The Board of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA) has nominated Board Member, Mr David Knott, to the position of Interim Chair effective from 01 July 2023. The arrangement will be in place until the conclusion of a public appointment process to appoint a permanent Chair.
NIFHA plays an important role in the management and maintenance of Northern Ireland’s three main fishing harbours at Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie.
Mr Knott was appointed as a Member to the NIFHA Board on 01 January 2021 for a three-year term.
Notes to editors:
- 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.
- 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.
- Mr Knott was appointed as a Member of the NIFHA Board on 01 January 2021 by the former DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA.
- Mr David Knott recently retired from Belfast Harbour Commissioners where he was a member of the senior management team, prior to this he was Risk Manager at Bombardier Aerospace and a Director of Groundwork Northern Ireland, a social and environmental regeneration charity. He is currently a member of the RSPB Northern Ireland Advisory Committee.
- Mr Knott is a recently retired Fellow of the Institute of Risk Management and previously represented Northern Ireland on the National Council for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. He has been actively involved in risk management and corporate governance roles for over 30 years. Mr Knott holds a BSc degree from the Open University and an MSc in Coastal Zone Management from the Ulster University. He was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to the port industry and community in Belfast.
- The NIFHA Chair position is remunerated at £10,680 per annum.
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