Seána came to Liverpool from Belfast in 1984 to study Geography at Liverpool University. She gained a 2.1 BA Honours degree in 1987, after which she worked on a PhD, but with life and financial constraints this was not completed whilst lecturing at Liverpool Institute of Higher Education (now Hope University College). In 1991, she was appointed as a Research Associate at the University of Manchester, Education Department, working on national curriculum assessment and school support. During this time she was commissioned to write a children’s educational publication and teacher guide, published by Heinemann/Reed.
In 1994, whilst looking to work back in Liverpool and with a change of career in mind, Seána started work with Margaret Jackson Associates, and via this route helped in the establishment of the Granby Toxteth Development Trust. The work grew and eventually she was employed directly by the Trust to help secure funding and support the work of the Board and sub-groups. Between 1995-2005 Seána worked with mbA Training Research and Development to develop, manage and evaluate a wide range of equality, inclusion and regeneration projects financed under public, private and European funding streams across the UK. For example, in recent years Seána was responsible for a:
UK study on Racism and Discrimination for the European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia
Inception and Development of Liverpool Asylum Seeker and Refugee Development Partnership (LASAR DP) funded through EQUAL ESF
Development of an employer Code of Practice to raise awareness and dispel myths about recruitment of refugees in the London labour market
Development and delivery of equality and diversity “health checks” including equality and diversity training
When mbA went into voluntary liquidation at the end of March 2005, Seána was delighted that Merseyside Network for Change were able to take on the lead agency role for the continuation of the LASAR DP project. She continues to manage this project, which is now amalgamated with the wider activities of the Merseyside Refugee Support Network.
Since April 2006 Seána has taken on the new role of Assistant Director – Operations within Merseyside Network for Change. As a working mum, Seána still manages to balance her work and family life (ironing excluded!).
