Meet our New Board Members

Supporting Communities welcomes two new board members to our organisation this March, Karen Rodgers and Jillian Strain. We chatted with each of them to learn more about who they are and what they will bring to Supporting Communities!

Meet Karen Rodgers

Karen Rodgers

Born and raised in Belfast, Karen has travelled the world and ended up back here, living just two streets away from where she grew up. With two children at home, she says she’s glad to be living so close to family support.

Her career has spanned management roles in retail and the construction industry in the UK and Ireland, and she is currently the Communities Business Manager at Farrans Construction. She leads a team in building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders, advising on social value legislation changes, and promoting exemplary customer care practices.

First, we asked her to tell us what that entails!

“I joined Farrans just over five years ago,” said Karen, “and I suppose the world of construction has changed since then around ensuring we make a real societal impact through our projects. My role is communicating with all of a project’s key stakeholders and looking at the social value element of our work to ensure we leave a lasting legacy in the areas in which we operate. So that’s looking at what the community’s social objectives are and linking in with that, for example, improving employment skills, improving the environment and including the community in the works we’re doing.”

That sounds like it fits in very well with Supporting Communities’ work! How did you learn about SC, and what made you want to join the board?

“Social value delivery was the link. I’ve been having this conversation for a while, and with the introduction of social value legislation for public procurement in Northern Ireland, it has become more and more important. I see this as a huge benefit to communities in that they can use that requirement on construction and other sectors to benefit them in the longer term. I’ve been thinking about how we can work together and link into local areas to improve those connections.”

There’s huge potential there! How do you see SC growing as an organisation over the next few years?

“I see a massive opportunity for SC to do more work with the private sector, helping them provide communities with the skills they need. There’s a need to develop [private sector] knowledge of how to link in with communities. I hope I can bring something to that element of the strategic plan. There is a lot of overlap with Farrans’ corporate plan that I work with, so there are opportunities to support each other. Public, private, and third-sector organisations can collaborate better to promote equality of opportunities and enhancement of communities.

I hope I can help with skills development within SC and support you on your journey! I’m really looking forward to joining the team, this is my first time as a board member, so I’m hoping I bring something to SC and that I develop new skills as well!”

Meet Jillian Strain

Jillian Strain

Jillian came to us through the Boardroom Apprentice programme last year and has proven a valuable asset to Supporting Communities. We’re delighted to welcome her as a new board member officially!

A Bangor native, Jillian now lives in Newtownards and works in the Department for Economy’s Careers Service. We caught up with her to find out a bit more.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do for fun?

“I love to travel and visited Rome in the autumn. I dusted off my (rusty!) Italian skills for the trip, and I’ve been practising on Duolingo ever since and am really enjoying it. I hope to be able to converse a little more fluently with the locals when I go to Florence later this year. I am a bit of a bookworm at heart and love learning. I have completed several courses over recent years, most recently a leadership and management course. When I get the chance, I also like to embrace my creative side and enjoy all things interior décor!”

What is your current job role?

“I have worked in the public sector for over ten years and spent part of this time working as a career advisor. I now manage a small team within the DfE Careers Service, producing information resources on developing local sectors. We aim to increase citizens’ awareness of careers in demand and potential entry routes while also acting as a conduit for local industry to communicate developments in their sector. My role pairs really well with my love of learning and enables me to work with a broad range of people, which I enjoy.”

You know SC quite well already through your time as our Boardroom Apprentice. How do you see SC growing over the next few years?

“SC has big goals for the future, as it seeks to develop throughout Ireland and build a sustainable future. It will be critical to increase its visibility and presence and expand its offer and range of services.

SC adapted swiftly and successfully to the challenges brought about by the pandemic and continued to go above and beyond to deliver for stakeholders exemplifying what it means to be an agile and innovative organisation. This is a testament to the passion of the staff and board members, and I do not doubt that SC will succeed in meeting its goals for the future.”