British Council Northern Ireland appoints Colm McGivern as new Director

THE British Council has appointed Newry man, Colm McGivern, as its new Director for Northern Ireland, bringing home an internationally respected leader in cultural relations, diplomacy and international education. 

Colm will lead the British Council’s work across Northern Ireland, building stronger international links in education, culture and society. 

He joins from Ukraine, where he served as Director, British Council Ukraine at the British Embassy Kyiv. There, he spearheaded the resumption of UK public diplomacy during wartime, led major education reform partnerships, strengthened cultural and academic ties, and managed a large multinational team under extremely challenging conditions. This August, he guided the organisation through a major attack on the British Council office in Kyiv amid ongoing conflict. 

Colm’s previous roles include Director Poland and North East Europe, where he oversaw a £20m operation spanning seven countries; Director Southern Africa, managing education, arts and cultural programmes in nine countries; and Regional Director UK, contributing to the British Council’s UK-wide strategy and major national partnerships, including work linked to the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and the GREAT campaign. 

A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast with a First-Class degree in English and a master’s in Organisational Management, Colm has served on the Senate of Queen’s University, held advisory roles with international business schools, and been a trustee of leading Northern Ireland arts organisations. 

Speaking about his appointment, Colm said: “Northern Ireland punches far above its weight internationally. Our people, our creativity and our institutions have a remarkable global story to tell. I’m excited to build on that by looking firmly to the future – creating new partnerships, widening international opportunities for young people and bringing global perspectives into classrooms and communities. My focus is on ensuring that the work we do has impact across society and showcases the very best of Northern Ireland on the world stage.” 

Colm succeeds Jonathan Stewart, who led British Council Northern Ireland from 2018. 

David Thompson, Director UK and External Relations at the British Council, added:“ 

“We are beyond delighted to welcome Colm into the team in this important role. Colm is a hugely accomplished cultural relations professional, who has led the UK’s connection building in several countries around the world. His experience and expertise will be vital as we continue our mission to build those connections for peace and prosperity in a challenging international environment.

“As he steps into the post, Colm will be looking for new opportunities to strengthen Northern Ireland’s international connections and to support priorities shared by partners across education, culture, business and government. I know that colleagues across Northern Ireland will join me in welcoming Colm back to Belfast and will be excited about what he is able to make happen next.”