Lisburn man and Executive Director of Lighthouse charity receives OBE in King’s Birthday Honours
The Executive Director of mental health charity Lighthouse, Lisburn man Paul Finnegan, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his outstanding service to the community and voluntary sector in the recent King’s Birthday Honours.
Over the past five years, Paul has led Lighthouse with exceptional dedication, compassion, and strategic vision.
Under his leadership, the organisation has strengthened its impact in suicide prevention and mental health awareness, supporting individuals, families, and communities across Northern Ireland and beyond.
Prior to joining Lighthouse, Paul built an extensive career in the voluntary sector, contributing to a wide range of initiatives.
Born and raised in Lisburn, Paul was educated at St Patricks Academy in Lisburn before moving on to Lisburn College.
He holds Masters’ Degrees in organisational management from QUB and lifelong learning from UUJ.
His long-standing commitment to improving lives and strengthening communities has been a defining feature of his work and volunteering in areas such as childcare, marginalised children and young people, disability, bereaved older people, and suicide prevention.
In a volunteer capacity, he was a Director on the Board of Disability Action, a member on the Committee of the NI Deaf Youth Association, Chair of the Lisburn Community Relations Network, Chair of the NI Mentoring Forum, a Governor on the Board of Lisburn Institute for F&HE and a Bereavement Support Volunteer at Cruse Bereavement Support.
On behalf of the Department of Health and as Chair of the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia Related Deaths (IHRD) Independent Medical Examiner (IME) Work Group, he led the work to introduce an IME into Northern Ireland.
As well as Lighthouse, he has worked for the Royal National In for Deaf People (RNID), Extern, the Southern Health and Social Services Board (SHSSB), the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, Autism NI and Cruse Bereavement Support.
Today, he sits on the Governing Body of the South-Eastern Regional College (SERC) and Disabled Persons Transport Accessibility Committee (DPTAC), a statutory body in the UK that advises the government on transport accessibility for disabled people.
On behalf of the Lighthouse, Sharon Quinn, Deputy Executive Director said: “Everyone at Lighthouse is immensely proud of Paul and this well-deserved recognition.
"His leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to supporting others have made a profound difference to so many lives.”