Our Team
Learn more about each member of our team below:
The HAZ Team
Colette Brolly (HAZ Co-ordinator for Older People)
Colette is currently co-ordinator for Older People in the Western Health Action Zone and facilitator of the Later Years Sub-Group of Investing for Health.
Colette took up post in May 2002 and her present post has responsibility for developing, managing and evaluating projects to improve the health and well-being of older people within the Western Health Action Zone area.
Colette is a psychology graduate of Queen's University Belfast and prior to her current post has spent 12 years working in various posts within the Western Health and Social Services Board.
Outside work, Colette has been a part-time youth leader with the Western Education & Library Board for the last 15 years. She is married to Michael and they have two boys, Marc and Josh.
Julie McGinty (HAZ Co-ordinator for Family Poverty)
Julie McGinty is currently co-ordinator for Families and Poverty in the Western Health Action Zone and facilitator of the Early Years Sub-Group of Investing for Health.
Julie took up post in May 2002 and her present post has responsibility for developing, managing and evaluating projects to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged or vulnerable families within the Western Health and Social Services Board.
Julie is a former Treatment Room and Practice Nurse and graduated from University of Ulster in 1999 with an Hons degree in Community Nursing/Nurse Practitioner of General Practice.
Outside work, Julie enjoys gardening and has three children, Aoife, Conor and Ciara.
Michelle Kelly (Personal Secretary)
Michelle joined the Health Action Zone on 1st July as Personal Secretary.
Michelle completed her HNC in Administration and Information Technology in June 2008. She is also completing a part time degree in Business Studies in Magee. This is her first administrative post after completing her HNC and after three years working in Asda.
Outside work, Michelle enjoys socialising with friends and shopping.
Siobhan Sweeney (HAZ Manager)
Siobhan was appointed as Manager of the Western Health Action Zone in December 2003.
Siobhan graduated from the University of Ulster in 1986 with BSc (Hons) degree in Social Administration. Siobhan completed the Advanced Diploma in Education in 1988 and gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion in 2002.
Siobhan held a number of teaching and training posts before joining Westcare Health Promotion in 1995 as Health Promotion Officer for Drugs and Alcohol. She was appointed Assistant Manager in 1998 with responsibility for community development. Within this role she developed a strong commitment to community development as an essential approach to health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities.
As Manager of the Western HAZ, Siobhan has continued to develop partnership working and community development as crucial elements to the success of Investing for Health and the Health Action Zone.
Siobhan is married to Martin and has three children, Jimmy, Emma and Aine.
The Community Food & Nutrition Team
Ann Gallen (Administrator)
Ann is the new temporary administration assistant for the Cook it! project. She was appointed to the post in April 2006.
Ann is returning to work after a five year break. She has previously worked in Estate Services and Planning Department in Gransha and has also worked in a GP practice in Great James Street Health Centre.
Claire Holmes (Community Food & Nutritin Team Dietitian)
Claire Holmes is the Dietitian co-ordinating Cook it! - a healthy eating and cooking skills programme produced by the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) for use in Northern Ireland and particularly aimed at people for whom cost is an important consideration.
Previously Claire worked for Sperrin Lakeland Trust as Community Dietitian for Fermanagh. Promoting healthy eating has always been of particular interest and during her years with Sperrin Lakeland, Claire was heavily involved in the initiation of a number of innovative projects such as the 'Bone Fun Days' (educating young adolescents about bone health) and 'Fit Food' (a group approach to weight management based on the SIGN guidelines).
In 2000 - 2001, Claire was one of the Community Dietitians who worked with the HPA to update the Cook it! programme to its current format. The Cook it! project, which is funded for three years by the Big Lottery, aims to train and support Cook it! tutors, recruited from community and voluntary organisations, who will then deliver the six week Cook it! course in their localities.
