to help individuals and organisations realise the full potential of their talent, through leadership development, coaching and team building.  Robert is also a Board Member of European Women on Boards.
  
  
  

• 

  Charlene Brooks CEO

  Parenting NI

  As CEO Charlene has responsibility for the strategic direction of Parenting NI, a vibrant and proactive charity which aims to meet the diverse needs of parents and families.  With a strong educational background having third level qualifications in Community work and Leadership and Management, Charlene has worked in the voluntary sector her entire working career, over 17 years of which at Senior Management level.  Charlene has a wealth of experience in leading dynamic teams who deliver early intervention and prevention programmes, services and interventions and has been CEO of Parenting NI since 2016, having been involved with the organisation since 2006.

• 

  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.  

• 

  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. 

• 

  Louise McAloon Partner

  Worthingtons

  Louise leads and manages the employment department of Worthingtons Solicitors, which is currently the largest employment law practice in Northern Ireland.

  With over 15 years’ experience in employment law, Louise’s knowledge and attention to detail provides an expert and pragmatic approach that her clients value in relation to internal employment issues and employment litigation including Public Interest Disclosure, Equal Pay, Discrimination, Unfair Dismissal and restrictive covenants. One of few practitioners in the jurisdiction to have successfully obtained a Tribunal Costs Order against an opposing party for the maximum statutory amount of £10,000.

• 

  Rachel Penny Partner

  Carson McDowell

  Rachel is a Partner in the firm's Employment Team. She is a graduate of Cambridge University and completed her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in York.

  Rachel's experience straddles both contentious and non-contentious employment law for a wide range and size of clients. Rachel has particular expertise in advising on TUPE and other employment matters in corporate transactions and mergers, including public sector reorganisations. 

• 

  Louise Gault Senior Consultant

  Think People

  Louise began her career in PwC People and Change Consulting gaining invaluable experience in Change Management and Organisation Development (OD). Louise's passion for OD and Talent coupled with her successful CV in Consultancy makes her your go to person for all things strategic. This strong mix of experience which makes Louise highly flexible and capable of designing and delivering flexible approaches to client challenges spanning OD and Talent issues. 

  Louise has been a Senior Consultant in Think People for almost 5 years, for those that know her or have worked with her can all agree she is highly committed to quality outcomes, driven and thrives on the challenge of demanding projects, making our current environment one that drives her professionally every day.

• 

  Roseann Kelly Chief Executive

  Women In Business

  Roseann joined Women in Business NI soon after the organisation was formed in 2002. Over the next 6 years, she worked as a voluntary Committee member and a voluntary Director of WIBNI. During this time Roseann held the roles of Vice Chair, Treasurer, Co-ordinator and Company Secretary. Roseann took on the role of Chief Executive in 2008. She is responsible for the development and implementation of The Women in Business NI Ltd Strategic Plan and for all operational activities. 

• 

  Gareth Walls Partner

  A&L Goodbody

  Gareth Walls is partner and Head of the A&L Goodbody's Employment and Incentives 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 in corporate immigration, 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.

• 

  Liam McEvoy Co-founder

  SustainIQ

  Liam has worked in the field of sustainability for nearly twenty years across the public, private and voluntary sectors. He has a strong background in management systems and compliance and has developed and implemented sustainability strategies for a number of leading UK construction firms. Liam holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management.

• 

  Marie Ferris Founder

  Thrive Coaching & Development

  Marie is the Founder of Thrive Coaching & Development, which specialises in helping individuals and organisations build and capitalise on the power and impact of coaching.

  Marie has worked in learning and development for over 25 years, specialising in leadership and management, coaching and organisational development. She is an Association for Coaching accredited Executive Coach, and has an MSc in Human Resource Management, focused on coaching in organisations. She won a National Training and Development Award for Excellence in Coaching in 2015 and is a member of the Association for Coaching Irish Leadership team.

  Marie is passionate about the impact that coaching and development programmes can have for individuals, teams and organisations, and founded Thrive in 2019 to be able to bring her tried and tested knowledge and experience of proven approaches and solutions that deliver, but tailored to the specific needs of individuals and organisations.

• 

  Bob Semple Advisory Council

  Corporate Governance Institution

  Bob Semple has more than 40 years’ business experience working as an accountant, auditor and management consultant.

  For 36 years, he worked in PricewaterhouseCoopers where, most recently, he was partner responsible for governance and risk management services.  He now works as a director and as an independent consultant – specialising in governance, risk management and board effectiveness reviews.  Bob is a science graduate, a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Director and a Certified Psychometric Evaluator.

• 

  Stephen Killilea Hannon Talent Acquisition Manager

  Liberty IT

• 

  Clare Madden Personal & Executive Coach, Clare Madden Coaching

  Associate, Thrive Coaching & Development

  Clare has 20+ years in learning and development, specialising in leadership development and helping organisations, teams and individuals to grow. She has held Learning and Development roles across both Health & Social Care Services and the Higher Education Sector. Clare was Professional Development Manager at Ulster University where she introduced coaching in 2007 after qualifying as a coach and provided an extensive range of programmes and services across all staff levels and professions, winning a National training award for Excellence in Coaching. She also initiated the University’s Women’s Network and introduced a number of mentoring schemes for women.

  She has extensive experience of coaching senior leaders. Clare’s coaching approach is to build a relationship of trust and openness and provide space and time to assist clients to think through their issues, challenges and changes they would like to make in work and/or life and work with them to make that change happen.

  Clare is a longstanding and active member of the Association for Coaching, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Institute of Leadership and Management, as well as an Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.’

• 

  Kiera Lee Partner

  Mills Selig

  Kiera has 19 years’ experience in employment law acting mainly for employers in contentious and non-contentious matters. Her client list includes leading NI Companies and large employers (up to 2,000 employees).

  Kiera’s experience covers day to day HR problems and complex restructuring issues. She has given advice on a restructure and redundancy programme involving more than 800 employees and defended multi claimant tribunal claims for unfair dismissal arising from TUPE transfers.

  She also assists with strategic decisions, successfully managing the exit of senior executives and any contentious issues with restrictive covenants.