Announcement of new Interim Chair of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA)

The Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA) Board has nominated Board Member Mr Alan McKeown to the position of Interim Chair effective from 1 September 2022. This arrangement is expected to last for a period of around nine months, while a public appointment process is undertaken to fill this vacancy, following the resignation of the previous Chair.

The Fishery Harbour Authority plays an important role in the management and maintenance of Northern Ireland’s three main fishing harbours at Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie.

Mr McKeown was originally appointed as a member of the NIFHA Board on 1 January 2021 for a three-year term.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA) is a statutory Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established in 1973 under the Harbours Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 and the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 1973. The Authority has responsibility for the improvement, management and maintenance of the three fishery harbours at Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie.
2. Article 5(2) of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 1973 provides that in the event of a casual vacancy occurring in the office of Chairman the members shall elect one of their number to fill such vacancy and the person so elected shall hold office until a successor has been appointed by the Minister.
3. Mr McKeown was appointed as a Member of the NIFHA Board on 1 January 2021 by the DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA.
4. Mr Alan McKeown has worked for 20 years at Group board level in the food industry specialising in operations, supply chain, I.T. and automation. Previously a Group Director at Dunbia, Mr McKeown currently manages his own company “Food for Thought” a team of industry-focused management consultants.  Mr McKeown is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and the Institute of Consulting and is a committee member with IoD Northern Ireland.  He also holds several other non-executive director positions in the private sector. Mr McKeown has not been involved in any political activity during the past five years.
5. The NIFHA Chair position is remunerated at £6,890 per annum.
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