ARINS: A Presentation and discussion of Civic Space 2

ARINS is pleased to host Peter Shirlow's presentation on Civic Space 2 followed by a discussion with Jon Burrows MLA and Alison Grundle. Professor Peter Shirlow is the director of the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool, will give a special presentation of Civic Space 2, a major research and public engagement project exploring constitutional futures on the island of Ireland. Civic Space 2 brings together research, dialogue and public engagement through a range of innovative outputs, including animations, roundtable discussions, interviews, community conversations, and digital media resources. The evening will feature a presentation by Professor Shirlow introducing the project, followed by a conversation between the programme manager at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies, Alison Grundle, and Jon Burrows, the Ulster Unionist Party MLA for North Antrim. To conclude the evening, the RIA will host a reception to allow space for further discussion. Find out more about Civic Space 2 About the Speakers: ‌Professor Peter Shirlow (FaCSS) is the director of the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies. He was formerly the deputy director of the Institute for Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, QUB. He is the Independent Chair of the Executive Office's Employers' Guidance on Recruiting People with Conflict-Related Convictions Working Group and a board member of the mental health charity Threshold. Jon Burrows MLA is the Ulster Unionist Party MLA for North Antrim, having been selected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in August 2025 and elected Party Leader in January 2026. Jon holds a BA (Hons) degree in Law and Government, and also has a Master's in Criminal Justice (MSc) and another Master's in Law (LLM) from Ulster University. Since retiring from policing in 2021 after 22 years of service, he has become a prominent campaigner for justice and accountability, while also contributing regularly to broadcast and print media on policing and justice issues. Jon serves as the UUP’s Education Spokesperson. Alison Grundle is the Programme Manager at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies. In 2021 Ms Grundle was appointed head of member services at The Law Society of Northern Ireland, and previously worked as a special advisor to former justice minister Claire Sugden. Having worked in both Northern Ireland and London across a number of sectors including finance and telecommunications, her corporate background specialises in strategy and business transformation for large multinational corporations, ARINS Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South. Authoritative, independent and non-partisan analysis and research on constitutional, institutional and policy options for Ireland, north and south. ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. Access requirements Have you got any access requirements that we can assist you with, so that you can fully engage with our event? Please let us know by contacting our access officer, in advance of the event, by email at [email protected]