Project manager – Andrew Bratton
Hi everyone, my name is Andrew Bratton. I am the Project Manager for the Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme. I led the development team which secured the successful Landscape Partnership Scheme bid in March 2020.
I’ve worked with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust since 2012 and during this time i’ve developed and delivered several roles including AONB and WHS Project Manager (2012 – 2018), Drifting Apart (Northern Peripheries and Arctic Programme) Project Manager (2015 – 2018) and Landscape Partnership Manager (2018 to present). In my spare time i collect, restore and ride classic and modern motorbikes and enjoy climbing, swimming, coasteering and surfing
Outdoor Recreation project officer – Melissa McQuitty
Mel has over a decade of experience working in the conservation and tourism industry. She graduated with a degree in Leisure, Events and Cultural Management from the University of Ulster in 2006.
Mel specialises in projects, having been an integral part of the team on the award-winning Causeway visitor experience, and over the years working on a wide variety of exciting projects across the North coast from Downhill to Cushendun. In 2017, Mel furthered her technical knowledge around projects and was awarded the Associate Project Management Certificate.
A strong believer in the need to access nature and protect our environment, she is a keen litter picker, enjoys travelling and wild camping adventures with her family in their much-loved campervan.
Natural Heritage Officers – Laura McAuley and Aisling Gribbin
Hello everyone, my name is Aisling, and I have a lifelong passion for the outdoors, nature and the environment, My free time is usually spent on the side of a windswept mountain with my two dogs Coral and Jeff.
I graduated with a master’s in environmental Protection and Management from the University of Edinburgh in 2011, and since then have been working on a variety of wildlife and conservation based projects, from being an upland ecologist in the Scottish hills in Angus, to running a citizen science project called Where’s Wildlife in Ayrshire, teaching others how to identify and record local wildlife. I moved home in late 2017 to start my own small business called Dog Trails NI, while also pursuing my conservation career on home turf.
Laura graduated from Queens University in Belfast with a Bsc (Hons) degree in Geography and is working towards an Msc in Environmental Management. Laura has a keen interest in biodiversity and the environment and isn’t afraid to get stuck in with the practical conservation and enhancement aspects of the projects and has delivered a number of community engagement projects with local community groups and schools in The Glens of Antrim, organising archaeological excavations, planting trees, wildflower meadows and creating an outdoor learning resource for primary schools.
Having worked for over 6 years on Heart of The Glens LPS she has a lot of experience in working with various partners to deliver a range of environmental, conservation and training projects. She is keen to get involved in the day to day running of the projects and ensure that they are seen through to the end. Laura enjoys farming, travelling and hiking and has climbed Kilimanjaro as well as the highest peaks in Czech Republic, Poland, Iceland, Macedonia, Greece, Norway, Spain, Ireland, Scotland to name a few. She is also a fully qualified Heritage Tour Guide.
Historic Environment and volunteer Project Officer – Grace McAlister
Grace McAlister is our Historic Environment and Volunteer Coordinator.
My background is in archaeology, having studied archaeology at Queen’s University and worked as an archaeologist for the last 10 years. During that time I directed excavations, delivered archaeology education programmes and gained invaluable experience working on lottery funded projects while employed within the Archaeology department at Queen’s University.
I’m passionate about bringing heritage and archaeology to a wider audience and looking forward to getting to know the places and people of the Binevenagh area over the coming years. My role is part-time (18.5 hours), and I spend the remainder of my working week on PhD study researching the value of engaging young people with their local heritage. In my free time I love hillwalking and baking cakes to fuel my walks.
Finance and Admin officer – Barbara Lynch
Barbara Lynch is the Scheme’s new Finance and Administration Assistant
Barbara graduated from the University of Ulster at Coleraine with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Geography and Post Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems.
She is a qualified Financial Advisor with over a decade of experience in Business Banking and Administration.
Barbara lives in the beautiful Inishowen Peninsula and has a strong connection to the North West where she spends many weekends with her young family.
Barbara enjoys running, walking, yoga, cooking, interior design and travelling.