Bready woman recalls year as UK JCI President

Lesley Young, originally from Bready, joined JCI - a global network of young professionals in their 20-30s - in 2003.

She held the roles of Director of Marketing and Social Director on the Belfast Council before moving to London in 2008 and taking up the role of International Director.

She was elected as Deputy National President for 2009 and as National President 2010. As well as day to day management of the National Organisation Lesley has also been very active in her ambassadorial role for JCI UK on the international JCI scene.

And next year she will bid to become Vice President of the JCI organisation, which boasts as former luminaries such world leaders as Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Kofi Annan, and Taro Aso.

In the UK JCI has a number of Local Chambers throughout the country with two active Chambers in Northern Ireland, JCI Londonderry and JCI Belfast.

Lesley was initially inspired by JCI's mission to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.

She said the opportunities provided by JCI at home and abroad have been phenomenal.

Speaking to the Sentinel she explained: "Being a member of JCI has provided numerous unique opportunities for me both at home and abroad. It has been an honour to serve as National President in 2010 and to work with the dedicated and committed Local Presidents.

"My very first JCI event was in 2003 when JCI Londonderry ran a session for potential new members - and I was hooked!

"JCI Londonderry's Nutts' Ball has always been a social highlight in the City's business calendar and would highly recommend attending to anyone who has a chance."

Lesley told the paper how her involvement with JCI has led to her attending a number of United Nations events and receiving a personal address from Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon.

"The United Nations is a long standing partner with JCI and I've been lucky enough to attend three leadership summits in recent years at the UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva," she commented.

"The UN Secretary General, Ban-Ki Moon, personally addressed us at our Global Partnership Summit meeting earlier this year in New York!

"A key project we work together on is the UN Foundation 'Nothing but Nets' campaign - an effort to combat malaria through the purchase and distribution of $10 bed nets.

"This forms part of working towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. I've also attended conferences and training in Japan, India, Tunisia, Iceland and many European countries,' she added.

By day, Lesley has spent over 18 years in the health service and is currently an Associate Director of Strategic Planning in the NHS in London.

She says joining JCI is a great way to expand your professional and social network, development new skills and meet new people - from all over the world if you wish!

To find out more about JCI please visit: www.londonderryjuniorchamber.com; www.jciuk.org.uk; www.jci.cc.