Stephen Mcgowan Email & Phone Number

Strategic Investment Board (SIB) support to the Department of Communities (Northern Ireland) to aid development of the independent report of the Culture, Arts and Heritage Strategy Taskforce

Belfast Metropolitan Area

Strategic Investment Board (SIB) helps Government to plan infrastructure, deliver major projects, and manage assets. Its work, directed by Ministers, is focused on supporting the delivery of the objectives set-out within the Programme for Government. Embedded support (2015-2022) to TEO in delivery of its Urban Villages programme (good relations and urban regeneration). Led an embedded SIB team (capital delivery, communications, community engagement) and the design and coordination of cross-departmental and multi-sector projects and partnership funding. Supported officials in establishing and delivering the programme plan, key milestones and resource and governance arrangements.

Belfast

Joined the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in 2009 as Head of Creative Industries and Innovation. Appointed into Senior Civil Service role as Assistant Secretary and Director of Strategic Delivery in 2013. As Assistant Secretary: strategic leadership and operational oversight of investment programmes supporting social and economic change. Member of the Departmental Management Board. Led engagement across Government and with its social partners to maximise the role of the creative and cultural base in supporting NI Executive priorities in areas such as education; health and well-being; social inclusion; and economic development. As Head of Creative Industries and Innovation: revitalised the Department’s leadership role for the creative industries and stimulated innovation and collaborative working across Government departments and with external stakeholders across business, education and the community and voluntary sectors. Partnership working with businesses and sectoral organisations across the creative industries to enhance skills development, commercial innovation and export potential. Led NI Civil Service engagement with a British Irish Council initiative on the creative industries; and building of strategic partnerships in support of novel and inclusive approaches to the Decade of Centenaries (exploring the 1912-1922 period in Ireland and Britain)

Economic Development and Business Liaison. Development of innovation based programmes and networking initiatives to enhance the University’s engagement and partnership working with the business community. Development of regional, cross-border and international partnerships to support knowledge exchange and collaboration between academics and senior government and business sector decision makers.

Public and political affairs - developed a Public and Community Affairs approach to enhance the University’s engagement with political and community opinion formers. Supported the University’s corporate objectives and its communications and marketing priorities.

Policy development and political&public relations - led policy development, political liaison and advocacy campaigns in Northern Ireland. Engagement with elected representatives to effectively influence and support the development and delivery of healthcare strategies and the work of key stakeholders.

Supported organisational approaches to delivering community based personal development programmes for young unemployed people. Support to youth work specialists in the design of good relations projects and in establishing collaborative links with stakeholders.

Belfast

Development of personal development and numeracy and literacy initiatives to enhance vocational training programmes and the employability prospects of young people aged 16-18 in disadvantaged areas of Belfast.

Mba, Business Administration

Bsc (Hons), Information Management