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The mission statement of Democratic Dialogue is:

The formation of Democratic Dialogue, using the model of a think tank, coincides with the emergence of a potentially new social, political, economic and cultural order in Northern Ireland. Realising the fullest potential of this new era will require a fully engaged citizenry and an inventive approach by government. Democratic Dialogue seeks to provide an independent inspiration for reflective thinking upon the critical issues confronting the people of Northern Ireland. Adopting an interdisciplinary, intersectoral approach, it seeks to contribute a distinctive and informed perspective on contentious issues, generate new ideas and sketch challenging but achievable scenarios. Its style will be variously catalytic and inclusive, and proactive and change-setting; its success will be measured by its ability to make an impact.

Geraldine Donaghy-director, Confederation of Community Groups in Newry

Employed as director of the Confederation of Community Groups in Newry, Geraldine Donaghv has wide experience in the community and voluntary sector and is currently involved in a major project to develop a centralised multi-purpose resource centre in the town centre. She has a number of regional commitments, which include acting as an independent assessor for the Children in Need appeal, as advisor to the Voluntary Action Studies Unit at the University of Ulster, and as a non-executive director of the Southern Health and Social Services Board.

Sammy Douglas-team leader, East Belfast Development Agency

Sammy Douglas has been involved in community and economic development since the 1970's, beginning in the Sandy Row area of Belfast where he was born and reared. He worked for the first workers' co-operative on the Shankill Road. lie was a founding member of East Belfast Development Agency, of' which he is now team leader, and was deeply involved in the publication of two major reports, Community Development in Protestant Areas and Poverty Amongst Plenty. He is a lifelong Linfield supporter and is married with four children.

Breidge Gadd-chief probation officer, Probation Board Northern Ireland

Breidge Gadd has been chief probation officer for Northern Ireland since 1986. She joined the probation service in 1969, and has extensive experience of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland and Britain, including working in prisons. She has served on the board of the European Conference on Probation, and is currently an expert advisor to a Council of Europe commit. tee looking at the future role of prison and probation in Europe. She was educated at Queen University and the University of Ulster at Coleraine. She has three children, and lives in Belfast.

Ann Hope-Advisory Services Officer, Irish Congress of Trade Unions

A founder member of the first women's centre in Northern Ireland, Ann Hope is now chair of the Women's Training Group. She has been employed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions since March 1992, as advisory services officer with responsibility for gender equality. She was previously employed by the Workers' Educational Association as a tutor/organiser for women's studies and trade union studies. Since 1993 she has been a commissioner with the Equal Opportunities Commission, before which she served as a member of the board of the Health and Safety Agency, as well on the board of governors of the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education. She has also been a volunteer with the AIDS Helpline.

Beverley Jones - solicitor

Beverley Jones is partner in the solicitors' practice of Jones and Cassidy. This Belfast-based law firm specialises in discrimination law. She was previously chief legal officer of the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, where she participated in the formulation of policy and litigation strategies in the area of sex discrimination. She holds a masters in human rights and discrimination law from Queen's University. She has acted as chair of DD since its inception.

Dr Paula Kilbane-chief executive, Eastern Health and Social Services Board

Paula Kilbane qualified in medicine at Queen's University. She undertook postgraduate training in public health medicine in London, working there for 10 years in academic and service appointments. She returned to Northern Ireland in 1986, and worked in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board as a consultant. She became director of public health in the Southern Health and Social Services Board in 1990. She was appointed chief executive in 1993, moving to the same position in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board in 1995.

Declan McGonagle-director, Irish Museum of Modern Art

Declan McGonagle was born and grew up in Derry. He studied painting at the College of Art in Belfast in the 1970s, lectured in the Regional Technical College in Letterkenny and was a founding member of the Orchard Gallery in Derry in 1978. In 1984, he went to the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London as director of exhibitions. On his return to Derry, he developed a visual arts programme for the city, including education, community and public arts initiatives. In 1987, he was shortlisted for the Tate Gallery's Turner Prize for "making Derry an international centre for the artist". He was appointed first director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin in 1990. He lectures regularly on contemporary visual arts.

Elizabeth Meehan-professor, Department of Politics, Queen's University

Elizabeth Meehan has been a professor in the Politics Department at Queen's since 1991. She is also the holder of QUB's Jean Monnet chair in European social policy. Before moving to Belfast, she lectured at Bath University and was a Hallsworth Fellow at Manchester University. Her main publications are in the fields of equal opportunity policies, women and politics, and citizenship, in the contexts of the United States, the UK and the European Union. She is chair of the Political Studies Association of the UK, a member of the research programmes board of the Economic and Social Research Council, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a trustee of Charter 88 Trust, and a commissioner on the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission.

Michael Morrissey-senior lecturer, social policy and administration, University of Ulster

In his work, Mike Morrissey is involved with local trade unions, particularly the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union, and sits on the management committees of the Belfast Unemployed Centre, the Community Information Technology Unit, Community Training and Research Services, and Charities Evaluation Services. His principal research interests include poverty, unemployment in local labour markets and local area regeneration.

