Key conference Recommendations for Northern Ireland

1. The Assembly must lead the production and coordination of policy advice on issues related to sustainable development across the public sector.
   
2. Government departments must work pro-actively in collaboration and across policy portfolios.
   
3. Investment polices need to be targets carefully towards energy security, low carbon infrastructures and environmental protection . The role of investment is crucial and it must be the right type of investment.
   
4. The Executive must prioritise the development of a resilient and sustainable macro-economy that sees success as no longer measured solely by Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
   
5. The Assembly and local government should use initiatives such as the Green New Deal to redress the current economic downturn.
   
6. The value to Northern Ireland's economy of green enterprise should be promoted and take up incentivised.

John is Corporate Affairs Advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers. A practicing management consultant for more that 25 years he co-authors PricewaterhouseCoopers' specialist economic and survey publications. He has worked extensively as an advisor to private and public sector organisations in the UK and Ireland on strategic communication; economic development; and on evaluating and interpreting global and national economic trends.

"Things are less worse"

In Northern Ireland we have an over dependence on the public sector, and underdeveloped private sector and low levels of labour market participation. John's keynote address put the current economic crisis into perspective and forecast that the UK economy is likely to remain in recession throughout 2009, but with gradual recovery in 2010. The situation in NI is slightly 'less worse' than in the UK or the ROI.

Paul started his career with a masters in Chemical Engineering from Queens University. He initially worked in Pharmaceuticals with Pfizer (New York) and then Almac Sciences (Northern Ireland). Moved then into Diageo Global Supply working on Continuous Improvement looking at the efficiency of production lines. From here he has taken up roles in Brand Innovation and Utilities Management, before moving into Operations Management in the Belfast production site.

Jenny was appointed as Director of Energy Division in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in September 2004. Her role is to manage DETI policy and legislative responsibilities in relation to the gas, electricity supply and renewable energy industries in Northern Ireland and to provide analysis and advice to Ministers and to the Permanent Secretary on energy issues, including the relationship between the Department and the NIAUR and on overall strategic energy issues. She also co-chairs the All-island Energy Joint Steering Group which considers areas for co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Ian is the Director of Local Government Policy in the Department of the Environment. His responsibilities include implementation of the Review of Public Administration in relation to local government, the reform and modernisation of local government, local government finance and performance management, and the development and maintenance of the relationship between local and central government, including the Northern Ireland Local Government Association. Prior to taking up that post he worked on environmental policy and planning issues within DOE. In his career he has worked on a range of justice issues, security policy and British-Irish relations.

David has been Chief Executive of SIB since July 2004. He has extensive experience in project finance. A former director of Hambros Bank, David also previously worked for David Wylde Project Finance where he was one of the driving forces behind its successful growth. In May 2007, David was awarded the Public Private Forum award for individual achievement (in recognition of the step change in the volume of activity in the Northern Ireland infrastructure market) and, in September 2008, he was delighted to receive a Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers by presidential invitation. David read economics and social sciences at Trinity College, Dublin. He is married to Helen and has seven children.

Currently working to launch an Environmental Technology R&D company in Northern Ireland, Cody has a professional background in Business Development, Sales and Marketing, Project Management, and International Relations engaging with North America, Europe and the Far East. In addition to having previously set up his own company, he has experience working for multinationals, SMEs, and local government. He has a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics and recently completed a PhD at Queen's University Belfast focused on accelerating the growth of the Environmental Goods and Services sector both internationally and in Northern Ireland.

Patricia has a BSc Honours in Applied Environmental Science from the University of Leeds and a Masters in Environmental Management from University of Ulster as well as a Diploma in Management from the Chartered Management Institute. Patricia is currently the Sustainable Development Officer for Sustainable Northern Ireland (SNI), which has played, and continues to play, an active role in the drafting and implementation of the Sustainable Development (SD) Strategy. Previously, she worked for TIDY Northern Ireland as senior officer responsible for developing the Borough cleanliness survey, TIDY Business and management of the Translink partnership.

Eileen is the Business Support Manager for Southern Group Environmental Health Committee. Eileen has accumulated a wealth of experience in Environmental Management, Quality Management and Health and Safety Management in the private sector and in local government. As Business Support Manager for Southern Group Environmental Health Committee, Eileen is responsible for sustainable development including managing the STEM Project and the Community Eco-Challenge project

Nigel lives in south Down and is employed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland where he currently is the Trust Administrator for the Building Change Trust. Prior to that Nigel was the CFNI EU Programmes Manager responsible for managing CFNI role as an intermediary funding body in the Peace II and Peace II Extension Programmes. Nigel holds degrees in Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry , a Masters in Environmental Sciences and further third level qualifications in Management Practice. He is also a certified PRINCE 2 Practitioner. Nigel retains an interest in agriculture and sits on the DARD independent panel reviewing farm subsidy appeal cases . In a voluntary capacity he is Secretary of Seaforde and District Community Association and Treasurer of Murlough Athletic Club.