Appointment of Deputy Chair to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Date published: 14 December 2017

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs announced the appointment of Colin Coffey as Deputy Chair of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) with effect from 1 January 2018.

DARD News

The appointment follows the extension of Professor Bill McKelvey as Deputy Chair of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) during the period 1 April 2017 to 31 December 2017.

Both the extension to Prof McKelvey’s tenure and subsequent appointment of Mr Coffey have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.

In making the announcement, the Department acknowledged the very valuable role Prof McKelvey has played within the AFBI Board over the last five years.

AFBI Chair, Colm McKenna thanked Prof McKelvey for his leadership, good advice and excellent support during his tenure. He added: “I am delighted to welcome Colin to the position of Deputy Chair and look forward to working with him in the important time ahead”.

Notes to editors: 

  1. AFBI is a DAERA Executive Non-Departmental Public Body set up under the powers of the Agriculture (NI) Order 2004. It is empowered under the Order to undertake scientific work (research and development, testing, advice and information on scientific matters and dissemination of the results of scientific research) in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, food, fisheries, forestry, the natural environment and rural development and enterprise. It employs approximately 628 staff located on six specialised, DAERA-owned sites across Northern Ireland.
  2. The above appointment / extension has been made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.  Neither of the appointees have been involved in any political activity during the past five years.
  3. The Deputy Chair of the AFBI Board is expected to commit in the region of 20 days per year for which remuneration of £10,941 per annum is paid.
  4. Bill McKelvey has served as Deputy Chair of the AFBI Board for five years, from 1 April 2012, with the current, extended term ending on 31 December 2017. Born and raised on a dairy farm in County Down, he has spent most of his professional career working in Scotland. He currently lives near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. He was Chief Executive and Principal of the Scottish Agricultural College for ten years until early 2012. He holds a first class honours degree in veterinary science from the University of Glasgow, a postgraduate diploma from the University of Guelph, Canada, and a PhD from the University of Aberdeen.  He also holds an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to Agriculture. He is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies, and serves as the Moderator of the Scottish Panel of the Council for the Awards for the Royal Agricultural Societies. He is Chair of the Farmers' Club selection panel for the annual Pinnacle Awards made to Agriculture students from across the UK. Prof McKelvey is a Non-Executive Director of Glenrath Farms, one of Scotland’s largest farming businesses with an annual turnover in excess of £50m per annum. In addition, Prof McKelvey holds one other public appointment as member of the Board of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, for which he receives remuneration of £6,697 per annum.
  5. Colin Coffey lives in Bangor and has held the position of AFBI Board member since 1 April 2015. He has served as Chair of AFBI’s Finance and Business Strategy sub-committee since 1 July 2015 (re-appointed in May 2016). Mr Coffey is Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors with extensive experience in Corporate Governance. Mr Coffey has held a number of senior management posts within the Northern Ireland Food Industry including Chief Executive of United Feeds and Manufacturing Director of Pritchitt Foods. He is currently Non-Executive Chairman of: Flint Studios (a software development company) 4 Beauty Group (a specialist skincare company) and is Finance Director of TechAdventure (a software development company).
  6. Follow us on Twitter at @daera_ni
  7. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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