Meet the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee

Music producer and DJ Arveene has been a host for the Irish Music Week since 2019, is on the board of Fist Music Contact, on the Community advisory board for the St Patrick’s Festival London via the London Mayors office.

He boasts a long list of both TV, Radio and Print media on his CV, having worked on shows with Spin FM, 2fm, RTÉ and MTV in the past. Arveene has constantly been a promoter of Irish Music on international fronts. Hosting events as a promoter and booker in various venues over the past 25 years. Festival experience as a DJ has also led to native Dubliner being asked to curate and programme acts and music at Various festivals around Ireland, London and Europe.

His studio production has seen him remixing and producing for acts like Bon Voyage, Kneecap, The Prodigy, Kelis, Mango & Mathman, Saint Sister, Talos, Really Good Time, Ria Rua and more.

Director of Celtic Media Festival, is an accomplished media professional with over 15 years of experience spanning production, event management, and industry leadership.

Her career began in television production, where she developed a strong foundation in content development, editorial planning, and logistical coordination across a variety of genres. She has since transitioned into a senior leadership role within the media sector, overseeing the delivery of international events and fostering collaboration among broadcasters, producers, and creative professionals.

Her work reflects a deep understanding of the media landscape, with a particular interest in amplifying regional voices.

Frances O'Rourke has over 25 years' experience in public sector leadership, with a career grounded in improving outcomes for communities and delivering high quality, equitable public services.

Frances is currently Executive Director for Environment and Communities at Westminster City Council, where she leads delivery of a portfolio of services spanning environment, climate change, transport, public protection, community and place-based services, with an annual budget of £180m.

Born in Britain to Irish parents, her upbringing was shaped by Irish music, culture and literature - passions which ensure to this day. Frances brings lived experience of the Irish diaspora alongside strategic insight, strong governance and a deep commitment to public service.

Grainne Mellon is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers in London specialising in human rights and civil liberties. Grainne studied at Trinity College Dublin and the London School of Economics.

She is the Vice- Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee, the international human rights arm of the Bar Council.

She formerly taught International Human Rights Law at the LSE where she was also a Fellow at the Centre for Human Rights. Grainne sits on the Advisory Board and is a former Chair of the London Irish Lawyers Association.

Born on Tyneside to Fermanagh and Tipperary parents, John has worked in social housing for most of his career.

Since 2012, John has been Chief Executive of Innisfree Housing Association, a landlord of 600 homes based in North London and originally set up by Irish Community activists in the 1980s to counter the discrimination in housing being experienced by the London Irish at that time. Innisfree continues to identify as an Irish organisation, with the majority of tenants having an Irish background.

The not-for-profit landlord works in partnership with a number of London Irish advice, welfare and cultural organisations, whilst also serving the wider community of Londoners.

Born in Rialto, Dublin Neil grew up surrounded by community and social justice projects to help families in the area overcome deprivation and neglect. A FÁS course on Marketing for Financial Services led to an international career including Luxembourg, Chile and France before arriving in London in 2011.

Throughout his career he has always held social impact as one of the key indicators of success of any organisation. In his corporate roles Neil was responsible for developing community-based projects in areas where the company was investing, as well as leading the LGBTQ+ employee network in Europe. 

He has developed the "Good Disagreement" learning course, which allows organisations to give space to uncomfortable conversations and to develop psychological safety and trust. He is a volunteer with St Joseph's Hospice and with the Beehive Community Café in East London.

A passionate gardener, he specialises in roses (to varying degrees of success).

Yvonne MacNamara is a public affairs and policy professional with extensive experience in strategic advocacy, fundraising, and organisational leadership. Originally from County Clare, she has lived in the UK for over 30 years, bringing both personal insight and professional expertise to her work supporting the Irish diaspora.

She is the CEO of a national charity, where she leads on policy, public affairs, and income diversification, with a focus on influencing systemic change and improving outcomes for marginalised communities.

MacNamara is also the Founder and a Director of Open Doors Education and Training CIC, which works to expand access to education, skills, and progression opportunities . Her experience spans frontline delivery, national advocacy, and sustainable funding development, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the challenges facing community organisations.

She sites on a number of advisory boards and stakeholder groups across central and local government and within the NFP sector addressing social justice issues and is particularly committed to ensuring that underrepresented communities within the Irish diaspora in Britain are recognised and supported through inclusive policy and funding approaches.