Over the past 15 years Darren has worked in various heritage, access and sustainable tourism roles. He has an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation.
He currently works for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. In his role he has overall responsibility for the development and management of the UNESCO Global Geopark for Mourne, Gullion and Strangford, plus two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Ring of Gullion and Strangford & Lecale.
Throughout his career, Darren has played a pivotal role in diverse projects, including AONBs, erosion control initiatives, access projects, a Landscape Partnership Scheme, Shared Island projects, and the Atlantic CultureScape project. Actively engaged in domestic and international partnerships, he also serves on the board of directors for Northern Ireland Environment Link and is a member of the Northern Ireland's Protected Areas Network.
Through both professional and voluntary capacities, Darren has cultivated robust partnerships in natural and intangible heritage locally, nationally, and across Europe. As a committee member, he aims to leverage his extensive networks and experience to facilitate positive engagement with Northern Ireland's rich heritage.