Senior Leadership Team

Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Senior Leadership Team is responsible for overseeing the strategic operational objectives of the Council.

John Kelpie, Chief Executive
John Kelpie is the Chief Executive of the Derry City and Strabane District Council.  Established in April 2015 because of a programme of local government reform in Northern Ireland, this new Council serves a larger geographical area and has a range of additional powers, functions and responsibilities than its predecessor Councils. John led on the creation of the new organisation designing an innovative, flexible and responsive staffing structure with a clear vision and purpose to develop a thriving, prosperous and sustainable City and Region with equality of opportunity for all.
Contact details:
Email: [email protected]  Tel. 028 71253253 Ext. 6800
 
Stephen Gillespie, Director of Business and Culture
Stephen Gillespie is the Director of Business and Culture at Derry City and Strabane District Council. The Business and Culture directorate encompasses a range of services such as economic development and job creation, business support and engagement, ICT, tourism, arts and culture, visitor services, heritage and museums and marketing and communications. Stephen believes that councils have a growing responsibility to ensure that positive growth and development can continue at a local level, and in his capacity as Director of Business and Culture – two key economic areas for the North West - has been working to promote the City and District both on a local and international level. Stephen qualified as an accountant in 1996 having trained in an industrial setting with Desmond and Sons, the clothing manufacturer. He then moved on to become the Financial Controller at Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners. This private sector experience has been invaluable in the current role.
Contact details:
Email: [email protected] Tel 028 71 253253 Ext 6901
 
Karen Phillips, Director of Environment and Regeneration
Karen Phillips is Director of Environment and Regeneration for Derry City and Strabane District Council.  She leads on the delivery of a wide range of services including Environment and Building Control, Planning, Green Infrastructure development and Regeneration. 
 
Karen chairs the Regeneration Pillar for the Delivery of the two major City Deal Regeneration Capital projects, on Derry’s Riverfront/Strand Road and in Strabane Town Centre, as well as many other major capital projects.
 
Contact details:
Email: [email protected] Tel No. 028 71 253253 Ext. 6909
 
Karen McFarland, Director of Health and Communities
Contact details
Email: [email protected] Work Direct Line: 028 7138 1319 or 028 71 253 253 - Ext. 4291 or 6401
 
Business and Culture Directorate Heads of Service

• Kevin O’Connor. Head of Business

• Jacqueline Whoriskey, Head of Culture

• Conor Canning, Head of Environment and Building Control.

• Colin Kennedy, Natural Environment Regeneration Officer

• Tony Monaghan, Regeneration Officer

• Suzanne McCracken

• Barry O’Hagan, Head of Community Development and Leisure

• Seamus Donaghy, Head of Health and Community Wellbeing

Email: [email protected] Tel. 028 71 253 253 Ext. 4441 or 6952
 
Strategic Planning and Support Units

Strategic Programmes/City Deal
Oonagh McGillion, Strategic Programmes Director
Email: [email protected] Tel no 028 71253253 Ext 6653
 
Strategic Finance
Alfie Dallas, Lead Finance Officer,
Email: [email protected] Tel 028 71253253 Ext. 6603
 
Business Support and Strategic Partnerships
Rachael Craig, Strategic Business Manager,
Email: [email protected], Tel 028 71 2253253 Ext. 4280/6707
 
Capital Development
Frank Morrison, Head of Strategic Capital Projects,
Email: [email protected], Tel 028 71 253253 Ext. 6810
 
Strategic Communications                                     
Adele McCourt, Media and PR Officer,
Email: [email protected] Tel. 028 71253253 Ext. 6724 or DL 028 71 376583
 
Democratic Services and Improvement
Ellen Cavanagh, Lead Democratic Services and Improvement Officer,
Email: [email protected] Tel. 028 71253253 Ext. 6704
 
Audit and Assurance
Denise McDonnell, Lead Assurance Officer,
Email: [email protected] Tel 028 71376605 or 028 71 253253 ext. 6605 
 
Legal Services
Philip Kingston, Lead Legal Services Officer,
Email: [email protected] Tel no 028 71253253 Ext 6767.
 
Human Resources
Paula Donnelly, Lead Human Resources Officer,
Email: [email protected] Tel no 028 71253253 Ext 4281 or 6950