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19 April 2011

The Community Relations Council today announced that its Chief Executive, Duncan Morrow is to leave the Council at the end of the year.

Dr Morrow, who has been on a career break from the University of Ulster for the past nine years, is to return to the university.

At UU he intends to pursue his research interests in peace and conflict studies and to work with the university on its plans to relocate much of its campus from Jordanstown to York Street in central Belfast.

Tony McCusker, the Chairman of the Community Relations Council said Dr Morrow had served the Council magnificently during his term as Chief Executive.

“Duncan has raised the profile of the CRC and has stayed with us longer than we had dared to hope.

“He is rightly acknowledged as the leading commentator in Northern Ireland on conflict resolution and peace building and has a deserved regional, national and international reputation in these fields.

“He has moulded the CRC into a very effective public body which enjoys enormous respect in the public, business and community sectors.

“He has influenced many public policies over the last nine years and is highly regarded for his role in articulating society’s expectations of Government in the development of a shared future strategy.”

Mr McCusker said Dr Morrow had made a major contribution to the responses of the Executive’s draft policy on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration, which was published last year.

He said: “Most notably, Duncan argued that a litmus test for any devolved administration was its ability to address the remaining and continuing divisions in society and to shape a wide range of public policies accordingly.

“We will greatly miss Duncan as Chief Executive but wish him well in his new role at the university. We expect that he will continue to work to build the shared future policy.”

Dr Morrow said: “It is with regret that I will be leaving CRC but I always knew, as did CRC, that I could not stay forever.

“The university is about to embark on a critical phase of its development and I believe it is the right time for me to return.

“I believe the role of CRC in challenging government and helping to formulate policy to be crucial as Northern Ireland emerges from the shadow of the conflict.

“Sectarianism remains a major blight on this society and it will take a concerted and determined effort involving government and the community if we are to eliminate it.

“I have found my time with CRC to be most fulfilling and pay tribute to the staff, who are dedicated to the work of building the peace.

“I believe the organisation has a key role to play as the new Executive takes forward the work of developing a shared and better future for everyone in Northern Ireland.”

For further information

contact:

Ray Mullan, NI Community Relations Council,

Tel: 028 90 227500   email rmullan@nicrc.org.uk