Reappointment and extension to members and Chair of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority

Date published: 26 March 2020

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DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, has announced the reappointment of Kate Burns and Davey Hill for second terms as members of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA) Board to 31 May 2024.

DARD News

In addition, Minister Poots has also announced three month extensions to the terms of appointment for Terry Jarvis, Chair, to 25 September 2020, and Members Martin McDonald and Dr. George McIlroy, to 30 July 2020 and a six month extension to the term of appointment for Helen Henderson, Member, to 30 October 2020.

Mr Poots said: “The reappointment of Kate Burns and Davey Hill and the extensions to the terms of appointment of Terry Jarvis, Helen Henderson, Martin McDonald and Dr. George McIlroy will provide continuity to the NIFHA and allow it to continue with it’s important function of managing, maintaining and improving the three fishery harbours of Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie.”

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. Terry Jarvis was first appointed as Chair of the NIFHA Board on 26 June 2012.  He is a retired BT engineer and a former member of the BT NI board and has just completed two terms as a board member on the NIFHA board. He has an excellent working knowledge of NIFHA and is aware of the main issues affecting the fishing industry. He holds no other public appointments and lives in Bangor.
  3. Martin McDonald was appointed to the NIFHA Board on 1 May 2012.  He began his career as a town planner and later worked for The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He retired in 2011 from a post as Chief Executive Officer of the NI Rural Development Council. Martin is a former Board Member of Newry Credit Union and was also former Interim Chair of The NI Heritage Lottery Fund. He current holds a non executive position on the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.  Mr McDonald was appointed as chair of the NI Community Relations Council in June 2019.
  4. Kate Burns was appointed to the NIFHA Board on 1 December 2015.  She is MD of Ocean Veg Ireland Ltd based in Rathlin Island and has a Rathlin Fishing family background. She has had a varied professional career including CEO of ICBAN and Director at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and was appointed a Trustee of Belfast Metropolitan College in September 2015.
  5. Helen Henderson was appointed to the NIFHA Board on 1 May 2012.  She is from Limavady and is the Strategy Manager of St Columb’s Park House Peace and Reconciliation Centre. She has spent most of her working life in the community / voluntary sector and holds a Masters’ degree in Business Studies & Psychology. Helen is passionate about sustainable development, global justice and ordinary people making extra-ordinary change.
  6. Dr. George McIlroy was appointed to the NIFHA Board on 1 May 2012.  He is a previous Chief Executive of the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, a previous Deputy Secretary, Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer in DARD. He has an extensive knowledge and experience for over 30 years as a committee Member at Board level in both the Private and Public sectors.  George is a trustee of the National Museums, a Board member of the Western Health and Social Services Trust and was an Independent Member of the TB Strategic Partnership Group.
  7. Dr. McIlroy is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Institute of the Food Science and Technology, a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.  He is also a Trustee of the Christian Charity, ‘Walking Free’ which provides spiritual, physical, educational and emotional care by reaching out to the lost and hurting in society.
  8. Davey Hill was appointed to the NIFHA Board on 1 December 2015.  He has been involved in the Fishing industry for some 30 years, as a skipper and vessel owner and more recently as a Director of ANIFPO/SeaSource, where he has particular responsibility for SeaSource Offshore operations. He has held a number of representative roles, including a previous President of NFFO.
  9. NIFHA Chair position is remunerated at £6,540 per annum, and Board Member positions at £3,945 per annum.
  10. 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.  Helen Henderson has canvassed in local elections for the Alliance Party and People before Profit.  None of the other appointees have been involved in any political activity during the past five years.
  11. These reappointments and extensions comply with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland’s ‘Code of Practice’.
  12. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.
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