The 2023 Local Government Employee of the Year has been announced.
Tracey McCallan from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has been awarded the prestigious accolade after a competitive judging process.
Tracey is an Audience Development and Marketing Manager with the council and has worked there for over 12 years. She works as part of the Wellbeing and Culture Service in the council and works across a number of key areas including business development, strategic initiatives, customer experience, and communications.
Tracey was commended by judges for her drive and determination to deliver on behalf of the people of Fermanagh and Omagh and, in particular, her work during Covid-19 on town centre recovery programmes across Omagh and Enniskillen.
Organised by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association and sponsored by the William Johnston Memorial Trust, the Local Government Employee of the Year award recognises the best and brightest across Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils.
Ten local government employees across Northern Ireland were shortlisted by the judges, with Tracey coming out on top and Claire Carleton, a Resilience Manager from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, finishing as runner up.
Fergus Wheeler, Chairman of award sponsor the William Johnston Memorial Trust, said:
"The William Johnston Memorial Trust is delighted to again sponsor the Local Government Employee of The Year Award. The purpose of the award is to encourage and recognise excellence within local government and this year has seen a marked increase in the number and quality of nominations thereby fulfilling the aims of the award. We applaud all the participants for their efforts. A special congratulations to Tracey for being awarded the top prize and to everyone who was shortlisted this year.”
NILGA President Cllr Martin Kearney added:
“The strength and quality of this year’s entries are testament to the skilled, talented, and caring workforce within local government in Northern Ireland. Councils can only deliver the essential public services we all enjoy through the tireless work of our council officers and employees. Whether that’s waste management, local economic development, community planning, arts and culture, or any number of other key services, our council officers are what makes local government function on a daily basis. Congratulations to all those who were shortlisted for this year’s Local Government Employee of the Year Award and a special congratulations to Tracey for her recognition.”
Fermanagh and Omagh Chief Executive Alison McCullagh said:
“Everyone at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is well aware of Tracey’s commitment, drive, and talents, and this award is entirely deserved. On behalf of everyone from the council and our district, I want to congratulate Tracey on this fantastic achievement and recognition of her hard work over the past number of years in particular.”
Ten local government employees in total were nominated for this year’s Local Government Employee of the Year award, sponsored by the William Johnston Memorial Trust. Please see below a full list of those nominated, their councils, and their job titles.
|
Name |
Title |
Council |
|
John Armstrong |
Gardener/Groundsperson |
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council |
|
Alison Briggs |
Deputy Head of Environmental Health (Health and Wellbeing) |
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council |
|
Stefanie Buchanan |
Community Development Manager |
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council |
|
Claire Carleton |
Resilience Manager |
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
|
Ian Frazer |
Waste Collections Manager |
Ards and North Down Borough Council |
|
Alexandra Lightfoot |
Animal Welfare Officer |
Belfast City Council |
|
Tracey McCallan |
Audience Development and Marketing Manager |
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council |
|
Jill McEneaney |
Arts, Culture and Heritage Manager |
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
|
Daryl Ross |
Groundsperson |
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council |
|
Clare Weir |
Community Sport Active Inclusion Officer |
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
Caption for Photograph - (L-R) Cllr Martin Kearney, NILGA President; Claire Carleton, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Tracey McCallan, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council; Sandra Pollock, Vice Chair of the William Johnston Memorial Trust; and Cllr Barry McElduff, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chair.
