Governors of new further education colleges announced

6 July 2007

The Department for Employment and Learning today announced the names of members of the governing bodies for the six new further education colleges.

These colleges will be formed from a series of mergers to take place on 1 August 2007.

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, said: “This is a very important set of appointments. The further education colleges will assume an increasingly important role in the future, as key players in the development of the skills agenda. The governing bodies will agree the colleges’ strategy to meet the skills needs of the local economy and it is critically important that they are peopled with the highest calibre of governor. I have every confidence, with these appointments, that this is the case.

“The further education sector will be transformed this year, which coincides with the 100^th anniversary of the sector in Northern Ireland. The new governing bodies will spearhead this transformation and place the colleges at the centre of a learning network that will supply employers with a generation of employees who are trained in the right skills to secure economic success.”

Sir Reg also thanked the existing governors for their contribution to the development of the sector at a time of great change: “Members of the outgoing governing bodies have played a pivotal role in preparing the colleges for the mergers. It is due to their professionalism, dedication and diligence that the mergers are set to proceed smoothly and I wish them every success in the future.”

The governing body of each college is responsible for securing the efficient and effective management of the college, agreeing and monitoring its strategic direction, appointing the college’s senior staff and ensuring that the college acts as a responsible employer. The appointments will be for a period of four years, formally commencing on 1 August 2007, the date of the mergers. The positions are not remunerated.

The appointments were made after a rigorous selection process, which was monitored by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland under its good practice kite mark scheme. A selection panel, which included an independent assessor, as required under the commissioner’s code, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointment rested with the Minister at the time, Maria Eagle MP.

The governors announced today are:

Belfast Metropolitan College

Joe Eagleson

Mr Eagleson has been the Chief Executive of Enterprise Ulster for 24 years; he is an engineer by profession. Mr Eagleson is also Honorary Secretary of the Irish Rugby Football Union (Ulster Branch). He lives in Lisburn. Mr Eagleson has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Anne Gallagher

Ms Gallagher lives in Belfast. She is Development Director and General Manager of Latens HQ. Ms Gallagher is also a committee member for Women Into Science and Engineering and has been a member of the Castlereagh College governing body since 2005. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Patricia Haren

Mrs Haren is Director of the Women’s Support Network. She has been a board member of the Youth Council for Northern Ireland since 2003. Mrs Haren lives in Newtownabbey. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

David Hatton

Mr Hatton has been the Chief Executive of the Engineering Training Council (NI) since 1990. He has been a member of the governing body of Belfast Institute since 2002. Mr Hatton lives in Bangor. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Ivor Johnston

Mr Johnston, who lives in Belfast, is the Deputy Director at a Government organisation. He has also been a governor at Castlereagh College since 2002. Mr Johnston has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Peter McNaney

Mr McNaney has been the Chief Executive of Belfast City Council since 2002. He is also a member the NI Economic Forum and the employers’ forum of the West Belfast Taskforce. Mr McNaney has not carried out any political activity in the last five years. He lives in Belfast.

Ian Walters

Dr Walters has, since 2002, been the Chief Executive of Action Mental Health. He has been a member of the governing body of Belfast Institute since 2002 and is also chairman of the board of governors of Groomsport Primary School. He lives in Bangor. Dr Walters has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Northern Regional College

Anne-Marie Campbell

Mrs Campbell has been a business development manager at Belfast City Council (environmental health) since 2004. She has also been a quality assessor at the Centre for Competitiveness. Mrs Campbell lives in Magherafelt. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

William Clarke

Professor Clarke is currently Provost of the University of Ulster, Jordanstown and Belfast. He is also a member of the council of the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Professor Clarke lives in Belfast. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Kay Collins

Mrs Collins has been the Director of Audit and Business Services with Goldblatt McGuigan, an accountancy firm, since 1996. She has been a member of the North East Institute governing body since 1998. Mrs Collins lives in Magherafelt. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Samuel Davidson

Mr Davidson is currently Group Human Resources Director at Henderson Group (food wholesale and retail). He has been a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Mr Davidson lives in Newtownabbey. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Janine Fullerton

Miss Fullerton, who lives in Ballymena, is the Northern Ireland Director of Common Purpose, a leadership development and educational charity. She has been a lay magistrate (County Antrim division) since 2005, where she receives an attendance fee of £160 per day. Miss Fullerton is a member of the Labour Party.

