Board of Trustees

Duane Farrell: Chair

Duane Farrell is Director of Policy for Age NI since the organisation was established in 2009. Previously, he was Head of Policy, Research and Communications for Help the Aged in Northern Ireland. Duane has been involved in LGBT issues since his time in college. He spent two years as the LGB Rights Officer of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) where he was involved in training Student Union Officers and LGBT students, and running national campaigns on Homophobia and fighting the ban on gay men donating blood . He moved to Belfast in 1998 to work with The Rainbow Project as Rural Project Worker where he was responsible for service provision and volunteer support in the North West as well as the development of the ‘Homophobic Bullying Shatters Lives’ campaign. He also worked as the Manager of The Rainbow Project. He has been involved as both a staff member and a volunteer. Duane also sings with Quire, Belfast’s LGBT singers.

Gareth Johnston: Board Member

Gareth Johnston was co-opted to The Rainbow Project Board in April 2011. He is a civil servant by profession, and has worked across a range of policy and legal areas, in HR and as chief executive of a service delivery agency. Gareth was vice-chair of a housing association and has also been involved in community development and overseas aid. Gareth is currently engaged in work to encourage the churches to be more inclusive and welcoming of LGBT people.

David McCauley: Board Member

David has run his own IT consultancy for 10 years and has for some time provided support and expertise as a volunteer to The Rainbow Project’s IT and online infrastructure. He has been an active supporter of The Rainbow Project for many years as well as being a founding member of Gay and Lesbian Across Down (GLAD). Since joining the Board in 2011 he has been fully involved in the strategic journey and process required as part of his role within The Rainbow Project.

Naimh Rowan: Board Member

Niamh has been volunteering with TRP since 2010. A Politics graduate from Co.Down with a Post-Grad Diploma in Ethnic Conflict her main interest is community outreach and promoting acceptance and positive visibility of LGB&T people within society. She is passionate about the needs of the LGB&T community and so is involved with other organisations within the LGB&T sector. She enjoys the freedom and objectivity this affords her, and hopes that she can bring a unique perspective to The Rainbow Project. Naimh currently works in the hospitality industry and co-runs Belfast’s only regular Queer club night

James McMullan: Board Member

A long-time member of the legal profession, James practised as a solicitor in his own name for many years before joining a large multi discipline city practice 5 years ago where he currently works in the Private Client Department. A late comer to both gay life and the Board at TRP , James joined as a board member back in 2008 ostensibly to assist in advice surrounding legal issues encountered by TRP and to give expression to his own field of interest being support and guidance to families with gay children or parents

Ross Anderson:Board Member

Ross has been active in the LGBT community for many years, until recently he co-directed Quire, Belfast’s LBGT singers for nearly 5 years. With Quire he represented Northern Ireland’s LGBT community at many important occasions from carol sevices to arts festivals and Holocaust Memorial Events. In 2010 Ross directed and performed in a charity performance of Elegies for Angel’s, Punks and Raging Queen’s in Belfast’s Black Box to raise awareness about the issues of HIV/AIDS and funds for The Rainbow Project. This performance led to the recording of The Original Northern Irish Cast Recording of Elegies which is available to buy from The Rainbow Project, Dress Circle and download from amazon.co.uk and itunes. Currently Ross is undertaking doctoral research at Queen’s University Belfast which examines issues of queer representation in performance. Ross is proud to serve on the board of trustees for such an important organisation as The Rainbow Project.

Frank Toner: Board Member

Jonathan Fyfe: Board Member

Jonny Fyfe has worked in GUM & HIV services since 2001 and has been involved in LGBT issues throughout his career. He was involved in setting up the Gay Men’s drop in clinic in the RVH as well as the instigation of the Out-reach clinic’s to the Sauna’s in Belfast and more recently in Derry. He currently represents the Southern Trust GUM Service on the Gay Health Network Ireland. Jonny first joined Rainbow’s Board of Directors in April 2004 for 3 years, then following a break returned to the Board in April 2010