The finalists are:

Monica Wilson

Monica is Chief Executive of Disability Action. She is widely recognized by her peers within the sector and within the disability network as an champion for those living with disability who has achieved significant results for the members of her organisation and all those living with disability in Northern Ireland  This has been achieved as a long term strategy, positioning Disability Action as a rights based organisation, achieving long term change, promoting equality of access to the political process and ensuring the political structures address key policy issues impacting on the lives of people with disability and their families.

Eddie Lynch

Eddy leads Age Sector Platform which is a campaigning organisation with a membership base of 28 groups across NI representing around 200,000 older people. During 2008 / 9, Eddie has been central to the development of Age Sector Platform as a democratic and inclusive campaigning organisation. Eddie has ensured that older people are central to the political impact strategy of the organization – as such; older people act as media spokespersons, negotiate with government, make policies and provide services. Judges noted that Eddie has an instinctive grasp of the complexity and sensitivity of the many and varied problems affecting the lives of older people.

Arlene Cassidy

Arlene is Chief Executive of Autism NI. Having never received any lobbying training or used the services of an agency to assist in the area of political influence, Arlene has spent many years painstakingly, building relationships with MLA’s. She has become an expert in identifying the right ministers, approaching them at key times and “getting her tactics right”. The recent drafting of the Autism Bill which is to be introduced as a cross party Private Members’ Bill early this year is itself a testament to the 20 year journey that Autism NI has traveled with Arlene at the helm of the movement for parents of children and young people with autism.

The winner  is Arlene Cassidy

Donna Traynor; Quintin Oliver, Strategem;
Arlene Cassidy, Autism NI