Meet the team

Peter Lynas

Director of Northern Ireland

Peter is passionate about faith in the public square and in the workplace. He leads the team at the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland. Peter worked as a barrister in Belfast for five years, before completing his M Div at Regent College in Vancouver where he serves on the Board. He is a regular commentator in the media and has taught at Westminster Theological Centre and Belfast Bible College. He is married to Rose, has two daughters, loves running and hates fish.

David Smyth

Public policy lead, Northern Ireland

David Smyth is public policy lead at Evangelical Alliance 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

Office administrator and Both Lives Matter coordinator

Dawn keeps the office and team in order. She also heads up Both Lives Matter, of which the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland is a founding partner. Dawn serves on the board of New Horizon and the operations team of Ards and North Down Street Pastors. Dawn is also a deacon in Kircubbin Community Church and lives on the Ards peninsula, with her husband Peter and their three daughters.

Hazel Macaulay

Research assistant, Northern Ireland

I’m Hazel, I’m from the countryside in Co.Down, Northern Ireland, I currently live in Belfast and have a degree in social work. By interning with Evangelical Alliance I hope to learn more about how we can equip the church to fulfil her mission, with my particular interests being areas of social justice and young people.

I’ve been working with Both Lives Matter and in my free time I like reading (which often consists of re-reading Narnia books), socialising and I love taking time in nature!

Holly Taylor

Research assistant, Northern Ireland

I’m Holly and I live in Belfast. I have a degree in History and International Studies, and I’m currently studying a Masters in ‘Conflict Transformation and Social Justice’ at Queens University.

At the Evangelical Alliance, I am working as a research assistant. I’m passionate about working with the most vulnerable members of our society, from refugees and asylum seekers, to those who live in poverty.

In my free time (I don’t have a lot of it!) I like to socialise, go to the coast or read a really good book.

Richard Lewis

Research assistant, Northern Ireland

Ricky is a research assistant at the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland. He completed his theology undergraduate degree in summer 2018 and has plans to embark on a masters in theology. Ricky is particularly interested in apologetics and is passionate about challenging Christians to deepen their faith. Helping to remove intellectual barriers that hinder spiritual growth is another area of interest. At the Evangelical Alliance, Ricky is thoroughly enjoying the cultural engagement and role that Christianity has to play in 21st-century Northern Ireland.

Donna Jennings

Church and mission coordinator

In this role, Donna seeks to resource the church to be strategic, creative and bold as we proclaim, enact and embody the good news of Jesus in our context. She is passionate about equipping the church to be both Biblically faithful and culturally relevant as we stand at the interface between gospel and culture. Donna's heart and voice for church and mission have been formed by her Masters in Missiology, several years of church planting work in Bangladesh followed by developing church engagement with mission through her OMF role in Ireland. She is passionate about equipping the church to be both biblically faithful and culturally relevant as we stand at the interface between gospel and culture and in this role, Donna seeks to resource the church to be strategic, creative and bold as we proclaim, enact and embody the good news of Jesus in our context. Donna lives in Belfast with her husband Nathaniel and children Micah and Tabitha. Some of life’s good gifts for Donna include a morning coffee, shared laughter with friends, a long run out in nature and a good crime drama!