Congratulations to Paul Finnegan, a member of SERC’s Governing Body, who has been awarded an OBE for services to charity. Paul has been the Chief Executive of Lighthouse, the suicide prevention charity, since 2020.
Paul was appointed to SERC’s Governing Body in May 2025 and brings a wealth of experience to the college. He has gained significant leadership experience over the past 27 years of the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, working in the fields of disability, childcare, employment and education, youth, older people and bereavement.
Prior to Lighthouse, Paul was Director for Cruse in Northern Ireland for seven years. Additionally, from 2018 to 2024, on behalf of the Department of Health, he chaired the NI Independent Medical Examiner (IME) Sub-Group. A past student at Lisburn Institute, he has two Masters’ Degrees, one in Management and Organisation at QUB and one in Lifelong Learning at UU. He sits on the Department for Transport’s Disabled Persons Transport Accessibility Committee.
Paul has been a great support to SERC and has been a familiar, friendly and most welcoming face at both our Student and Staff Excellence Awards. We are delighted for Paul’s OBE which recognises his outstanding contributions to the community and voluntary sector.
