Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside Members

Sara McCracken, FCIPR (Deputy Chair)

Sara McCracken FCIPR has a background education in Zoology with Genetics and currently works as a PR trainer and consultant. She is formerly Head of Fundraising and Communications for Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and has experience in different areas including environment, health, education, politics, equestrian and agri-rural businesses. Sara has worked in established businesses and new organisations at a senior level, and has provided expert advice, leadership and communications training to many organisations. She has worked on many campaigns including some that have resulted in legislative change. 

John Martin

John Martin has volunteered and worked in the environment and conservation sector in Northern Ireland and beyond for over 16 years.  He was previously ‘Head of Policy and Advocacy’ with the RSPB in Northern Ireland and is now the Director of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland. John was previously on the Board of the Mourne Heritage Trust and was a founding member of Jubilee farm. John has an MSc in Sustainable Development and BSc in Geography.

Noel Rice

Noel Rice served 34 years in the NI Housing Executive (NIHE) dealing in the early part of his career with land use planning, land acquisition and disposal and programme planning. For the latter 20 years of his career he was NIHE’s Energy Conservation Manager responsible for the development of its energy conservation strategy and the policies and programmes required to implement it. Following his early retirement in 2016 Noel worked in the Belfast Hills Partnership, an environmental charity that strives to protect the wildlife and improve the biodiversity of the hills. Noel has led volunteers in planting over 6000 trees, creating wildflower meadows, removing invasive species and involving local communities in a range of biodiversity projects. Noel was a Trustee of National Energy Action for 6 years until 2022 and served on its Audit, Risk & Finance Committee. He is also on the committee of the Mourne Rambling Group. 

Rosemary Thomas

Rosemary Thomas studied Geography followed by town and country planning at Queen’s University, Belfast. She spent the majority of her working life in the public sector in Wales, in both local and central government. Throughout her career she worked on land use matters, ranging from urban and rural policy, to transportation and energy, as well as forward planning. Rosemary worked in the former Welsh Office’s Agriculture Department prior to her appointment in 2005 as the Welsh Government’s Chief Planner.

For details of current CNCC Council members Terms of Office, please follow this link.