Conversations with Agents of Change

Vincent Lusby joins Izy Boyd to explore why well-intentioned organisations still make poor decisions—and how asking better questions can lead to fairer, more effective outcomes. Drawing on decades of experience in business development, leadership and public governance, Vincent discusses power, accountability, environmental planning and the importance of understanding a problem before rushing towar...

Professor Andrew Macrae joins Izy Boyd to reveal the invisible microbial world supporting our soils, plants and ecosystems. From childhood adventures in Botswana to environmental research across the UK, Brazil and Australia, Andrew explores how microbes can help restore damaged environments—and why collaboration, curiosity and getting ideas out of the laboratory are essential to meaningful change....

Renewable-energy engineer Killian Halpin joins Izy Boyd to explore how engineering, curiosity and practical action can help create a cleaner, more resilient future. From witnessing climate change in Tasmania to delivering major renewable projects across Ireland and the UK, Killian shares why he remains hopeful—and why being an Agent of Change begins with accepting that everything we do has an impa...

What does it really take to become an Agent of Change? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , I speak with Lido Ghali , a self-taught product designer and product manager with more than 15 years of experience across product strategy, UX, software, analytics and artificial intelligence. We explore how curiosity shaped Lido’s unconventional career, why great product design starts w...

What happens when the barriers to building suddenly collapse? At Belfast’s first Claude Code meetup, people didn’t simply sit and listen to presentations about AI. They opened their laptops. They experimented. They built. And many weren’t traditional developers. In our latest Conversations with Agents of Change , AI solution architect Esteban Rocha Rodriguez describes the moment with a brilliant a...

What does a successful birth really mean? In this deeply personal episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd speaks with Nicola Morgan, a birth and postnatal doula, childbirth educator and birth trauma support practitioner. Nicola supported Izy during the birth of her second child—an experience that transformed birth from something frightening and isolating into one where Izy felt i...

What does it really take to make change happen? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd speaks with Judith Rance, Head of Communications and Events at RenewableNI and founder of Women in Renewables. Judith explains why communication is not simply about promoting ideas—it is about listening, building trust and helping people understand why change matters to them. Drawing o...

What does meaningful change look like when it begins quietly—through listening, trust, consistency and a room where people feel welcome? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd speaks with Louise Spence, Manager of North Down Community Network , about the often-unseen work that helps communities organise, connect and flourish. Louise shares more than 25 years of experienc...

Stage the Change at Stendhal Festival 2026 | AI, Accountability & the Hidden Costs of Innovation Recorded live at the iconic Stendhal Festival in Northern Ireland, this special episode of Conversations with Agents of Change brings together a diverse panel of experts to explore one of the most important conversations of our time: Artificial Intelligence . From bias and inclusion to sustainabili...

What if the future of sustainability isn’t about replacing materials — but reimagining how we use them? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , I sit down with Adrian Curry, Chair of Glass Futures and a long-time leader in the glass industry. What starts as a conversation about glass quickly becomes something much bigger — a deep dive into industrial transformation, innovation at...

What if selling didn’t feel pushy, awkward, or transactional—but instead felt natural, human, and rooted in connection? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd speaks with Tina O’Hagan—sales trainer, business mentor, and entrepreneur with over 35 years of global experience. Together, they unpack a powerful reframe: selling is simply having a conversation with a purpose ....

In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd speaks with Sara McCracken, PR and communications specialist, founder of The PR Club and creator of the PRESS framework. Together, they explore how PR is not just about promotion, but about trust, reputation, confidence and change. Sara shares how storytelling can help people and organisations become more visible, communicate with i...

In a tech-driven world, are we overlooking the skills that truly build the future? This episode features master craftsperson Paddy Finnegan, who’s proving that traditional hand skills aren’t outdated—they’re essential. From empowering young people to creating real-world solutions through the Wheels of Change programme, this conversation is all about dignity, resilience, and opportunity. Because th...

In this episode, Izy Boyd speaks with Tim Magowan, Director of the 174 Trust in Belfast, about social impact, community development, and nonprofit leadership. From tackling structural inequality to empowering local communities, Tim shares powerful insights on creating sustainable change, coaching-led leadership, and building resilience in underserved communities. Find out more https://www.thedunca...

What does it really take to create change when systems are complex and progress is hard? In this episode, Matthew Barrington Packer shares why good ideas aren’t enough — and how clear decisions, real trade‑offs, and the VAULTS method help teams move from stuck work to shipped outcomes. Read more about this episode.

In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , host Izy Boyd speaks with peacebuilder and community leader Charmain Jones about growing up during the Troubles, the power of relationships, and why real change happens through human connection. From rural women’s leadership to trauma‑informed peacebuilding, this conversation explores the quiet ripples that transform communities — one relati...

What happens when silence at work costs women their confidence — and organisations their best talent? Izchel Boyd speaks with menopause workplace advocate Siobhan Kearney about lived experience, leadership responsibility, and why menopause belongs in the strategic business conversation. Honest, hopeful, and long overdue. Read more about this episode here .

Confidence coach Margaret Kelly joins Izy Boyd to share her journey of reclaiming her voice, redefining self‑worth, and becoming an agent of change. A powerful conversation about mindset, boundaries, and living a life that truly aligns. Read the article here

How do you build the future of batteries outside Asia? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd sits down with Kieren Hall , CEO of Avocet Battery Materials , to explore the unseen world behind battery manufacturing, precision materials, and local supply chains. From ultra‑thin copper foil to deep‑tech innovation, this conversation reveals what it really takes to turn mate...

Contemporary and Mexican folk dancer Mayte Segura joins Izy Boyd to tell the story of a late-blooming dance career that became a mission: teaching, choreographing and building Mexican Dance Belfast to bring culture, wellbeing and community to Northern Ireland. Mayte reflects on starting dance at 23, training and touring, teaching babies to adults, the realities of funding and fair pay for artists,...

“So I am a proud and worried father of two. I am an engaged citizen and a longtime academic activist, that tries to use my privilege as an academic.” In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , Izy Boyd speaks with Professor John Barry — a leading voice in green political economy, former co‑chair of the Belfast Climate Commission and a long‑time academic activist. John explains how hi...

Jacqueline Gibson, director at International Synergies NI, explains how industrial symbiosis turns other people’s waste into local resources—saving money, cutting carbon, and strengthening supply chains. Hear practical stories from workshops that unlocked £14 million in potential savings and learn how simple matchmaking between businesses sparks creativity and resilience. “We believe that there&#3...

What if the key to ending gender bias starts in our homes — in the tiny, everyday moments we barely notice? In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , host Izy Boyd sits down with feminist author, DEI trainer, speaker, and whole‑person leadership coach Virginia Méndez Mason . Together, they explore how gender stereotypes shape childhood, why consent begins long before the teenage yea...

In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change, I sit with Dr Yesenia Jauregui Sanchez, a research fellow at Queen's University of Belfast, whose is helping to design optical and photonic instruments by developing non-invasive computational imaging techniques. She tells us about her journey from Physics to Optics, from Mexico, then Spain, Exeter and to Belfast and the importance of fem...

In this episode of Conversations with Agents of Change , host Izy Boyd sits down with award‑winning digital marketer, community builder, and cancer survivor Esther Ocampo — a woman reshaping what marketing can and should be. From moving across continents and building a bilingual agency from scratch, to navigating illness, rebuilding confidence, and redefining what “success” looks like, Esther’s jo...