Belfast to welcome delegation of New York legislators to the city

  • New York legislators will travel to Belfast as part of Belfast International Homecoming from the 27 to 29 September.

    With the support of Ulster University, Belfast City Council and Hinch Distillery, Belfast International Homecoming will welcome over 20 business, civic and political leaders from the diaspora to the city in person for the first time in three years.

    The New York delegation will travel to Belfast to learn about landmark city projects such as Ulster University’s new Belfast Campus, Innovation City Belfast and the transformative £1bn Belfast Region City Deal.

    Delegation members include: Assemblyman Mike Cusick, President of the American Irish Legislators Society and Chairman of the Energy Committee in the New York State Legislature, Michael Meade, Group CEO of Sullivan’s Brewing Company, New York, Sean Tenner, President of KNI Communications, Chicago, Steve Lenox, Director of the New Jersey Ireland Center and Jay Hart, Chief of Police Torrance, California.

    RELATED: Belfast showcased in NYC as a city where innovation thrives

    The programme of events for Homecoming will culminate in a Banquet Dinner at the Titanic Hotel on Thursday 29 September which will see the installation of a new cohort of Belfast Ambassadors who have been promoting the city globally.

    New Belfast Ambassadors include: Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast, Kathryn Thomson, CEO of National Museums NI, Raquel McKee, African Caribbean Society of Northern Ireland, Elaine Smyth, Director of the Innovation Community at Catalyst, Dr Victoria Manax, Chief Clinical Officer Immunicom Inc, USA, Edwin Donnelly, President New Jersey State Firefighters and Ken Walsh, CEO Alfond Youth Center, Portland, Maine, USA.

    Ballymoney-born businessman, Ian McLernon, President and CEO of the Rémy Cointreau, Americas will receive the Spirit of the Diaspora Award at the Banquet, where Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA will make remarks and Mike Nesbitt MLA moderate a panel on ‘Belfast on the Rise’. 

    RELATED: Lord Mayor launches countdown to One Young World Summit in Belfast 2023

    Speaking about the Homecoming, Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Michelle Kelly said: “Belfast International Homecoming gives us an important opportunity to re-engage in person with some of Belfast’s many friends in business, civic society and government in New York.  We’re a signature city on the rise – and proud to be shining the spotlight on our innovation credentials and vast potential during the conference programme.”

    She added: “Our engagement in this event is part of our international positioning strategy to encourage further US investment and business partnership – and gives us the chance to recognise the sterling efforts of our colleagues who will be installed as Belfast Ambassadors. Promoting Belfast is very much a team effort – and we’re very fortunate to have developed a strong, collegiate approach to attracting investment and forging mutually beneficial links with our US partners and diaspora.”

    Source: Written from press release.

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    Aoife is a Sync NI writer with a previous background working in print, online and broadcast media. She has a keen interest in all things tech related. To connect with Aoife feel free to send her an email or connect on LinkedIn.

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