Minister appoints members to the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council

Employment and Learning Minister, Maria Eagle, today confirmed the appointment of three new members to the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council and the reappointment of six existing members.  

The appointments of Dr Rosemary Hamilton, Mrs Janice Tracey and Professor Robin McDonough take effect from 26 June 2006 and will run until 25 June 2010.  The reappointments of Professor V Bruce, Sir B Fender, Dr P Madden, Dame Professor I Allen, Professor K Brown and Mr B Turtle take effect from 1 May 2006 and run to 30 April 2010.

Dr Hamilton is currently the Regional Director of the Open University, having held various posts with the Open University since 1970.  She is also a member of the Board of Governors of North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education and is a Board Member of the Northern Ireland Credit Accumulation and Transfer System.

Mrs Tracey has held the position of Chief Executive of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce since January 2003 she has held the previous positions of Manager and Development Officer with the Chamber of Commerce since joining them in August 1998.  Mrs Tracey is also involved with EURES Cross Border Partnership, Women in Enterprise, NI Business Women’s Networks, North West Chambers of Commerce, North West Stakeholders Alliance, Chamber of Commerce Ireland CEO’s Forum, NI Energy Holdings Company and the Economic Development Forum.

Professor McDonough has held positions with Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Manchester.  He is currently Chief Executive of NetNorth West Ltd, a company which develops and manages the high speed network in the North West of England connecting Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) institutions, hospitals, industrial development parks, museums, libraries and local authorities.  He is also a Management Consultant with WR Management Consultants.  

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Northern Ireland Higher Education Council (NIHEC) is a non-executive advisory body established in 1993.  The function of the council is purely advisory, it has no executive powers.
  2. The appointments have been made on merit and in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments NI Code of Practice.
  3. Council members are not remunerated they receive travel expenses and subsistence only for attendance at meetings (approximately 4 meetings per year).
  4. Political activity played no part in the selection process.
  5. The Current Chairman of the Council is Mr Tony Hopkins.
  6. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.