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Soroptimist International - Northern Ireland

Soroptimist International of Northern Ireland is part of a worldwide organisation of women, which is linked to the United Nations.

Welcome to SI Northern Ireland

My name is Barbara Carlisle. I have been a member of SI Lisburn & District for the past nine years.

Barbara Bell
SI NI Regional President 2022-23

I’m a retired Consultant Paediatrician, having worked in Craigavon Area Hospital for 25 years. I practiced acute paediatric medicine, cared for sick newborn babies, held general paediatric clinics and had a major interest in pre-school profound neuro-disability. I worked in a variety of team settings and was Head of Department for eight years and Chair of Medical Staff for five years. For 15 years, I worked in the Examining Boards of the Royal College of Physicians and latterly in the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, where I chaired the Written Part 2 Examination Board. I was lucky to travel to many countries – Hong Kong, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt bringing clinical exams in paediatric medicine and helped to improve the standard of clinical care for children in those countries both through examining doctors in training and through teaching.

 

Since retiring from clinical practice in 2014, I have spent my time travelling with my husband, Mark. I also belong to a vibrant group of Nordic walkers who meet every Friday and travel across Northern Ireland to walk in different settings and terrains.

I have been able to give more of my time to SI Programme Action and our club. I was Club President from 2020 to 2022 and before that served on our Executive Committee as Minute Secretary. I have also been involved in our Public Speaking competition, which is a highlight of our Soroptimist year.

I am pleased to support our SI President’s Appeal this year, “Opening Doors to a Bright Future” and my logo for the year is “Bright Future in Our Hands

I’m excited that we are developing an E-Club (SI NI Virtual Voices in formation) within Northern Ireland. It is taking shape and you can find out more on our E-Club Northern Ireland Facebook page, where we post about meetings.

If you are reading this and are not yet a Soroptimist, but would like to explore further how to stand up for women less fortunate that yourself, please explore our membership page at SIGBI.org or drop me a line: drbbell64@gmail.com and I’ll try to put you in touch further.

In friendship,

Barbara