Regional Officers Biographies
Regional President Hazel Holmlund came into office at the Change of Insignia ceremony in Brighton on 29 October 2011.
After qualifying as a teacher, Hazel taught in Luton and Northern Ireland before moving to Sardinia, Italy. She was a partner/teacher in a language school in Cagliari for 15 years. During that time she also interpreted for Italian television and radio.
On her return to Northern Ireland she entered the Civil Service and, at the time of her retirement, was a Business Services Manager in the PSNI.
Hazel has 3 children, a son and daughter who live in Italy and a daughter who has just moved back to NI after 5 years working in Washington DC. She has 4 grandsons in Italy and lives with husband Jim in Ballymena.
She has been an active member of a number of voluntary organisations since her return to Northern Ireland. Currently, in addition to her Soroptimist responsibilities, she is a member of the Board of the UK National Committee of UN Women and Chair of the Northern Ireland Branch, a member of Women’s Forum and represents both Women’s Forum and UN Women on the Women’s Reference Group of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Regional President Elect - Mrs Miriam Hamilton took up the position as Regional Vice President at the Federation Conference in Brighton on 29 October 2011.
I have been a member of S.I. Downpatrick & District for approximately seven and a half years. During that time I have held the position of Minute Secretary from 15/3/05, progressing to Club Secretary on 7/3/06 and then President-Elect from March 2007. I have three grown-up children. The final and most expensive one to marry takes place on 30/5/11 at The Lough Erne Golf Resort in Enniskillen. Three grandchildren, eleven, seven and nearly two keep me on my toes!
I took early retirement from my career as senior Physiotherapy Specialist with Adult & Children with Learning difficulties and now do three sessions of voluntary work as an Aromatherapist with Knockevin Special School in Downpatrick. I am Group Organiser/Secretary for Downpatrick riding for the Disabled Group. We provide riding experience three mornings weekly for the children of Knockevin Special School and adults of Mountview Centre, at Tullymurray equestrian centre, all who have severe learning difficulties. I am also a Board Governor of Knockevin Special school, Member of Downpatrick Breast Cancer Support Group of the Ulster Cancer Foundation. Most of all I love walking, having taken part several times in the Belfast Marathon Walk.
Regional Vice President – Mrs Irene Miskimmon
I am a member of SI Bangor and served as President in 2004/2005. I am a retired Lecturer in Politics. In 2007 I was Regional Joint Public Speaking Convenor and organised a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels for the North and South winners of the competition. I also was part of a group in SI Bangor which organised Autumn Arias with Opera Theatre Company in the Great Hall at Stormont in support of Project Sierra.
I am a Committee member of Women’s Forum NI, UN Women NI and the Women’s Strategic Reference Group of the Policing Board. I worked with schools and ELBs as a UNICEF Partner from 2004 -2010 on its Rights Respecting Schools Project. At present I am the Regional Soroptimist Representative on the Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform (NIWEP), and in that role act as the Secretariat to the Stormont Assembly All Party Group (APG) on UNSCR1325 Women Peace and Security.
Immediate Past President - Mrs Eleanor Ferris MBE, has been a Soroptimist for more than 14 years. During my year in office I have visited most of the Clubs in Northern Ireland and “Making Connections” not only in the Region but also with the National Association of the Republic of Ireland. I am very impressed and proud with the work that you all do through Programme Action. It would be difficult to highlight any individual aspect of the year but one important issue has been highlighting “SOROPTIMISTS WORKING AGAINST TRAFFICKING” . Many Clubs are now taking forward action to raise awareness of the issue within our province.
I have had a wonderful experience and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges. It has been a personal journey and I have many new friends. I will take away treasured memories of my time as Regional President.
Honorary Regional Secretary - Mrs Mary Atkinson
My training as a nurse was in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast and Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital in London. After a period working in St. Georges Hospital in London, when it was still at Hyde Park Corner, I returned to Northern Ireland. My work was mainly part time after marriage, most recently as Practice Nurse in my local Health Centre, until early retirement.
I have been a member of Ballymena Soroptimist Club since 1992, serving at different times as Programme Action Officer, Regional Representative, Secretary, Treasurer and Club President (1996/98).
With my husband I have had a long interest in sailing and early retirement allowed extended cruising to places such as the Orkney Islands and Brittany. I have been involved with Ken in Race Management for sailing events such as Cork Week and The Bell Lawrie Scottish Series.
Our two sons have long since fled the nest and we now have two grandchildren living in Leeds. Probably because of this I became involved with the running of a local Mother and Toddler Group.
Honorary Regional Treasurer – Valerie Miskimmon MBE is a member of S I of Bangor. She has worked in Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland for 45 years. She started her working life as a Tracer and serving her apprenticeship to being the first woman to survey out in the field – now Production Manager over small scale mapping, photogram and Pointer address sections. For years she has been a member of the Royal Observer Corps, Guiding and volunteering in THe Samaritans, Victim Support and more recently Cruse Bereavement Care.
Valerie has been married to Henry for 25 years and was awarded the MBE in the Queens Silver Jubilee year of 2002. Her hobbies are motor bike racing with the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club and Morris Minor Club. If time allows other hobbies include cross stitch, reading and travel.
Programme Action Chair - Mrs Maura Maginn serves as Chair of the Programme Action Committee, Northern Ireland, since 2009 and has recently been elected as Vice Chair of UKPAC. She has been a Soroptimist since 2001 and at club level has held the positions of President of Newry & Mourne, Public Speaking Co-ordinator and Programme Action representative. Maura works independently with both the public and private sectors on a range of leadership, change management, lifelong learning and diversity initiatives. She is a former senior manager in the further and higher education service. In her local community she is a school governor and trustee of the village hall at Mountnorris, Co Armagh where she lives with her husband, Will Glendinning. Maura is a member of Cruse Bereavement Care Newry and Armagh Management Board.
Extension and Membership Officer - Mrs Doreen Tennis
Federation Councillor – Mrs Sue Hogg a member of SI Enniskillen since 1996. I was Club President in 2001/2, Chief Steward at the
Belfast Conference in 2003 and Regional President in 2007/8. I was elected Federation Councillor in 2010. With family in New Zealand, I am a welcome guest with SI North Shore, Auckland when visiting.
I worked for Young Enterprise NI as Strategic Manager for the West of Ireland including the ROI border counties. An active member of
Girlguiding Ulster, I was Ulster Chief Commissioner from 1991-1996 and am still an active trainer. I was awarded the MBE for services to young people in 1996. Other interests include board member of a Housing Association, Chair of the Board of Governors of a special
school, singing, gardening, sailing and of course, family at home and abroad.
Development Officer – Mrs Jennifer Loughridge:
I joined SI Bangor in 1996 and became Club President in 2003. In 2007 I was installed as Regional President and during my year I hosted a visit to Northern Ireland by our Federation President, Marguerite Woodstock-Riley. I also led a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels for the winners from the North and South Public Speaking Competition. Last year I was awarded Grant of Friendship by the Region of Victoria, Australia and spent two weeks visiting SI Clubs in and around Melbourne. At present I am Development Officer for the Region.
My background is in administration. I worked in the BBC in London and Belfast and for 15 years was a Fundraiser for the charity Arthritis Research Campaign giving assistance to 17 fund-raising groups around the Province.