Ulster Architectural Heritage is the trading name of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, (UAHS) a Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee.
The members of the UAHS Main Committee are both Directors and Trustees, overseeing the work of the Society, including the work of its staff and volunteers. The work of the Society is further supported by a number of sub committees including: Architecture Planning & Policy, Events, Publications and Finance.
Our staff and committee is made up of experts in areas relating to the promotion, protection, conservation and regeneration of architectural heritage, with backgrounds in architecture, archaeology, law, business, literature and architectural history.
Staff:
UAHS staff with a high level of experience and expertise in Architecture, Archaeology, Planning, Heritage and Management. Staff are here to help you help built heritage, and can be contacted via the UAHS office. Find out more about UAH Staff their background, qualifications and skills, below.
Dr Paul Harron
Dr Paul Harron is Chief Executive of Ulster Architectural Heritage. Prior to this, he was Director of Operations at the Arts Council of NI where he had also served previously as a manager and lead on Architecture and the Built Environment. He was instrumental in the development of a government Architecture and Built Environment Policy for NI and in the promotion of design quality, including on heritage-led regeneration. He has been actively involved with UK and European built heritage conservation and architectural networks, served two three-year terms on the Historic Buildings Council for NI and is the recipient of Honorary Membership of the RSUA. He has enjoyed a longstanding involvement with UAH as a committee member and with Hearth Historic Buildings Trust (former vice chair), and is a member of the Irish Architectural Archive.
Paul’s career has also included working in the commercial and voluntary sectors from book publishing – as Commissioning Editor & Publishing Manager of Appletree Press; Senior Editor (architecture and design) at Laurence King Publishing and Editor (architecture) at Phaidon Press – to PR and Communications, as Senior Communications Manager with Belfast Trust and as The Church of Ireland Press Officer for ten years. He has a Diploma (Distinction) from the Institute of Management in Admnistrative Management.
Paul’s academic interests are inter-disciplinary, primarily in Architectural History, History and Literature. His PhD in History, from Queen’s University Belfast (2011), focused on the development of Ulster’s built environment from 1850-1960 and the Belfast firm of Young & Mackenzie; his Masters (Birkbeck, University of London) focused on the Renaissance period and the impact of the Reformation on Scottish collegiate architecture. He also has degrees from the University of St Andrews (MA Hons) (incorporating a year at the Univeristy of California, Berkeley), and City University, London (LLDip).
Paul is author of the monographs ‘Young & Mackenzie: A Transformational Provincial Practice’ (2016) and ‘WJ Barre: A Vigorous Mind’ (2020) published by UAH (‘Architects of Ulster’ series), as well as ‘The Public Art Handbook for NI’ and ‘Building for the Arts’ (both ACNI). He has contributed chapters to several books and journals and writes regularly for several magazines and journals. He was co-Editor of ‘Irish Anglicanism, 1969-2019’ (Four Courts Press, 2019) and Editor of ‘New Life for Churches in Ireland’ (Ulster Historic Churches Trust, 2012).
Chief Executive E: [email protected]
Maura Ahern
Maura holds a BSc (Hons) in Management & Business Studies and has extensive experience in  Human Resources; Governance; Administrative, Financial and Project Management as well as Events & Communications. Prior to this she was employed as Corporate Services Manager with a local Third Sector Organisation. Maura leads on the biannual Heritage Angel Awards Project and the administration of UAH events, membership and publications. Maura has been Heritage Events and Communications Officer 2017-20. And has been Executive Assistant since 2021.
Executive Assistant E: [email protected]
Contact Maura about: Heritage Angel Awards and UAH Membership, and Publications.
Isabel McKernan
Isabel graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Architecture. Since her graduation she had been working in retail management until she saw an opportunity to combine her administrative experience with her love of the built environment, particularly of historic buildings; when an opening became available with Ulster Architectural Heritage as Executive Assistant in 2018. In 2021, Isabel took on a new role as Heritage Project Development & Planning Officer, and now monitors planning applications and responses, undertakes development and delivery of projects and consultancy work. She is also currently studying for her MSc in Building Surveying.
