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.

As public policy officer, Amy advocates for Christian engagement in public life and represents our members to the NI Assembly and Executive. Her degree in Economics with Finance and three and a half years in economist and policy roles in the Northern Ireland Civil Service have shaped her interest in the role of faith in public life. In her free time, Amy enjoys live music, nature walks and travelling to sunnier places.

After growing up in England, Ben moved to Belfast in 2022 to study History at Queen’s University. He has a keen interest in politics and current affairs. In his spare time, he enjoys running, playing football, and serving in his church’s youth and student ministry team.

Nick is the Northern Ireland associate at the Evangelical Alliance. This involves conducting policy analysis, supporting events and undertaking research projects. He holds both an undergraduate and a master's degree in history and Spanish and has studied in Belfast, Barcelona and Exeter. In his spare time, he enjoys playing football and learning foreign languages. He serves in the youth team at his church and is looking forward to the year ahead.