Our Board & SMT

Ian is married and lives just outside Belfast, though he hails originally from Groomsport at the top of the Ards Peninsula.

A speaker of several Western European languages, Ian is a linguist by academic background, compiling ground-breaking research on language change in Germanic languages as his dissertation at Newcastle University. 

Ian continues to write and commentate on linguistic issues, including on effective language learning methods and minority language development.

A past local councillor, Ian is also involved in hockey umpiring and public policy analysis and research (particularly in the fields of health and the economy).

Ian has previously served as the Chair of the Ulster-Scots Broadcasting Fund from 2012 to 2019.

Karyn grew up in the Laggan Valley in East Donegal, where she experienced the traditions and the language of the Ulster-Scots community on a daily basis.

Her father, Jim Devenney, a long-term activist and supporter of Ulster-Scots, inspired Karyn to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of her cultural heritage. 

Having just completed her masters in applied theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, she is hopeful that perhaps this transformative and participatory art form will enable her to further explore the language, traditions and culture of the Ulster Scots community in Ireland.

Karyn is currently teaching in a small rural Primary school in Manorcunningham, Co Donegal and her interests include education, theatre, art, music and reading. 

Keith Gamble is a partner in a Belfast law firm.

This is his second term as Chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency, having previously served from 2016 to 2021.

He has had a lifelong involvement in the pipe band scene, playing as a snare drummer, most recently with Gilnahirk Pipe Band.

He has previously served on the board of the Ulster-Scots Community Network and the Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group.

Leslie is a retired building contractor and lives in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. He has been involved in Ulster-Scots projects in Cavan and Monaghan for many years. 

At present he is a committee member of the Presbyterian Historical Society and the Ulster History Circle. Leslie is also a former chairperson of Breifne Historical Society and Bailieborough Historical Society. 

He previously served on the boards of Bailieborough Community School and Bailieborough Development Association and is currently a board member of Bailieborough Model School.

Leslie has published several local history books as well as editing Spark magazine and has contributed historical essays to other publications.

Alan Millar is originally from east Donegal but is now working as a journalist based in Ballymoney, Co Antrim.  Alan is a writer and poet in Ulster-Scots and English.  

In 2021, Alan was the winner of Hugh MacDiarmid Tassie for Scots poetry and the inaugural Linen Hall Library Ulster-Scots short story competition. He was the 2023 winner of Linen Hall Library Ulster-Scots poetry competition. His first collection of poetry ‘Echas frae tha Big Swilly Swally’ was published in May 2023 and he was nominated for Scots Writer of the Year, 2023 Scots Language Awards.

Alan is currently completing an ACNI assisted second poetry collection, Frae Erris tae Wrath. He commenced a Doctorate with Ulster University in September 2024 on the United Irish newspaper, Northern Star.  Most recently, Alan is working as a joint editor of the Flann O’Brien trilingual schools’ creative writing collection ‘Abhainn Burn River’.   

Ian is married and lives just outside Belfast, though he hails originally from Groomsport at the top of the Ards Peninsula.

A speaker of several Western European languages, Ian is a linguist by academic background, compiling ground-breaking research on language change in Germanic languages as his dissertation at Newcastle University. Ian continues to write and commentate on linguistic issues, including on effective language learning methods and minority language development.

A past local councillor, Ian is also involved in hockey umpiring and public policy analysis and research (particularly in the fields of health and the economy).
Ian has previously served as the Chair of the Ulster-Scots Broadcasting Fund from 2012 to 2019.

Native from Granard, Co. Longford, Lavinia has lived in Co. Cavan for the last thirty years.

Prior to graduating from Trinity College in 1992 with a B. Ed. degree, she received her secondary education in Ard Scoil Phadraig in Granard followed by completing her Leaving Certificate through the medium of Irish in Coláiste Moibhí in Dublin.  Ms. Tilson commenced her teaching profession in Raphoe, Co. Donegal and then taught as a primary teaching principal in Ballyconnell Co. Cavan, a position she held for 30 years until her retirement in 2024. 

She has been actively involved in many projects/committees over the years ranging from Drama Production, Be Buddies not Bullies, Youth Theatres, Irish Wheelchair Association, Diocesan Board of Education, Girl Guides, Youth Development Services, Tourette Alliance, Education Board in Cavan/ Monaghan Youth Reach and Léargas Cross Border project. Lavinia has a keen interest in promoting the language and culture of the Ulster Scots. 

Trevor Wilson is married with three children and has served the people of Cookstown as an Ulster Unionist Councillor since 1989.

He is a past Council Chairman and past Chairman of the Council's Audit committee, Chairman of Cookstown Enterprise Centre, Chairman of Mid Ulster Pipe Band Section and a member of Friends of Killymoon Castle.  

Trevor has a lot of experience of serving on Voluntary boards and is a founder member of Fairhill and District Credit Union. He is an avid Northern Ireland soccer fan and a member of Killymoon Golf club.

Ian holds the position of CEO at the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Ian has spent most of his career working at a senior level within the community and voluntary sector. He has extensive experience in the fields of community development, culture and urban regeneration, and also important experience of the public service, having worked for several years as a Special Adviser in the Department for Social Development.

He is an experienced cultural activist who has brought many new projects to his local community in North Belfast, including the development of several successful community festivals, an Ulster-Scots society and a traditional drumming club. He has worked extensively to promote community development and good relations through the medium of culture. 

Ian has served on a number of important public bodies including the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Laganside Corporation. He is also a former chairman of the North Belfast Partnership and chaired the delivery body for the URBAN II European funding programme which delivered £10million to inner North Belfast.

David is Director of Development at the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Prior to his appointment, David spent seven years as Operations Director for the Ulster-Scots Community Network, an umbrella body of over 600 groups that operate within the broad Ulster-Scots sector.

David has worked within the community and voluntary sector for more than 15 years, with experience and involvement in cultural awareness projects, community education, good relations and capacity-building organisations, as well as working for a range of funding bodies in Northern Ireland.

William Olphert is the Director of Education and Language at the Ulster-Scots Agency. 

He studied Chinese and Linguistics at the University of York and, as a native speaker of Ulster-Scots, completed his final year dissertation on "Some common features of an Ulster-Scots speech community". 

William is passionate about strengthening the recognition and use of Ulster-Scots in everyday life and expanding its transmission to future generations. For most of his working life, he has been working to support minority communities in Northern Ireland through good relations, educational and cultural projects. Before coming to the Ulster-Scots Agency, William served as Managing Director of the Chinese Welfare Association of Northern Ireland.

Outside of work, William enjoys wild swimming, running, and learning languages.

Karen joined the Ulster-Scots Agency in 2014 and has served as Director of Corporate Services since 2022. Karen leads the Corporate Services team with responsibility for finance, HR and IT, ensuring the Agency’s goals and people are supported and well-resourced.

A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Karen studied Accountancy at Queen’s University Belfast. Before joining the Agency, she held financial management roles in the charity sector, property sector and worked in a large audit and accountancy practice with multi-national clients. Karen managed a portfolio of over 100 property unit trusts and has a strong track record in corporate governance.

Outside of work, Karen is passionate about giving back to her community and volunteers as Chairperson of a local early year's charity.