Extension of Chair Appointments for the Boards of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners and Belfast Harbour Commissioners

The Department for Infrastructure has announced that the appointment terms of Ms Bonnie Anley, Chair of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners (LPHC) and Dr David Dobbin, Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC) have been extended.

This is with effect from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.

These extensions have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.

Notes to editors: 

1. Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners is a Public Trust Port established by legislation. The Commissioners have responsibility, under a series of Harbour Acts and Orders, for developing, maintaining and operating Foyle Port to the highest standards of efficiency, financial prudence, environmental awareness, safety and security to the benefit of all stakeholders. The Constitution of the Commissioners was established under the Londonderry Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 (No 41).
2. Bonnie Anley has corporate and financial governance experience which spans the public, private and third sectors.  She spent 18 years working commercially in the transport sector as a Company Director at Warrenpoint Port.  She was appointed Chair of LPHC on 8 February 2014. Bonnie is a committee member with the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland Committee. She is also a Chartered Director and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
3. The Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners currently have a membership of a Chair, an Executive Member and seven Non Executive Members. The Chair of the Commissioners currently receives remuneration of £25,657 per annum.
4. The Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners was first constituted by the Belfast Harbour Act 1847 as a corporate body with the underlying purpose of operating, maintaining and improving the Port of Belfast. The powers and duties of the Board are limited to those conferred by the various Belfast Harbour Acts and Orders 1847-2002, and any relevant public general Acts such as the Harbours Act (NI) 1970.  In common with other Northern Ireland and Great Britain ports similarly constituted, the Port of Belfast is generally referred to as a ‘Trust Port’. The Constitution of the Commissioners is set out in Schedule 1 of the Belfast Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.
5. Dr Dobbin CBE is the former Group Chief Executive of Dale Farm, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative.  He has extensive commercial experience and knowledge of port activities at both user and operator level. He has been actively involved in regional economic development and regeneration and as served as Chairman in a number of public, private and voluntary sector organisations including the Strategic Investment Board, IntertradeIreland, Ulster Rugby, the Prince’s Trust and the Confederation of British Industry Northern Ireland. He has also served as a member of the Invest NI and the Local Enterprise Development Unit boards.
6. The Belfast Harbour Commissioners currently have a membership of a Chair, an Executive Member and twelve Non Executive Members. The Chair currently receives remuneration of £47,278 per annum.
7. 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.  Ms Anley and Dr Dobbin have declared that they have not undertaken any recent political activity.
8. The Department for Infrastructure does not reappoint board members automatically to a second term. All appointments are made through open competition.
9. These are extensions rather than a re-appointments.
10. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.  Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 028 9037 8110 and your call will be returned.
11. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra

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