Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care

NICON supports health and social care leaders across Northern Ireland.

We exist to:

• Influence policy and other areas of interest (including providing an 'employers’ voice') on behalf of our members;
• Support and brief members;
• Inform and influence the media and politicians about key issues in the HSC;
• Connect members with other stakeholders and with the wider NHS Alliance.

NICON is led by our Director, Heather Moorhead. The management of our overall strategy and activities is in the hands of the NICON Management Committee. This group is made up of HSC Chairs, Chief Executives, and Directors, who represent the HSC Trusts and regional HSC bodies.

Address: NICON, HSC Leadership Centre, 12 Hampton Manor Drive, Belfast, BT7 3EN

Email: contact@niconfedhss.org

Tel: 028 9536 1779

Please direct any media enquiries to Robyn Scott, Policy & Communications Manager, on robyn.scott@niconfedhss.org or 074 8530 3672

Heather Moorhead was appointed as the Director of the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) in May 2010. Prior to this, Heather was CEO of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association where she supported and facilitated local government improvement & modernisation.

Heather was also previously Director of the Sustainable Northern Ireland Programme where she was responsible for developing the organisation which provided advice and guidance to government departments on sustainable development issues.

Heather’s earlier career was spent in the field of Environmental Health and she held positions across various specialisms including health and safety, consumer protection, training and health promotion.

Heather is a member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Northern Ireland Chief Executives' Forum.

Follow on Twitter @HmmMoorhead

Vicky Lisk joined NICON as Member Services Officer in 2022.

Robyn Scott has been Communications and Policy Manager for NICON since March 2024. In addition to being a professionally trained journalist, Robyn has an MSc in Communications, Advertising and Public Affairs. She has fifteen years’ experience working in journalism, policy, and communications, including a previous role as a Medical Journalist. She is also Chair of a leading women’s organisation in Northern Ireland, the Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA).

In her current role with NICON, she helps to coordinate the organisation’s policy and communications outputs, as well as engaging extensively with members and other key stakeholders.

Elly McGinn joined NICON as Policy and Programme Manager in November 2025. Elly has over 10 years' experience working in General Practice across several roles and organisations, including NIMDTA, SPPG and GP Federations. She recently completed a CMI Level 7 in Strategic Leadership in Primary Care and she brings expertise in project management, strategy and communications to her role. She will be working in NICON to coordinate policy and programme outputs, in particular the NI Primary Care Network and Committee in Common.

Thomas Blain joined the NICON team in August 2024. He is currently NICON’s Programme Officer, leading on a number of programmes hosted by NICON, including the Public Sector Chairs’ Forum. He also supports the work of the HSC Trust Chief Executives’ Group. Thomas’ focus is on strengthening collaboration and system leadership across health and social care and the wider public sector in Northern Ireland.

Thomas graduated from Ulster University with a BSc in Politics and International Studies. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Washington Ireland Program, which selects just 30 emerging leaders each year from across the island of Ireland for an intensive leadership and civic engagement experience. As part of the programme, he spent a summer in Washington, D.C., working for Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Before joining NICON, Thomas was a Casework and Communications Officer for a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Dr Siobhán McEntee leads the new Northern Ireland Primary Care Network, which is coordinated by NICON in collaboration with partners. Siobhán is a GP with more than 30 years’ experience. She has held a number of senior positions, including Regional Clinical Director for GP Elective Care with the GP Federations, and Associate Director for GP Training at the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA). 

Siobhán will play a critical role in supporting the establishment and development of a thriving Primary Care Network, which provides leadership and amplifies the views and perspectives of its members.