John Heaslip

After 24 years leading BITC John has decided to take a break and think about the next stage of his life. As of June 2013 he will be completing a number of consultancies, travelling, sailing, and generally 'smelling the roses'.

BITC grew to become a key not-for-profit with over 250 corporate members and 60 staff. The success of the organisation led to a new interest in Corporate Citizenship with a dramatic increase in the number of business people playing a leadership role in the community. For more information – http://www.bitcni.org.uk

Prior to Business in the Community John was involved in property development and before this was MD of Coogan and Watts at that time the largest manufacturer/distributor of flexible packaging materials in the Province.

John has a wide variety of business experience originally in retail and distribution. In the early 1980s as MD of Coogan and Watts John led the company though a period of dramatic growth during which time he built up a majority equity. By 1986 the company had become dominant in the local market and Munster Simms Group made a successful bid for the entire shareholding which committed John to one years consultancy after which he took a two year sabbatical, spent sailing and travelling.

On a personal level, John has been awarded a USIA Fellowship to study entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility in the US and invited to Ashridge Management College as a visiting lecturer. John has also lectured on corporate social responsibility on the MBA programs at both Queens and University of Ulster. John is a director of Food Stories Ltd, Action Renewables Ltd, Ashens Developments and FFB Information Services Ltd and is a Trustee of Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complexand was non-executive chair of Z-Rock FM. John also holds a number of directorships within not for profit organisations. Over the past few years John has raised more than £250,000 for various good causes and was awarded an LVO in the 2006 Christmas Honours .