Victoria Denoon Bio

Name:
Victoria Denoon

Location:
Belfast

Biography:
Originally from Holywood, Co Down, Victoria Denoon is currently a project manager working for The Odyssey Trust, a registered charity that was established to, ‘hold, manage, safeguard and develop the investment in the Odyssey project for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland.’
Victoria previously spent 15 years working in the higher education sector in the US as Co-Director of the Center for Irish Partnerships, and Special Projects Coordinator, at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The Center for Irish Partnership fosters collaborations and partnerships with educational institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland across an interdisciplinary spectrum and embraces faculty exchange and joint research ventures and works with partners to create a dynamic model for cross-Atlantic collaboration. Victoria also spent two years as co-chair of Irish Network Boston (IN Boston).
In 2018, Victoria received the Irish Echo Transatlantic Crossing Award at the Golden Bridges Conference. In 2012, she received an Irish Echo 40 Under 40 Award at a ceremony in New York City. She is also the recipient of an Anam Cara Award from the Lowell Irish Cultural Committee.
Victoria Denoon is President of the Queen’s Graduates’ Association and previously served as President of the Queen’s Graduates’ Association East Coast, New England Chapter.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen’s University Belfast, a graduate certificate in Business and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell.

What, for you, is the importance of our global diaspora and how do you contribute to its success?
The global diaspora plays a vital role in driving economic activity and expanding educational and commercial opportunities. Engaging with them in a meaningful way can create a partnership that impacts and advances our common social, political and economic interests.
As project manager at the Odyssey Trust, I work collaboratively to build on the links established between Boston and Belfast through the Sister Cities agreement, engaging the diaspora through the annual Friendship Four Tournament, the Friendship Series and Festival of STEM.
As co-chair of Irish Network Boston I was actively involved in connecting the members of the global diaspora. Since its inception in 2010, IN Boston has worked tirelessly to promote the enduring link between the island of Ireland and the United States.

Tell us how you connect to Belfast:
Despite spending 15 years living in America, I was fortunate to maintain connections with Belfast through my work at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and as a member of the board of Irish Network Boston. Through these links, I have been able to see the changes that have happened in Belfast over the years. When it came time to make a change professionally, I knew that Belfast was not a fallback, but a real option. From multinational companies establishing offices here, to educational outreach on a global scale – as well as the establishment of the only college hockey tournament to be held outside of the Unites States – the opportunities that exist in this city have never been more extensive and I was excited to be a part of that.

You know you’ve got Belfast heritage when…:
it has to be Thompson's tea in your mug