Eilish Rooney-lecturer, adult education and community development,UU

Bilish Rooney has been a lecturer in the School of Social and Community Development Science at the University of Ulster since 1985, where she has developed the Diploma in Community Development and Education. Her recent research has focused on community, women and politics in Northern Ireland.

Paul Sweeney-Department of Environment advisor on community development and urban regeneration

Paul Sweeney is a social administration graduate from the University of Ulster. Before moving to Belfast in 1983, to take up an appointment with the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, he worked in the voluntary sector in his native Derry. He served as director of NIVT from 1987 to 1994, and is currently on secondment to the Department of Environment, acting as an advisor on community development and urban regeneration programmes.

Paul Teague-professor of economics, UU

Paul Teague taught at the London School of Economics, Cranfield School of Economics and the University of Massachusetts before taking a post at the University of Ulster, where he now holds a chair in economics. His main research interests are European integration and labour markets and the two Irish economies. His publications include The Big Market: 1992 and The Future of the European Community: European integration and national labour market systems. He is completing a book on labour markets and economic performance in Ireland.

Sir Kenneth Bloomfield

Sir Kenneth Bloomfield was secretary to the power-sharing Executive in 1974, permanent secretary of the Department of Environment and of Economic Development, and head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service from 1984 until 1991. He is BBC national governor for Northern Ireland, chair of the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council, and a board member of Green Park Healthcare Trust and the Bank of Ireland (Northern Ireland). He also sits on the Law Reform Advisory Committee, and is a member of the advisory committee for the (UK) inquiry into the implementation of constitutional reform. His Stormont in Crisis: a memoir was published in 1994.

Eilis Gallagher

Eilis Gallagher was assistant director of social services in the Western Health and Social Services Board. She was chair of the advisory committee set up by the Department of the Environment in 1986 to examine issues of concern to the travelling community, and remains an active member of that committee. In 1984 she received an MBE for her work for people with disabilities, and in 1991 an OBE for her work on the travelling community. She is a past president and current member of the Londonderry Soroptomist Club, and is vice-chair of the Family Centre in Gobnascale.

Dr Maurice Hayes

Maurice Hayes was town clerk of Downpatrick from 1955 to 1973, and in 1969 was appointed first chair of the Community Relations Commission. He is a former Northern Ireland ombudsman, was assistant secretary to the power-sharing Executive in 1974, advisor to the chair of the Constitutional Convention in 1975, and permanent secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. He has been involved with numerous public and academic bodies, including the BBC, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Linen Hall Library. He recently published the second part of his autobiography, Minority Verdict: experiences of a Catholic public servant.

Jennifer Johnston

The daughter of the writer Denis Johnston and the actor/director Shelah Richards, Jennifer Johnston was born in Dublin in 1930. After early education at Parkhouse School, and Trinity College in Dublin, she went on to become a prizewinnng novelist. Perhaps best recognised for her How Many Miles to Babylon, she has also written short stories and plays. Her tenth novel is due in September.

Eilis McDermott QC

Eilis McDermott was born in Derry City in 1950, becoming a student at Queen's University in 1968, from where she graduated in 1972. Since 1974 she has been a barrister, working in Northern Ireland, where she became the first woman QC. She has three children.

Sir George Quigley

After graduating from Queen's in history, and submitting a thesis in mediaeval history, Sir George Quigley was successively permanent secretary to four Northern Ireland departments: Manpower Services, Commerce, Finance, and Finance and Personnel. He now works as chief executive and chair of the Ulster Bank. He is also chair of the Northern Ireland Economic Council.

Anthony Giddens

One of the most prominent British social thinkers of the last quarter century, Anthony Giddens is professor of sociology at Cambridge University and head of King's College. A prolific writer, his more recent publications include The Nation-state and Violence (1985), Modernity and Self-identity (1991), The Transformation of Intimacy (1992) and, most recently, Beyond Left and Right (1994).

Rory O'Donnell

After studying in Dublin, London and Cambridge, Rory O'Donnell became a lecturer in economics at University College, Galway, before taking up a post as senior research officer at the Economic and Social Research Institute. He moved from there to being an economist at the National Economic and Social Council, of which he is now director.

Geraldine Donaghy-see p 49.

Robin Wilson - DD director

Robin Wilson was for eight years editor of Fortnight magazine. He was co-founder of Initiative '92, which established the Opsahl Commission. He was initial Northern Ireland correspondent of the Independent on Sunday and has provided freelance commentary on Northern Ireland for numerous British, Irish and international media. He is a member of the executive of the British Irish Association and the northern committee of the Irish Association.

Kate Fearon - DD assistant director

A former president of Queen's Student Union, Kate Fearon worked as women's rights officer for the Union of Students in Ireland before taking up her position at Democratic Dialogue. Her interests include equal opportunities, health and education. She is a member of the management committees of the Brook Advisory Centre in Belfast and the first Higher Education Authority Equality Unit in the republic.