Patrick McAvoy

Mr McAvoy was distribution manager and factory manager for Guinness at Ballymena until 1999. He has been a member of the North East Institute governing body since 2002, is also a member of the board of governors of Ballymena Nursery School and of Dunfane Special School and a non-executive director of the Northern Health and Social Services Board, where he receives £5,269 per annum. He has been a local councillor for the SDLP since 1985 and has also made a recordable donation to the party. He lives in Ballymena.

Patrick McCudden

Mr McCudden, who lives in Ballyclare, is the Managing Director of WFM Ltd, a windows design, manufacture and installation company. He has been a member of the East Antrim Institute governing body since 2002. Mr McCudden has been a district councillor for the Alliance Party, to whom he has also made a recordable donation.

Alison Rankin

Ms Rankin has been the Deputy Director of Finance at the University of Ulster at Coleraine since 2004. She is also company secretary of the university’s science research parks business and a board member of the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine, where she lives. Ms Rankin has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Lesley Wallis

Mrs Wallis has been the Director of Training Operations at the Construction Industry Training Board since 2005; she was previously director of training strategy at the Board. Mrs Wallis has not carried out any political activity in the last five years. She lives in Greenisland, County Antrim

North West Regional College

Ellen Cavanagh

Miss Cavanagh is Management Services Officer at Derry City Council. She is also a member of the board of governors of St Mary’s College in Derry. Miss Cavanagh lives in Inch Island, County Donegal. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Joan Doherty

Mrs Doherty is a part-time tutor at Stranmillis University College, having previously been head teacher at Dungiven High School and Templemore Secondary School. She has been a member of the governing body of North West Institute since 1999, chairperson of the independent monitoring board at Magilligan prison since 2001 and non-executive director of the Altnagelvin HSS Board since 2005, where she receives £5,269 per annum. Mrs Doherty lives in Londonderry. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Herbert Faulkner

Until his retirement in 1993, Mr Faulkner was the Finance and Support Services manager at the chemicals company, DuPont. He is the vice-chairman of the Youth Council for Northern Ireland, where he receives £4,500 per annum, and the chairman of the board of governors of Lisneal High School. Mr Faulkner lives in Londonderry. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Geraldine Keegan

Dame Geraldine was the Principal of St Mary’s College, Londonderry, between 1987 and her retirement in 2006. She is a member of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, a non-executive director of The Museums and Art Galleries of Northern Ireland and a trustee of the RUC George Cross Foundation. Dame Geraldine lives in Londonderry. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Michelle Lestas

In 1999, Mrs Lestas founded and is now a managing partner of Lestas Consulting, a management consultancy firm based in Coleraine, where she lives. Mrs Lestas is also a contributor to Ulster Business magazine as an NI economist. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Damien McMahon

Mr McMahon has been, since 1991, the city secretary and solicitor of Derry City Council. He is also the chairman of the Appeals Tribunals NI, for which he receives £183.50 per session, a member of the Legal Aid Appeals Committee (£156.50 per session), chairman of the board of governors of Hollybush Primary School and chairman of the Police Appeals Tribunal for the NI Court Service for which he receives £420 per session. Mr McMahon lives in Derry. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Fabian Monds

Professor Monds was, until 2000, Provost of Magee College and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Planning) at the University of Ulster. Since then, he has served as chairman of the board of Invest NI and NI national governor of the BBC. Professor Monds has not carried out any political activity in the last five years. He lives in Londonderry.

