Where past meets future: Cathedral Thinking

Jade Berman

Jade Berman is a Coastal Specialist at the National Trust Jade has almost 20 years of international experience as a marine biologist, scientific diver, lecturer, and conservation manger and has worked in many places including Antarctica, New Zealand, Panama and the UK.  Jade has a PhD in Marine Biology and an MSc in Marine Resource Development and Protection. 

Wendy Blundell

Wendy is a distinguished leader in the global infrastructure sector, leveraging over 40 years of experience in her consultancy and non-executive director roles. A Chartered Civil & Structural Engineer and former director at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), she has a proven track record of driving strategic growth, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

Her extensive board-level experience underpins expertise in strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. Beyond her corporate impact, Wendy is a passionate advocate for good governance and inspiring future generations, demonstrated by her service as a school governor and Chair of the Board of Governors for a 1,000-student independent grammar school.

A Queen's University graduate, Wendy's significant contributions to civil engineering and her commitment to diversity were recognised with an OBE in 2012 and an Honorary Doctorate in 2017. 

Richard Nicholl

Richard Nicholl is head of civil engineering at the National Trust. Richard is a Fellow of both ICE and IStructE.

He joined the National Trust in 2019 following over eighteen years with AECOM and legacy consultants, which included technical director positions on London Underground’s £600 million Bank Station project.

Suzanne Wylie

Suzanne has led NI Chamber since 2023 and has grown the company into one of the top performing chambers in the UK with a strategic focus on driving a more competitive economy and developing the fundamental building blocks of skills, infrastructure and trade. Under her leadership, it won British Chambers of Commerce Chamber of the Year in 2024.

Previously, she held significant leadership roles in public services for over 15 years including as Chief Executive to the Jersey Government and prior to that, as Chief Executive of Belfast City Council.  In BCC she led the charge on negotiating a £1bn City and Growth Deal for the wider city region, with a focus on key growth sector innovation.

As Chamber CEO, she spends considerable time lobbying government both here and in GB to create better policies to drive growth and has developed economically focused business to business alliances with chambers across Ireland and many other jurisdictions.

Suzanne is the Chair of Northern Ireland’s convention centre ICC Belfast, and EastSide Partnership, a charity leading the regeneration of east Belfast.  She was awarded an OBE for services to local government, received an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University where she also completed her MBA and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.