How we’re governed

CUI Board
The CUI Board is responsible for the oversight and governance of our work, ensuring we consistently work to effectively work towards our mission.

Their role involves overseeing our finances to ensure we are stewarding them well, establishing key policies, and ensuring our legal responsibilities are met.

The composition of the Board is designed to maintain a good understanding of the student world and culture by including students from our Student Council.

Student Council
Our Student Council serves as a vital and direct link between students and CUI leadership. They ensure we hear directly from students, allowing them to share their unique insights, ideas and feedback, which are used to shape policies and national decision-making.

The Council is made up of one student representative from each of CUI’s regions, ensuring we have a diverse and accurate representation of student voices across our island.

Board of Trustees

A smiling middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a blue shirt and backpack, standing outdoors near a body of water with fields in the background.

Cassels has spent most of his adult life involved with CUI, starting as a student at UUC in 1971. He was then campus staff from 76-80, Team Leader from 86-97, and IFES Gen Sec from 97-2001. Then with IFES Europe from 01-07, full-time, and then part-time from 07-18, alongside a part-time pastor role at Hillside Evangelical Church, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Cassels and his wife, Hazel, met at CU and have been married since 1977. They have 4 adult children and 9 grandchildren. Both of them are still involved in the IFES World as well as CUI.

Cassels Morell

A smiling man with a beard and short hair, wearing a cream-colored cable-knit sweater, arms crossed, standing in front of a lush green ivy-covered wall.

Nathaniel is of Anglo/Caribbean/American heritage, but was born and spent his childhood in Bangladesh. Following the completion of a Master’s in Contextual Missiology at Queen’s University Belfast, he returned to Bangladesh to engage in social development and welfare work with SIM. Since 2011, Nathaniel has lived in Belfast and is currently OMF UK & Ireland’s Intercultural Ministries Director. His ministry focuses on encouraging and equipping churches to share the good news of Jesus with people of all backgrounds and cultures and grow as Christ-centred communities of intercultural worship and witness.

Nathaniel Jennings

A man with glasses and a white shirt sitting on a beige couch, holding a book, with a brown dog with a blue collar sitting on the backrest behind him in a living room with a window and red patterned curtains.

John Gillespie lives in Portrush and is married to Rosalind. John studied French and German at Queen’s and Theology through the University of London. Professor of French Language and Literature (Emeritus) at Ulster University and former Head of the School of Languages and Literature, he currently teaches RE for the PGCEs at Ulster.

A Board member since 2018, he is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the CS Lewis Institute Belfast, lectures and writes on Lewis, and currently teaches Apologetics in Portrush Presbyterian’s Reality 3:16 course. Clerk of Session of PPC; he is a Research Associate at Union Theological College, Belfast. After long-term service at Portrush CSSM, he chairs SU North Coast’s District Support Team.

He patiently supports Liverpool and the Ulster and Irish Rugby teams, and relaxes by reading, making music, and avoiding walking his daughter’s dog Spud.

John Gillespie

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Frank Peters is married to Jo and has five adult children (4 with science degrees and one who keeps him balanced through the arts). He is active in his local church, where he speaks monthly and hosts and leads a home group Bible study. Frank is employed as a Physics Professor at University College Cork and pursues research through the integrated photonics group that he leads at the Tyndall National Institute. He actively supports Christian Unions Ireland through hospitality, speaking and membership on the board. Frank is also part of the Christian ministry Global Scholars, which seeks to equip Christian lecturers to serve Christ in secular universities worldwide. He has a particular interest in discussions around faith and science and how the world makes sense from a Christian worldview.

Frank Peters

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Julie is a Maths Education lecturer at St Mary's College, Belfast. Her local church in Newtownabbey is one of her favourite places. She is also a big fan of the Causeway Coast beaches and cafes, of having people over for meals, and of a good book.

CU’s played a big part in her life. She was involved as a CU student, leader, and Relay Worker (now known as Formation). These cherished experiences helped shape, form, and grow her faith.

Julie Hamilton

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Helen is the wife of Joel and the mum to 2 delightful and energetic boys. She is passionate about people growing in Jesus and living out God's kingdom wherever they are.

She loves student ministry and, over the past 10 years, has been part of CUI in various roles, including staff work and on the EQUIP festival team.

Some of her favourite things are coffee, the beach, reading the Bible with others and big earrings!

Helen Blakely

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Isabel is a stay-at-home mom in County Waterford. She is married to Paul with 3 small kiddos in tow. With a background in theology and many years of involvement with CUI, both as a student and then as a staff worker, the work of the Christian Unions holds a special place in her heart.

Her passion is bringing the gospel to this country, whether through evangelism or through the daily work of worshipping God by raising kids.

Isabel Quinlan

A man wearing glasses, a tuxedo, and a bow tie, smiling outdoors with a house and chimney in the background.

After enjoying all that CU life could offer whilst studying Economics in Edinburgh, Iain trained as a Chartered Accountant in Newcastle upon Tyne. He helps the CUI Executive team meet their financial compliance and bring the numbers to life for stakeholders.

Iain also serves at a church in East Belfast, where he lives with his creative wife and four noisy children. Outside of the above and his day job, Iain enjoys reading, coffee and climbing mountains.

Iain Hamill

A smiling man with short gray hair wearing a dark blue Puma sports jacket standing in front of green leafy bushes.

Jonathan is the pastor at Wexford Bible Church in Wexford Town. He and his wife Hazel have been serving the church in Wexford for the last 21 years. They have four daughters, two of whom are in UCD and two still in secondary school. Jonathan also teaches a module called ' Church: Theology and Practice', as part of the BA programme at The Irish Bible Institute. He also serves on the committee organising The Irish Preachers' Conference. Life is pretty full on with an active congregation and busy family life, but in his quieter moments, he enjoys watching Leinster and Ireland play rugby and is a member of his local CrossFit gym.

Jonathan Reid

Student Council