About Me
Northern Irish roots. A European outlook.
Hailing from Northern Ireland and now residing in Brussels, Tommy is a data engineer and political organiser with experience spanning technology, public affairs and youth-led advocacy across Europe.
Profile.
Tommy grew up in Northern Ireland, in a post-conflict society living with the legacy of the Troubles. This experience has shaped how he thinks about politics, identity and public life. His political outlook is grounded in pragmatism, with a belief in self-determination, cooperation and institutions that people can trust.
His interest in European politics began through a UK-German Connection seminar and continued to develop after Brexit, particularly because of the profound impact that it's had on Northern Ireland. Since then, much of his political and voluntary work has focused on building democratic resilience and trust, meaningful youth participation, and a shared future for the people of Northern Ireland. In 2023, he stood for election to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for the Alliance Party on a platform to represent younger voices.
Tommy speaks on civic youth engagement, peace and reconciliation, and LGBTI rights. He is particularly interested in how political influence is built: how ideas are communicated, how partnerships are formed, and how organisations can turn policy into action. His experience in the private sector and in public affairs in Brussels has given him a deep understanding of how policy is crafted and how organisations can engage effectively with policymakers.
By vocation, Tommy is a Data Engineer. A Computer Science graduate from Queen’s University Belfast, he currently works at Orange Business in Belgium. His work experience to date spans software engineering, public affairs and data consulting, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to his technical work.