Non-Executive Board Members appointed by the Department for Infrastructure
Date published:
The Department for Infrastructure has announced the appointment of three Non-Executive Board Members.
Mary O’Dwyer and Trevor Conway have been appointed as Non-Executive Board Members (NEBM) to the Departmental Board. Kathy Graham has been appointed to the Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) Board.
Mary O’Dwyer will also Chair the Department’s Audit & Risk Assurance Committee and Kathy Graham will Chair the DVA Audit & Risk Assurance Committee.
The primary role of a NEBM is to contribute to good governance of the organisation. Non-Executive Board Members offer constructive challenge across the organisation’s business with a view to ensuring that all aspects of strategy and delivery of policy are scrutinised for effectiveness and efficiency.
All three appointments are for a period of three years effective from 23 July 2018.
Notes to editors:
- Trevor Conway was employed in BT from 1976 to 2011 in various roles from apprentice to senior management, his final position being Chair of the BT Openreach Commercial Board with responsibility for the commercial governance of BT’s £2.5 Billion investment in UK Broadband. In 2013 to January 2018 he was appointed to the Board of Fold Housing Association as a Non-Executive Director and assisted in the merger of Fold and Helm Housing to form Radius, Northern Irelands largest Housing Association. He currently holds no public appointments.
- Mary O’Dwyer has some 25 years’ experience in senior finance roles both within the private and public sectors, since qualifying as a chartered accountant. Her career started in public accounting practice in Edinburgh, attaining membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, followed by a further three years in Auckland, New Zealand. In Northern Ireland she has extensive experience in the food processing industry, the textiles industry and most recently the world of regeneration, having been Head of Finance at Ilex Urban Regeneration Company Limited, the regeneration company for Derry~Londonderry. She currently works with JMG Systems Ltd, specialists in the design, manufacture and support of electrical control panels, and with several private investment companies. Mary served as a governor of Lumen Christi College and board member of The Playhouse where she was also chair of the Audit Committee. She does not hold any public appointments at present.
- Kathy Graham is a graduate of Queens University Belfast and possesses a Masters in Occupational Psychology from the London Metropolitan University. She has 20 years of experience working with public, private, community and voluntary organisations. Prior to establishing Kathy Graham Strategies Ltd, she was Director of Policy at the Consumer Council. Here she led policy work in regulated and unregulated industries including Energy, Transport, Post, Water and Money Affairs, as well as leading on consumer service development and delivery. She is a member of Mutual Energy and an Associate with the Consultation Institute. She is a Trustee and Non-Executive Director of Age NI and Age NI Enterprises in a voluntary capacity. She also holds a public appointment as she is a member of the Ofcom Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland which attracts remuneration of £3,000 per annum.
- Non-Executive Board Members are paid an attendance fee of £500 per day. The time commitment is typically 20 days annually.
- All appointments are made on merit. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public. Mary O’Dwyer has declared that she has canvassed on behalf of the Alliance Party in the last five years. Trevor Conway and Kathy Graham have declared no political activity.
- 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 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.
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