Project Development and Planning Officer – Currently on maternity leave.
Errin McElhinney
Errin graduated from Ulster University Belfast in 2018, with a Ba (Hons) Architecture 2:1. Pursuing her love for the historic environment, Errin recently undertook postgraduate studies at the University of York, gaining a Masters in Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) 2:1, within the Department of Archaeology. Here, her thesis research critically analysed the trajectory of conservation discourse in relation to fire disaster recovery methods. Errin has gained experience volunteering for organisations such as the York Civic Trust (Planning sub-committee) and the National Trust Australia, alongside an internship with the North York Moors National Park Authority. Part time employment during her Undergraduate study with the National Trust and Ulster Architectural Heritage greatly influenced her career path. Errin has been Projects Officer since 2021.
Heritage Project Development & Planning Officer E: [email protected]
Contact Errin about: UAH project and consultancy delivery and planning.
This position is currently vacant.
Sebastian Graham
Sebastian graduated from Ulster University with a BA (Hons) 2.1 in History, a postgraduate diploma in Environmental Management and more recently an MA in History in 2019. Sebastian’s particular interest is in the field of industrial archaeology and has developed an online resource exploring over 4000 mill sites across Northern Ireland. Sebastian has previously worked for the National Trust and Libraries NI and established a reminiscence group sharing memories of different buildings around Cookstown.
As Heritage project officer for the Heritage at Risk project Sebastian works in partnership with the Department for Communities: Historic Environment Division to identify and record buildings at risk while acting as a catalyst to find solutions for their reuse.
Heritage Projects Officer: Heritage at Risk E: [email protected]
Contact Sebastian about: Heritage at Risk NI Register, Funding, Traditional Building Skills.
Victoria Sharpe
Victoria graduated with a 2:1 in History from Trinity College Dublin in 2017. Since then, she worked for four years in both private and public sectors of the financial services industry. Whilst working, Victoria retained a keen interest in history, art and architecture, whilst also working freelance in a PR and marketing capacity for small businesses. When the opportunity arose in UAH for an Events & Administration Officer, she jumped at the chance to combine her passion for heritage with her skills in administration, event planning and online marketing. Victoria has assisted with the organisation of the Heritage Angel Awards, as well as developing a calendar of events for the 2021/22 period.
Heritage Events & Administration Officer E: [email protected]
Contact Victoria about: UAH events, event collaborations and membership.
This position is currently vacant.
Officers of the Society:
President:Â Primrose Wilson CBE
Vice Presidents: Marcus Binney CBE  – Dr Edward McParland  –  Prof Alastair Rowan.
Our Committee:
Many of our committee members are, or have been leads in heritage regeneration projects, as part of some of Northern Ireland’s most prolific Building Preservation Trusts. Others are experts in law, business, finance, marketing, public relations, architecture, archaeology and research into the historic environment. The level of expertise and energy represented by the members of the committee, their passion for Ulster’s built heritage is one of the main strengths of the Society. The main UAHS committee meets monthly.
Chairman:Â Dr David Johnston OBE
Vice Chairman:Â Â John Anderson
Hon. Treasurer:Â Rosie Ford Hutchinson
Hon. Secretary: Alastair Rankin
Committee Members:
John Edmund
Marcus Patton OBE
Stephen Craig
Dr Murray Power
Dr Patricia Warke
Claire Foley
Geoffrey Brooks
Sub Committees:
Chairs of the sub committees also sit on the main committee, above. sub-committees quarterly, or as required.
Architecture, Planning & Policy. Chair: John Anderson
Events. Chair:Â Dr Murray Power
Finance. Chair: Rosie Ford-Hutchinson
Publications. Chair: Karen Latimer OBE
