The Department for Infrastructure has announced five appointments to the Board of Northern Ireland Water

Peter McNaney has been appointed to the Board to serve a second term.  Belinda Oldfield, Marie-Thérèse McGivern, Patrick Larkin and Maurice Bullick have all been appointed to serve for a first term.

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) is responsible for the delivery of water and sewerage services across Northern Ireland. The NIW Board provides independent judgement on issues of strategy, performance, governance and executive appointments.

The appointments are effective from 1 February 2020 and will be for a period of up to four years

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) thank the outgoing Non-Executive Members, John Rae, Kingsley Donaldson, Trisha McAuley and James McCall for the valuable contribution they have made to NIW during their tenure.

Notes to editors: 

1. The appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.
2. Northern Ireland Water (NIW) is established as a government owned company (The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is the sole shareholder).  It operates under a Companies Act.  The articles of association state that the Board shall consist of no more than 10 Non-Executive Members including the Chair.
3. The Board currently has a membership of a Chair, five Non-Executive Members and four Executive Members.  The Non-Executive Members currently receive remuneration of £18,000 per annum.
4. All appointments are 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.  All five appointees have declared that they have not undertaken any political activities.
5. The decision on these appointments was taken by the Department for Infrastructure Permanent Secretary in December 2019 under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise Functions) Act 2018.
6. The Department for Infrastructure does not reappoint board members automatically to a second term.  All appointments are made through open competition.  An outgoing Non-Executive Board Member who has served one four year term is eligible to apply through the open competition for a second term.

Biographies

7. Peter McNaney CBE has served on the NI Water Board since 2015. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and nominated Senior Independent Director.  He is a solicitor by profession and served as Chief Executive of Belfast City Council for 13 years, retiring in 2014. He is currently Chair of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and receives remuneration of £36 000 per annum.  Mr McNaney will bring the following skills and knowledge to the NIW role, corporate governance and performance management, developing and delivering strategy, working in partnership/stakeholder engagement and organisational change.
8. Ms Belinda Oldfield is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).  She has over 25 years’ experience in the water industry in Scotland and is currently the General Manager for Revenue and Corporate Risk at Scottish Water.  Ms Oldfield is a Non-Executive Director with Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and member of the Risk and Assurance Committee for which she receives remuneration of £10,000 per annum.  She chairs the Institute of Water Scottish Area Committee and is a member of the ICE Scottish Public Voice Committee.  Ms Oldfield will bring the following skills and knowledge to the NIW role, corporate governance and performance management, developing and delivery strategy, working in partnership/stakeholder engagement and utility regulation.
9. Mr Patrick Larkin is an Engineering Graduate from Queen’s University Belfast.  Since 2010 he has been Chief Executive of Mutual Energy Ltd.  He was previously Chief Executive of Premier Power, a subsidiary of the BG Group and owner of Ballylumford Power Station and spent time in Engineering and Commercial roles in the Company. Mr Larkin will bring the following skills and knowledge to the NIW role, utility regulation, corporate governance and performance management, developing and delivery strategy and working in partnership/stakeholder engagement.
10. Mr Maurice Bullick is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, and is currently Finance and Compliance Director of Belfast Harbour Commissioners.  He is Honorary Treasurer and Council Member of the British Ports Association, and a former Co Opted Member of the NI Water Audit and Risk Committees.  Mr Bullick will bring the following skills and knowledge to the NIW role, corporate governance and performance management, developing and delivering strategy, working in partnership/stakeholder engagement and financial management.
11. Ms Marie-Thérèse McGivern is currently Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Metropolitan College until March 2020 when she retires.  Prior to that, she was Director of Development at Belfast City Council where she was responsible for economic development, arts, tourism, events and community services.  She is Chair of Maritime Belfast and also Chair for the Employability and Skills Advisory Board for the £10b Belfast Region City Deal.  She is a Non-Executive Director of the Strategic Investment Board for Northern Ireland for which she receives £11,000 per annum.  Ms McGivern will bring the following skills and knowledge to the NIW role, corporate governance and performance management, developing and delivery strategy, working in partnership/stakeholder engagement and organisational change.
12. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or e-mail: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 90372110.
13. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

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