Tony O’Connor

Mr O’Connor is a chartered valuation surveyor at O’Connor, Kennedy, Turtle estate agents, based in Belfast and Coleraine, which specialises in commercial property transactions. Mr O’Connor lives in Portstewart. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Arthur Rainey

Mr Rainey, who lives in Omagh, was the Chief Administrative Officer of the Western Education and Library Board until his retirement last year. He has chaired the executive committee of the joint negotiating council for the ELBs. Mr Rainey has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

South Eastern Regional College

Norman Bennett

Mr Bennett lives in Bangor. He has been the Director of Finance at Queen’s University, Belfast, since 2000. Mr Bennett has been a member of the governing body of North Down & Ards Institute since 2002 and is also a lay member of the audit committee at the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, for which he receives £1,200 per annum. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

John Ferris

Mr Ferris retired last year from his position as headmaster of Down High School in Downpatrick. He is a magistrate (youth and family courts), for which he receives £160 per day and a Justice of the Peace. Mr Ferris lives in Downpatrick. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Samuel Gallaher

Mr Gallaher has been the Regional Director of CHKS Ltd, a management consultancy specialising in the health sector, since 1995; he previously managed projects and estates in the health sector. Mr Gallaher lives in Helen’s Bay, County Down. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

David Lamb

Mr Lamb is a qualified accountant. He has been the Assistant Director of Finance at the NI Housing Executive since 1997, having previously held accountancy or finance posts at Bombardier Shorts and Harland and Wolff. Mr Lamb lives in Crossgar, County Down. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Denis McBrinn

Dr McBrinn, who lives in Castlewellan, County Down, has recently taken up a post as Development Director at Action for Employment, a training provider based in Belfast. He has previously worked for Protocol Skills and Shell. Dr McBrinn has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Alastair McDowell

Mr McDowell retired as Head of Business Affairs at the NI Policing Board in 2004, having worked at the Board and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland since 1973. Mr McDowell lives in Bangor. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Laurence O’Neill

Mr O’Neill, who lives in Dunmurry, is the Director of Finance at the Mater Hospital. He has been a member of the governing body of Lisburn Institute since 2002 and a member of the finance and HR committee of Action Cancer since 2005. Mr O’Neill has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Deirdre Vincent

Professor Vincent taught and conducted research in the German department at the University of Toronto until her retirement in 2003. She has been a member of all the major committees of the university, including the executive board, the senate, appointments and appeals committees. Professor Vincent lives in Lisburn. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Suzanne Walsh

Mrs Walsh has been a senior consultant at the CIPFA accountancy institute since 2004; prior to that she was an audit senior at Grant Thornton accountants. She lives in Belfast. Mrs Walsh has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Southern Regional College

Neil Bodger

Mr Bodger is a Market Intelligence Manager at BT NI. He has been a member of governing body of Newry and Kilkeel Institute since 2002, a member of Stranmillis University College governing body since 2006, vice-chair of St Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel and member and chair of the Southern Education and Library Board appeals tribunal since 1998. He lives in Dromore, County Down. Mr Bodger has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Maureen Clark

Mrs Clark, who lives in Rathfriland, County Down, has been head teacher of Hunterhouse College, Belfast since 1998. Her earlier career was as a geography teacher. Mrs Clark has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Angela Coffey

Mrs Coffey lives in Newry. She was a principal civil engineer and network development manager at the Roads Service Agency (Department of Regional Development) until her retirement in 2006. Mrs Coffey has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Hugh Cox

Until 1992, Mr Cox managed the students’ union at the universities of Ulster, Portsmouth and Kingston Polytechnic. He has, since 1998, been a member of the governing body of Newry & Kilkeel Institute and, since 1999, board member and treasurer of the SHAC housing cooperative. Mr Cox lives in Newry. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Eric Ferguson

Mr Ferguson, who lives in Dungannon, retired from the Northern Bank in 2005 as a business banking manager at the Portadown Business Centre. He is currently Operations Director of Skillbuild NI. Mr Ferguson has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Mary Hanratty

Professor Hanratty is the Director of the Beeches Management Centre, which provides nursing and midwifery education. She is also the Vice President of the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the UK. Professor Hanratty lives in Dungannon. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Conor Patterson

Since 1995, Dr Patterson has been the Chief Executive of Newry & Mourne Cooperative and Enterprise Agency. He is also Secretary of the Newry Chamber of Commerce. Dr Patterson has not carried out any political activity in the last five years. He lives in Newry.

