The finalists in this category are:

Nicolas McCrickard

Nicolas leads the East Down Rural Community Network. Originally starting as their single development worker, Nicolas has led his organization to have over 80 groups in membership and have 12 paid staff. Nicolas has led and developed new partnerships at community level working across the predominately Unionist Ards area, the predominately Nationalist Down area eventually becoming the first Chairperson of the Down District Partnership. Nicholas has demonstrated his exceptional qualities as an exemplary lynchpin between community organizations and statutory agencies, striving to create working and effective partnerships which have benefited the people of East Down.

Carson Harte

Carson Harte is Executive Director of the Cambodia Trust that strives for equality and opportunity for people with disabilities in the developing world.  His ability to build effective partnerships has enabled his organisation to expand from a ‘one country’ operation to one that is active in four countries and with an impact across the developing world. Thanks to the vision of Carson in building project partnerships, there is buy-in from the governments in the developing countries in which the Cambodia Trust operates. This buy in ensures projects will be sustainable in the longer term and that the rehabilitation services the Cambodia Trust helps to develop can be effectively integrated into national health care services and poverty reduction strategies.

Laura Couser / Mary Montague

Mary, Chief Executive of Tides Training and Laura, Chief Executive of the Bytes Project have built an outstanding partnership to mutually benefit the beneficiaries they serve as well as both staff teams. This joint project was the development and delivery of training that tackled specific conflict issues through the use of mediation. As a result of this partnership, both organisations, with leadership from these finalists have gained knowledge and peace intervention methods for mediation work with ex combatants and local communities. The professionalism of Laura and Mary linked with their ability to remain approachable and supportive has enabled them to develop lasting partnerships which have meaningful outcomes for their organisations as well as reduced conflicts in the communities in which they work.

The winner is Carson Harte

Donna Traynor; Prof. James McElnay, Queens University Belfast;
Carson Harte, Cambodia Trust