Hanagh Winters appointed as Project Manager at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hanagh Winter as Project Manager for the Northern Ireland STEM Ambassadors Programme, delivered by AOP as the regional partner for STEM Learning UK.
In this role, Hanagh will lead the strategic coordination of the Northern Ireland STEM Ambassador network; connecting educators, employers, and volunteers to support high-impact STEM engagement in schools and communities across the region.
Hanagh brings a rich and diverse background that spans teaching, scientific research, and business development. She began her career with a PGCE in Secondary Science and taught post-primary Biology, before moving into industry as a Clinical Immunoassay R&D Scientist at Randox Laboratories.
She went on to complete a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast, where her research explored circadian rhythms in diabetic retinopathy.
During her PhD, Hanagh also served as Deputy Education Lead for Women in Vision UK, advocating for gender equity in Ophthalmology and Optometry education through outreach and support initiatives.
Most recently, she worked as Business Development Manager for MediNect Ophtho, a life sciences spin-out from Queen’s University.
Her combination of classroom teaching, scientific expertise, and cross-sector stakeholder engagement makes her ideally placed to lead the STEM Ambassadors Programme in Northern Ireland — building inclusive pathways for young people into STEM and strengthening collaboration between education and industry.
AOP welcomes Hanagh to the team and looks forward to her leadership in driving the programme’s future impact.