Board of Trustees
Belfast Pride is the biggest LGBTQIA+ Festival on the island of Ireland and packs in over 150 events across ten days. Belfast Pride is a major community effort – thousands of volunteer hours go in to making Pride happen. Team Pride brings together a diverse team to manage and deliver the festival. The Board and Festival Committee are supported by a larger volunteer team alongside contractors and artists who all come together to give the LGBTQIA+ community in Belfast the biggest platform of the year to make a stand for equality and celebrate our lives and culture.
To find out how you can play your part and join Team Pride, go to our Team Pride page to see current opportunities.
Neil Millar-McDonagh (He/Him)
Co-Chair
Kirsty Mulholland (She/Her)
Co-Chair
Kirsty was co-chair of the Bank of Ireland’s staff LGBTQIA+ network from 2020-2022 and a founding committee member of FuSIoN NI – the Financial Services Inclusion Network. She has spoken publicly about her transition on numerous occasions, including BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 4 Extra. She has also presented to senior corporate representatives on the importance of trans inclusion in the workplace and has assisted some of those organisations in developing their own workplace transition policies. She was featured on the OUTstanding LGBTQIA+ Global Role Model lists for 2020 and 2021 in the 100 Future Leaders category.
John O’Doherty (He/Him)
Treasurer
Originally from Maghera, Co. Derry, but has been living in Belfast for most of his adult life. John joined the Board of Belfast Pride in 2021 and has a keen interest in finance, governance and community engagement. John has been an LGBTQIA+ activist for two decades.
E: john.odoherty@belfastpride.com
Paul Bloomer (He/They)
Secretary
Paul has served in the Police Service of Northern Ireland since 2010, performing several different roles, ranging from Emergency Response officer, Court Liaison officer to his current role as a trainer in the Police College. Paul was the first PSNI officer to march in uniform at any Pride event, Manchester Pride in 2015, and this was a transformative moment for Paul who felt empowered and enriched by the positive experience. He returned to his home service with a powerful desire for change. He successfully lobbied for and carried out the first participation of Northern Ireland Police Officers in Uniform in Belfast Pride. He has served as the Co-Chair of the PSNI LGBT+ Network, leading the network to be one of the most visible LGBT+ staff networks in Northern Ireland. He has driven substantive change within the Police Service improving inclusion for LGBT+ Officers and staff within the service. Paul has also served four years as the communications lead for LGBT+ Police UK. Paul was raised by parents from a mixed Catholic and Protestant backgrounds. They instilled in him a deep respect for diversity and raised him to embrace all aspects of his heritage, while respecting the heritage of others, and this gave Paul a strong desire for public service and social justice.
E: paul.bloomer@belfastpride.com
Craig Kirkwood (He/Him)
Co-Vice Chair and Parade Manager
Gerard McAtamney (He/Him)
Parade Manager
Gerard has been involved with Belfast Pride for over a decade now. Whether it be waving at the crowds off a float dressed in some guise or other in the actual Parade itself in the early years, or more recently from 2015 actually managing it along with the Team. At this stage there is very little he does not know about the organisation and what makes its heartbeat.
Gerard has worked tirelessly over the years to grow and expand Belfast Pride and is looking forward to seeing it reach its full potential.
E: gerard.mcatamney@belfastpride.com
Adam Murray (He/Him)
Trustee
Adam brings 14 years of experience working for the LGBTQIA+ community, having held diverse administrative, financial, and project delivery roles over the years. Adam currently works in Cara-Friend as their Community Development Manager. Adam is looking forward to playing a role in making Belfast Pride the best it can be.
Lynn Millar (She/Her)
Trustee/Volunteer Coordinator
“Hi I’m Lynn, a wife, mother of 2 and a grandmother. My work background was in Social Care, but having had to step down, I found myself with time to fill and having been an LGBTQIA+ ally my whole adult life, when I saw an opportunity to get involved with Belfast Pride I grasped it. I’ve been a Volunteer with Pride for quite a while. This is my 8th year and 1st year as Volunteer Coordinator and Trustee. Becoming involved was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It’s challenging, fulfilling and a little crazy at times, but I wouldn’t change it for the world”.
Annette Whelan (She/Her)
Trustee
Annette has over 16 years’ information security experience in the global finance sector. She has led LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) both locally and globally and is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within the workplace. Outside of her day job, Annette is co-chair of the Working With Pride (WWP) network – a network of Corporate Pride workplace resource groups in the north of Ireland. Having taken up the position of Belfast Pride Trustee she said, ”I am so proud to be given an opportunity to be part of the biggest LGBTQ+ festival on the island of Ireland. I am whole-heartedly looking forward to working with this team and watching Belfast Pride as it continues to grow and thrive”.
E: annette.whelan@belfastpride.com
Gráinne Gibson (She/Her)
Trustee
Gráinne has enjoyed working with children and young people since she was 17. She lives in Belfast with her partner, children and dog. Gráinne joined HERe NI in 2015, through her role she continues to advocate for children and young people as well as providing fun meet ups and helpful workshops for them and their LGBTQIA+ parents and carers.
