Who speaks for the Lough?
How can we make conversations about the future of Lough Neagh more democratic?
Lough Neagh has been at the heart of many environmental, economic, and cultural discussions in Northern Ireland for the last couple of years, but whose voices are shaping its future?
Join us for a thought-provoking event exploring how we can make conversations about Lough Neagh more democratic. Together, we’ll discuss how participatory and deliberative approaches could bring diverse voices into decision making about this vital resource. Whether you're a local resident, environmental advocate, policy maker, or simply curious, this is an opportunity to reimagine how we work together to protect and plan for the future of Lough Neagh.
You will hear from experts from across the UK who have used democratic innovations like citizens assemblies to shape their decisions on environmental protection, resource use, and climate action. You'll learn more about how these models could be used to protect our waterways and landscapes here in NI, and have a chance to ask questions, make suggestions, and discuss how to take this important agenda forward.
Event details
📅 DATE: 21 March 2025
🕝TIME: 1:30-5PM
📍LOCATION: Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Craigavon BT66 6NJ
🚗 Driving? If you’re driving, or looking to carpool, we’ve set up a Caroster for you to share a lift or join someone else going.
📖 Read a blog about Lough Neagh and the event here.
Agenda
1:30 - 2.00
👋 Welcome, light refreshments, introductions, overview of the event
2.00-2:30
🌿Outdoor activity - re/connecting with the Lough (Please note: make sure you’re dressed appropriately for the weather!)
2:30-3.00
🎲 Democracy game - activating curiosity
3.00-4.00
🗣️Panel discussion with audience participation
4.00-4:30
🛣️ Participatory path-finding
4:30-5.00
🏁Slow finish, invitation to linger and chat
About the Panel
We have brought together a panel of democracy elders—
individuals who have walked the path before us of integrating deliberative democracy into decision-making.
Their experiences offer valuable guidance on how we can establish inclusive, deliberative, and transparent spaces to collectively shape the future of our waterways, landscapes, and broader ecology.
Clodagh Harris
Clodagh Harris, (PhD), is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork and affiliate of the Environmental Research Institute (ERI). Her research on democratic innovations, intergenerational deliberation, and deliberative democracy and climate change has informed climate policy in Ireland.
She has served on the advisory boards of Citizens' Assemblies nationally and internationally. Most recently, she was the deliberative democracy expert on the expert advisory group of Ireland’s Citizen Assembly on biodiversity loss (2022-23). She was also part of a wider consortium that co-designed and implemented a young persons and children’s assembly on biodiversity loss (2022-23).
Rory Crawford
Rory has worked in the nature conservation sector for 18 years, and is an urban nature and community enthusiast, campaigner and lapsed marine biologist. He worked on one of the world’s first citizen’s assemblies on nature - the People’s Assembly for Nature – and loves participation. He is now working for the National Trust on a follow-on partnership between big nature NGOs and 18 community sector organisations that seeks to support and build the capacity of local initiatives to create happier, healthier and greener communities.
Susie Townend
Susie led the Secretariat for Scotland’s Climate Assembly, which was established to ensure the efficient organisation and running of the Assembly.
It was staffed by a mixed team of seconded civil servants and experts and was independent of the Scottish Government. Susie has returned to working as a civil servant for the Scottish Government.
Chaired by Rebekah McCabe, Founder of the All-Island Better Democracy Network and Head of Northern Ireland for Involve.
Supported by Friends of the Earth and iCommunity