Cathy Gormley-Heenan is the Director of the Institute for Research in Social Sciences (IRISS) and a Professor of Politics in the School of Criminology, Politics & Social Policy at the Ulster University. Her primary research interests lie in the areas of political elites, peace processes, public policy and the politics of divided societies.
Derek Birrell is Professor of Social Policy in the School of Criminology, Politics & Social Policy at the Ulster University. He was formerly the Head of the School of Social and Community Sciences and subsequently the School of Policy Studies. He is the author of the recent books Comparing Devolved Government (2012), The Impact of Devolution on Social Policy (2009) and Direct Rule and the Governance of Northern Ireland (2009).
