Chris Lyttle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Lyttle
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| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast East |
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| In office 6 July 2010 – 28 March 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Naomi Long |
| Succeeded by | Peter McReynolds |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 January 1981 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Alliance |
| Residences | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast (BA) Harvard University |
Chris Lyttle was born on January 19, 1981, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is a politician from the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast East from 2010 to 2022. An MLA is like a representative who helps make decisions and laws for Northern Ireland.
Chris Lyttle took over from Naomi Long as the Alliance Party MLA for Belfast East in July 2010. He was then re-elected by the people of his area in 2011, 2016, and 2017. He decided to step down from his role as an MLA at the 2022 Assembly Election.
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Early Life and Education
Chris Lyttle grew up in East Belfast. He went to Belmont and Strandtown Primary Schools, and then to Sullivan. He later studied at Queen's University Belfast, where he earned a top degree in Government and Politics.
He also received special scholarships to study in other countries. One scholarship allowed him to study how to manage conflicts at the University of California. Another, called the Frank Knox Fellowship, helped him study Public Policy and Administration at Harvard University. He also took part in the Washington Ireland Program, which helps young leaders.
Community Work and Interests
Before becoming an MLA, Chris Lyttle worked as an assistant for Naomi Long, who was a leader in the Alliance Party. In this role, he helped people in his local area. He is known for helping community groups and local businesses with many different issues. These issues included housing, education, health, and community safety.
He also served as a leader for the East Belfast District Policing Partnership, which helps local police work with the community. Outside of politics, Chris Lyttle is a qualified football coach. He has a special license from the Irish Football Association and coaches football for people with disabilities. He is also an active member of his local Church of Ireland.
Political Responsibilities
As an MLA, Chris Lyttle had important roles in the Northern Ireland Assembly. He was the Deputy Chair of a committee that looked closely at the plans of the government leaders. This committee reviewed important strategies like the Programme for Government, which sets out what the government wants to achieve. It also looked at plans for community relations, equality, and support for children and older people.
From May 2016, he was the vice-chair of the Assembly Committee on Education. This committee focuses on improving schools and learning for young people.
Chris Lyttle also led or helped lead several "All Party Groups" (APGs). These groups bring together MLAs from different political parties to discuss specific topics. He chaired the APG on Cycling and the APG on Children and Young People. He also helped lead the APG on Postal Issues. He was a member of many other APGs, including those focused on Fairtrade, International Development, Football, and Science and Technology.
In October 2021, Chris Lyttle announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2022 Assembly election.
Life After Politics
After leaving his role as an MLA, Chris Lyttle continued to work in public service. In June 2022, he was appointed as the Head of Public Affairs at the Irish Football Association. In this role, he helps manage how the Irish Football Association communicates with the public and government.
He now works as a Client Director at Brown O'Connor Communications. This company is a leading agency in Northern Ireland that helps organizations with public relations and strategic communication.