Andrew Saunders

Since 1998, Mr Saunders has been a senior auditor with Ulster Bank. He is also a committee member of the Irish Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Mr Saunders lives in Dromore, County Down. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Peter Smyth

Dr Smyth was director of the North-South Ministerial Council joint secretariat between 2002 and 2005. He was also a member of the OFM/DFM departmental board. Dr Smyth lives in Hillsborough. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

South West College

John Campbell

Mr Campbell, who lives in Belfast, has been the Chief Executive of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council since 2005. He is also a board member of the NI Energy holding company, the Sports Council NI and the Central Services Agency, for which latter position he receives £3,600 per annum. Mr Campbell has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Kate Courtenay

Mrs Courtenay is the Assistant Director of Disability Services at Armagh and Dungannon Health & Social Services Trust. She has been a member of the East Tyrone College governing body since 2004. Mrs Courtenay, who lives in Dungannon, has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Mark Kelly

Since 2003, Dr Kelly has been the principal scientist/engineer responsible for commercialisation of research into high frequency electronics at Queen’s University. He lives in Omagh. Dr Kelly has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Adrian McCreesh

Mr McCreesh is Director of Development at Cookstown District Council. He is a member of the Southern Education and Library Board, a governor of Holy Trinity Primary School and a board member of Sperrinview Special Seeds School. Mr McCreesh lives in Edendork, County Tyrone. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Gerard McDermott

Mr McDermott is the Group Human Resource Manager of Balcas Ltd, a wood products manufacturer and supplier. He has been a member of the Fermanagh College governing body since 2003. Mr McDermott lives in Dromore, County Tyrone. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Joseph Martin

Mr Martin, who lives in Omagh, retired as the Chief Executive of the Western Education and Library Board in 2004. He has also been the chairman of the Classroom 2000 project board and of the NI Committee for Early Professional Development of Teachers. Mr Martin has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Nicholas O’Shiel

Dr O’Shiel has been, since 1996, the Chief Executive of Omagh Enterprise Company. He has been a member of the governing body of Omagh College since 1997. Dr O’Shiel lives in Omagh. He has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Diane Stevenson

Mrs Stevenson has been a rural development programme manager for DARD since 2002. She is also the chair of the community-based initiative of the North Fermanagh Policing Forum and a member of the board of governors of Collegiate Grammar School. Mrs Stevenson lives in Lisnarick, Co. Fermanagh. She has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Gwen Stevenson

Ms Stevenson has had a successful career in the telecoms industry, working for both semi-state and private companies before setting up her own business. She lives in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. Ms Stevenson has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The previous Minister with responsibility for Employment and Learning, Angela Smith MP, announced in September 2005 that the existing 16 further education colleges will merge to form six new area-based colleges from the start of the 2007/08 academic year. The creation of new governing bodies is part of this merger process.
The governing body is responsible for securing the efficient and effective management of the college, having regard to the needs of industry, commerce and the community in which it is situated.
A selection panel, which included an independent assessor nominated by the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointments rested with Maria Eagle MP.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published.
Maria Eagle MP announced the governing body chairs in September 2006. They are James O’Kane (Belfast Metropolitan College), Brian Caul (Northern Regional College), Eamon Beattie (North West Regional College), Brian Acheson (South Eastern Regional College), Brian Rowntree (Southern Regional College) and Pat O’Kane (South West College).
The names of two further members of the Belfast Metropolitan College governing body will be released on the Department for Employment and Learning web-site at http://www.delni.gov.uk in the near future.
Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.