Alan McVicker
Director PDSU
Alan McVicker is Director of the Waste Programme Delivery Support Unit (PDSU), having taken up the post in early January 2008.
He is a graduate of Heriot-Watt and Paisley Universities. It was at the latter that he completed a Masters Degree in Environmental and Waste Management, the first course of this type available in the UK.
A native of Portrush, Co. Antrim, Alan is a highly experienced waste industry professional and is a member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.
He has held a number of senior positions with Shanks Waste Management including those of Commercial Manager and General Manager before becoming Regional Director for Scotland in early 2004.
In addition to his extensive experience of hazardous waste operations, dry waste collections and materials recovery, Alan successfully delivered two long-term integrated PFI waste contracts. Prior to taking up the position with PDSU, he had set up the Waste Management Practice within IKM Consulting based in Central Scotland.
Ciaran Cunningham
Communications Manager
Ciaran’s role is to provide strategic PR, Communications and Marketing advice to Northern Ireland’s Waste Management Groups.
A graduate of Queens University Belfast, he has almost 30 years experience in his chosen field. A highly-regarded PR practitioner, Ciaran is also well-known for his work in the Further Education sector where he has developed and delivered specialised post-graduate courses in PR, Marketing and Advertising.
His areas of expertise include strategic communications planning, internal communications and Corporate PR.
Prior to joining PDSU, Ciaran was Government Marketing Manager at BT Northern Ireland.
Noel Scott
Planning Advisor
Noel joined PDSU in February 2007 as a secondee from DOE (NI) Planning Service where he was the principal Planning Officer responsible for all waste planning and planning applications in the Province.
His role is to keep DOE/SIB informed on planning issues and to help create a competitive bidding environment by:
- advising Waste Management Groups on the planning processes that can expedite key infrastructure projects through the regulatory system; and,
- giving potential private sector suppliers knowledge of and confidence in these arrangements
He has considerable knowledge of waste planning in NI, the related waste planning and implementation being carried out by local government assisted by the DOE (NI) and the associated organisational networks.
Noel is a graduate of Queens University Belfast and holds an MSc in Planning and an M.B.A. from the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.
Gavin Thompson
Financial Controller
Gavin Thompson is Waste PDSU’s Financial Controller. Gavin will be managing the Unit’s finances and providing assistance to Northern Ireland’s three Waste Management Groups.
A graduate of Strathclyde University Glasgow, Gavin is a qualified chartered accountant with ten years private sector experience and has worked most recently in commercial property development.
Mike Smith
Commercial & Contracts Advisor
Mike has over 25 years experience in major procurement and has worked on major PFI contracts in the infrastructure, accommodation and education sectors.
Prior to joining PDSU, Mike was Regional Director for John Laing Investments with responsibility for the identification of tender opportunities and the management of PFI submissions across the island of Ireland.