Our team

Andrew Elliott

Andrew Elliott

Director / Counsellor

Andrew was appointed to his US Diplomatic Post in November 2019. He joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1988 and the Senior Civil Service in 2000. His previous diplomatic post was as Head of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels from 2015 until November 2019, where a major priority related to the particular challenge of Brexit for the region of Northern Ireland.

From 2010 he was responsible for a programme of major reform to the delivery of EU Common Agricultural Policy grants and subsidies to farmers in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. As a result of this work, the exposure of the Department to financial correction by the European Commission was significantly reduced.

From 2005 until 2010, he was responsible for directing the development of population health policy in Northern Ireland, including the introduction of legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces and the preparations for pandemic influenza.

From 2000 to 2004 he was Secretary to the Parades Commission with responsibility for providing senior advice to the Commission on the discharge of its duties and powers in relation to issues concerning human rights and the promotion of mediation and peace-building.

Eamonn McConville

Eamonn McConville

Deputy Director

Eamonn took up his US Diplomatic appointment in January 2021. He comes to the Bureau having completed the 2018 Periodic Review as Secretary to the Boundary Commission of Northern Ireland. In 2010, following the devolution of Policing & Justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly, he took up post as Private Secretary to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, the first locally appointed AG in almost 40 years. Prior to this role, Eamonn was responsible for programme managing a wide range of issues including the reorganisation of Local Government under the Review of Public Administration, the inaugural Northern Ireland Youth Assembly and the establishment of the Attorney General’s Office.

An Engineering graduate from the University of Ulster Jordanstown, Eamonn began his career working as an Avionics Design engineer for the aircraft manufacturer Shorts/Bombardier before moving into the Civil Service in 1990 as a Mechanical & Electrical Engineer in the Water Service.

A keen sportsman, Eamonn played gaelic football at club, under age county and college levels, winning the Ryan Cup with the University of Ulster Jordanstown in 1985/86. His main interests now are golf and skiing. Eamonn and his wife Gina live in Co. Down, home to the majestic Mountains of Mourne.

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Soraya Garduno

Executive Assistant

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Julianne Juarez

Public Diplomacy and Events Officer

Carrie Ertel

Carrie Ertel

Administrative and Governance Officer

Carrie is a public policy professional with a background in international affairs research, and has completed award-winning research regarding the role of international cooperation in achieving nuclear nonproliferation. She joined the Northern Ireland Bureau in July 2020.

Before coming to the Bureau, she has worked as executive assistant to the CEO of an international conflict resolution NGO, in finance, and has also worked as an operations manager, totaling over 6 years of experience. She has spent time studying and working in London and Madrid, and previously has done refugee resettlement event work for Catholic Charities Southwest Ohio. A native of Cincinnati Ohio, Carrie graduated with high honors after completing a BA in Political Science and Spanish at the University of Cincinnati. She is an MA Public Policy alumna of King’s College London.