Dawn Purvis
Dawn Purvis, MLA, is the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) in Northern Ireland, and previously party Chairperson, and PUP's Spokesperson on Women's Affairs. Dawn was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent Belfast East in March 2007.
Dawn is Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, appointed by the Executive Committee after the death of David Ervine. She joined the party in 1994 and has held a number of offices in the last 12 years including Chairperson, Chair of the Women’s Commission and Spokesperson on Equality. She has helped produce many of the party’s policy documents. Dawn has been involved in politics for 15 years, was talks coordinator for the party (1996-1998) at the multi party talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement. Dawn was the PUP Assembly Co-ordinator during the first term of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In April 2006 Dawn was appointed as an independent member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and held this position until her election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. She is committed to assisting working class Unionism into playing a constructive and active role within our society.
