Our National Editorial Panel is an advisory body, comprised of multidisciplinary experts across Education, Safeguarding, and Online Safety. Each national panel reviews and scrutinises our resources for accuracy and relevance, upholding the quality of our work and ensuring it meets the highest standards.

Joan Henderson

Educational mentor and coach

Joan Henderson brings over four decades of experience in education, leadership, and safeguarding. Her career spans roles as a teacher, principal, university lecturer, and Education and Training Inspector, where she developed inspection protocols and represented Northern Ireland in European early childhood intervention projects.

As founder of a successful training and coaching consultancy, Joan delivers early years training, leadership development, mentoring, and executive coaching to education professionals and corporate leaders. She designed and led the widely acclaimed Aspiring Leaders Programme, which impacted over 700 educators across Northern Ireland. Joan’s work over the last two years has been with individuals who want to change roles, careers and overcome responsibility and personal life challenges.

She is passionate about promoting best practice in support for children and young people, safeguarding and empowering leaders to drive meaningful change, improve outcomes, and create safe, supportive environments for learning and growth.

Bimpe Archer

Regulatory Affairs manager

Bimpe Archer is Ofcom’s online safety and media literacy lead for Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Her role includes developing and managing relationships with stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors, promoting Ofcom’s media literacy work and strategy, liaising with counterparts in Irish regulator Coimisiún na Meán, and contributing to online safety policy development and strategy delivery at the UK communications regulator.

Before joining Ofcom, she worked as a journalist for two decades, finishing her career at the Irish News where she was a weekly columnist, duty news editor and award-winning news reporter. During her journalism career, she also worked at the Belfast Telegraph and City Beat, as well as contributing to BBC News and RTE radio programmes. She lives in Belfast with her husband and two children.

Dawn Chisholm

Teacher

“I have been teaching and privileged to be shaping young lives in Northern Ireland since 2006. Initially specialising in mainstream Physical Education until 2018, my focus has evolved into passionately promoting the health and well-being of pupils and safeguarding young people facing social, emotional, and well-being challenges.
My current professional practice is deeply rooted in a trauma-informed, therapeutic, and nurturing approach. Through this methodology, I design and deliver a curriculum that provides essential support, allowing vulnerable young people to maintain access to their education and foster a positive, hopeful vision for their future.
Outside of my professional life, I am a proud mum and a dedicated Liverpool fan.”

Deidre Coffey

Education Manager – RSE and the Preventative Curriculum

Deidre Coffey – Senior educationalist at CCEA with responsibility for Relationships and Sexuality Education, Period Dignity and the Preventative Curriculum
Deidre is a former Head of Biology in two NI Grammar Schools, and a former national Senior Education Advisor for the British Red Cross.
She has expertise in all four UK National Curricula, having directed and managed substantial multi-faceted and award-winning education programmes across the UK and internationally.
Deidre has experience of developing educational resources and support materials in Science and Humanitarian Education, as well as resources covering a wide range of RSE issues. She has been responsible for the majority CCEA’s work on RSE, including the development of an RSE Hub and Progression Framework.

Dympna Thornton

Justice Partner

Grace McCarthy

Vice Principal, Pastoral Care

Grace has been working as the Vice Principal for Pastoral Care at Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock for over six years. The College is a selective, co-educational, Catholic grammar school with 1422 students (aged 11-19) from the Greater Belfast area and North Down/Ards. As the Safeguarding lead of the College, Grace is passionate about ensuring that the preventative curriculum is fit for purpose and reflects an evidence based meaningful provision for all students.

Holly Rankin

Head of Senior Department

I’m Head of the Senior Department at Hill Croft School, and have spent over 16 years working within the special education sector. Safeguarding, inclusion, and creating meaningful opportunities for young people with additional needs are at the heart of everything I do. I’ve worked across all key stages, which gives me a broad perspective on how to support learners throughout their education. As a Makaton Tutor who has completed the Makaton Safeguarding course, I’m committed to promoting inclusive communication as part of effective safeguarding practice. I’m passionate about developing resources and approaches that not only include our sector but truly reflect its unique needs.

Julie McDevitt

Vice Principal

I’m the pastoral Vice Principal at Ardnashee School and College, and I’ve spent over 26 years working in Special Education—a career that’s been as rewarding as it is varied. Safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion are at the heart of everything I do. I’m trained in trauma-informed practice, which helps shape my approach to creating safe, supportive environments for learners and staff. I love finding creative solutions to complex challenges and making sure every learner feels valued. Collaboration is a big part of my role, and I enjoy working with colleagues and external partners to share ideas and develop best practice. As part of the INEQE editorial panel, I contribute fresh thinking and practical insights to strengthen safeguarding across schools. Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep driving creative, collaborative approaches that build resilience and make school communities even stronger.

Matthew Joyce

Vice Principal

Matthew is the Vice Principal of Ballyclare Primary School. Previously he was Vice Principal of Moneymore Primary School. In both schools he has undertaken the role of Head of Pastoral Care and Designated Teacher for Child Protection. As part of his role he has built up valuable experience working alongside parents, colleagues and support agencies to safeguard children.

He holds an MEd in Educational Leadership and has been involved in supporting first time Vice Principals through the Education Authority mentoring scheme. He has a particular interest in whole school development planning; teacher professional learning and assessment tools.

He has experience teaching Key Stage 1 and 2 classes over the past 15 years and enjoys designing and delivering programmes of work that are relevant, engaging and progressive.

Outside of school his time is spent with his family including two young daughters. His eldest daughter has just begun her school journey.

Niall Manogue

Principal

Niall is the Principal of Braniel Primary School, in East Belfast. Previously, he was Principal of West Winds Primary School in Newtownards having taught in schools in Cambridge and Belfast. Prior to this, Niall worked as a Youthworker and managed international partnerships for an Irish International Development Charity. Niall is interested in Teacher Professional Learning and in exploring how schools can connect with local communities.

Pamela Algie

Principal

Pamela is the teaching Principal of Bangor Integrated Nursery School. She is passionate about how educational technology can be used to support and enhance learning and teaching in purposeful and meaningful ways. Before becoming a Nursery School Principal Pamela taught in Primary Schools as a Foundation Stage Teacher and part of the ICT team. She holds an MSc in Educational Multimedia and is an Apple Distinguished Educator. Pamela is an author for Bloomsbury Education’s Early Years Platform, sharing digital technology learning and teaching ideas for use with 3-5 year olds. Pamela has nine years experience as the designated teacher for safeguarding within her schools and values the opportunity to be part of the INEQE editorial panel.

Shirley Jones

Retired Inspector

Shirley recently retired from the Education and Training Inspectorate after 26 years. Prior to this she worked as a social worker in statutory family and childcare, and then in Further and Higher Education as a senior lecturer and deputy head of department. As an inspector, Shirley was committed to supporting a range of education and training organisations in providing high quality learning experiences for all learners, underpinned by safe and supportive learning environments. For over ten years she chaired ETI’s panel for Care, Welfare and Safeguarding. Her work in relation to child and adult protection and safeguarding in education and training settings led, in 2023, to the award of an OBE. As Shirley embarks on her retirement she continues to be passionate about the need for awareness and commitment to safeguarding in an increasingly complex world and wishes to contribute to the development of this agenda.

To learn more about the work of our National Editorial Panels, please contact us;

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