Office My Staff - At your service

Andrew Gowan

Born and raised in Fermanagh, Andrew has been an active member of the DUP since joining as a student. A graduate of Law, History and Politics from Queen's University, Andrew worked for two years as researcher to Jimmy Spratt MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and was election agent to Arlene Foster MLA in the successful Enniskillen by-election last year. He is a member of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

As part of the team in the European Office, he will be responsible for political and communication strategy.

Alan McCulla

Alan lives just outside Annalong in County Down. He has been Chief Executive of one of Northern Ireland's commercial fishing organisations for over 17 years. This position has involved him in negotiations at local, national and European levels. In June 2008 his contribution to the fishing and wider community in Northern Ireland was recognised with the award of an OBE. Alan comes from a fishing industry family and other family members are still engaged with commercial fishing vessels.

Mark Beattie

Growing up on the family farm near Newtownstewart, Mark Beattie has always had a keen interest in agriculture, demonstrated by completing a three year course in Agriculture at Greenmount College. Working within the local animal feed industry, and on a 1000 cow dairy unit in New Zealand, has helped give him a well rounded knowledge of the industry. Mark is Agricultural Researcher in the European Office.

Audrey McKeown

Audrey lives in Belfast and works as Funding Adviser in Diane's Lisburn Office. She has over 20 years experience as a Senior Manager in the Further Education Sector, working at both strategic and middle management levels. Her roles have included Income Generation through International, European and UK Funding, Training and Development as well as Innovation and Enterprise. Audrey holds a number of academic qualifications such as Ph.D which focused on "Measuring the Return on Investment of Training" testing her thesis with international companies such as Hewlett Packard, BT and British Airways.

Since leaving Further Education in March 2008, she has undertaken various contracts involving assessing European Funding applications as well as delivering Leadership and Management training to managers in the Public Sector, Private and Community & Voluntary Sectors.