Time to Strengthen the Regional Impact of Greater North-West

The conference will examine the socioeconomic, infrastructure and investment policies that are needed to address regional inequalities and imbalance. It will also explore possibilities for cross-border planning and coordination to enable the greater North-West region to fulfil its potential and not remain an outlier in terms of economic performance in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Draft Agenda

10.00am - Welcome - Mark Durkan, John and Pat Hume Foundation Board Member
10.10am - Launch of Royal Irish Academy Report: ‘Regional Approaches to Higher Education - comparisons between the North West of the island of Ireland and Scotland and Wales’ Professor Gerry McKenna MRIA, Chair, North-South Standing Committee, RIA
10.30am – The Facts of Regional Imbalance, John Daly, Economist Northern and Western Regional Assembly
11.15am – East/West and International Experience, Professor Des McNulty - Deputy Director Policy Scotland, Dr. Gabriele Goldfuß and Dr. Heiderose Heßke Representatives from the City of Leipzig
12.15pm – Ministerial Address, Steve Baker MP Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office and Irish Government representative
1.00pm – LUNCH
1.30pm - The Perspective of Business, Gerry Kindlon Director of Government Relations Seagate, Michael D’Arcy, Business Consultant and independent advisor to the Ibec/CBI Joint Business Council
2.30pm - Political government and public policy panel Discussion with Colm Eastwood MP; Mary O’Dwyer; Dr. Nancy Aris, State Representative from City of Leipzig
3.30pm - Plenary
4pm - Close, Professor Paul Arthur, John and Pat Hume Foundation Board Member