Marine biologist selected for global leadership program

A MARINE biologist from Tyrone, whose passion and drive in life is for the protection and recovery of the North’s coast and seas, is hoping to get a better insight into how decisions are made at the very top levels of government by taking part in a prestigious global policy programme.

Omagh-born Donal Griffin (33), who works for the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force, will be among 63 delegates from 13 countries taking part in the British Council’s Future Leaders Connect, a six-week online programme focusing on policy and leadership.

Donal, who originally went to Christian Brothers Grammar School, was selected from more than 9,000 applicants worldwide and as part of the process, had to pitch his global policy vision – choosing to focus on marine conservation.

He said, “I applied for the Future Leaders Connect programme to meet and learn from like-minded people across Northern Ireland and beyond.

“My passion and drive in life is for the protection and recovery of our coast and seas, as well as all the wonderful marine wildlife which lives there.

“A large part of my job for the Northern Ireland Marine Task is to influence policy and legislation for the better conservation and recovery of our marine environment. Therefore, this programme was a perfect fit and fantastic opportunity for me to link in with a global network of emerging policy leaders, all of whom are working to make substantial change in their own area of policy interest.

“Over the next six weeks, I’m hoping to get a better insight into how decisions are made at the very top levels of government, and importantly, what I can do to make sure those decisions are the right ones for our natural environment and wildlife.”

Across the six weeks, Donal and the nine other delegates from the North will connect with emerging leaders from Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Ukraine, Vietnam and the rest of the UK.