Meet the team

David Smyth is head of Northern Ireland and coordinates the Public Leader: Northern Ireland course. He is a former solicitor and represents the Evangelical Alliance on a range of government, civic and charitable forums. He serves in the space where faith, law, politics and culture intersect.

Dawn McAvoy leads Both Lives, a UK-wide initiative advocating for both lives in every pregnancy. Both Lives champions laws that protect, services that enable and a culture that affirms women and children pre- and post-birth.

Lisa has a dual role at the Evangelical Alliance as the Northern Ireland administrator and Both Lives research and communications assistant. She has a degree in Law and holds a Masters in Children's Rights. It was there that she discovered a love for justice and advocacy and began to explore what it means to pursue this wholeheartedly. Lisa is married to Jordan and lives in Newtownabbey.

Laura joined the Evangelical Alliance in 2023 as church engagement co-ordinator. She has a background in teaching and has spent time working in the charity sector. Having been very involved in her church growing up, she has a great love for the church in Northern Ireland and desires to equip church leaders with tools and resources to help make Jesus known. Laura lives just outside Moira with her husband, Gary and three children.