What does it mean to you to be recognised in the Birthday Honours list?
It is personally very humbling and of course a great honour to receive this recognition as part of His Majesty’s Birthday Honours. This recognition, while deeply personal, is in truth a testament to the collective dedication, unwavering commitment and extraordinary resilience of every single member of the Hydebank Wood Team, past and present.
My role as governor in charge of Hydebank Wood affords me the opportunity and privilege to work with an exceptional group of people who genuinely care about what they do and seek to make a difference every day.
How did you end up in that role?
I joined the NI Prison Service in 1988 as a prison officer and have covered multiple roles. Initially, I worked at Hydebank Wood in 2001 as training manager and returned again in 2013, taking on the role of deputy governor, then governor. In 2018, I moved to HMP Magilligan as governor and then returned to Hydebank Wood as governor in 2021.
Justice minister Naomi Long described Hydebank Wood College as a “model of excellence” last year – what’s behind its success?
The success is a direct result of the passion and enthusiasm of our staff and the excellent collaborative working with our partner agencies and voluntary sector colleagues. The level of innovative thinking, coupled with the determination to “make it work” has created an environment that reflects a ‘changing minds, changing lives” ethos that underpins all that we do.
Apart from receiving this honour, what has been your proudest moment at work?
Being invited to a ceremony to observe my late father (who was terminally ill), a career prison officer, being presented with the first NI Prison Service medal.
What does it take to do your job well?
To dedicate yourself to the tasks, involve and communicate well with your team, be solution focused and accept that in an operational environment, plans are always going to change. To recognise and appreciate the efforts of your team and the work they do.
Tell us one thing we might not know about your job...
That being sent to prison can be the catalyst for change for many who are committed into our care and with the right support and direction, success can be achieved over many levels.