The Sligo PPN Secretariat

The Sligo PPN has positions for nine members in its Secretariat. There are currently two vacant seats that are up for election. The existing seven members are:

Michael Bell

Environmental

Joan Swift

Environmental

Pat Benson

Community & Voluntary

Brendan Lynch

Social Inclusion

Pippa Black

Social Inclusion

Aisling Smith

Sligo Strandhill MD

Mark Kupczak

Ballymote Tubbercurry MD

Vacant

Sligo-Drumcliff MD

Vacant

Social Inclusion

Agendas & Minutes

Click here to read the Agendas and Minutes of the Sligo PPN.

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Michael Bell

Michael has been a member of the Secretariat for the previous six years.

Joan Swift

Joan has a keen interest in Climate Action and the Environment. She has attended training and workshops on the Global and the National Climate Action Plan.

Recently she represented the PPN at an OECD workshop on ‘Looking at the Irish Transport System’ through a Wellbeing Lens. She has also represented The National Cycling Advocacy Network at a Climate Summit in Dublin.

As Chair of the Sligo Cycling Campaign and a member of the environment and Infrastructure SPC, Jan has experience of oral and written communication with the Local Authority.

Pat Benson

Pat has a widespread experience of working both local and national level across voluntary and statutory groups.

He is passionate about the need to have local volunteers’ views inputted to all decision making.

He has assisted our group by successfully achieving many projects in our Community and his contribution has always been focused on ensuing volunteerism is recognised.

He is committed as an unpaid worker to represent the small voluntary groups and ensure such groups are rewarded for their efforts in developing communities and making them a welcoming and safe place to live.

Brendan Lynch

Brendan is a mediator, facilitator and lecturer who is actively involved in various community organisations in Sligo.

He previously worked as a financial advisor and an insurance and investment manager with Bank of Ireland. He left this industry determined to use his abilities to serve his community. He retrained in mediation and conflict resolution, and as a facilitator.

He is now the coordinator for Sligo Community Mediation Services. He is also Treasurer for Sligo Foróige and serves on the board of a number of community groups.

Brendan is passionate about building healthy and sustainable communities where people have an opportunity to realise their gifts and to thrive ours.

Pippa Black

Pippa holds degrees in Law and Sociology from New Zealand. She has lived in County Sligo since 2008. After getting her kids to adulthood and becoming an Irish citizen, she became more involved in civic and political life.

Her current top projects include Autism and Friendly Sligo, the Cost of Living Coalition, and the PPN’s Housing Thematic Group.

Her activism is mostly around human rights, particularly with trans and disabled rights. She was drawn to the PPN because of what it represents in terms of participative democracy.

Aisling Smith

As a wheelchair user, Aisling brings a lived experience of being a disabled person and understands the various disabling societal barriers that disabled people face, which prevents us from engaging in a fully inclusive society.

She has a Masters degree in Disability Equality Studies. Therefore, as a member of the Sligo Disabled Persons Organisation, she always takes a rights-based approach of disabled people and the right to be involved and contribute to a fully inclusive society.

Mark Kupczak

Mark has been an active member in various community groups and voluntary work for several years. He was a founding member and is still a volunteer leader for Coolaney Foróige club.

He currently sits on the board of directors for Coolaney Development Company, the Sligo Travellers Support Group, and is actively involved with the Sligo Foróige District Council. He is passionate about helping to create a healthy and inclusive society where all can thrive. Being involved in advocacy and family support work has given him a deep understanding of the issues facing community groups.

Having achieved a degree in Health and Disability through St. Angela’s College in Sligo, he recently completed a Master’s in Leadership and Management in the Community and Public Sector. That’s when he joined the PPN secretariat to gain more knowledge and understanding of the structure, and from that, pass on the information to the different groups involved in the Sligo area to make a stronger network.