Appointment of interim members to governing body of Northern Regional College

Paula Leitch BA (HONS) P.G.C.E., D.A.S.E., M.Ed, PQH (NI)

Ms Leitch is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and been involved in the education sector for over 40 years. She has experience working as a teacher and Assistant Principal in a large urban secondary school. Ms Leitch also had a period of secondment with the Education Training Inspectorate and participated in the scheme tutoring P.G.C.E. students preparing for secondary teaching. 

Ms Leitch has been a Teacher Governor of a large secondary school for 10 years and a member of the former Belfast Education and Library Board now known as the Education Authority (EA). She has served on a range of committees such as Audit & Risk, Finance and Education. 

She is currently a member of the CCEA Council and a Director of the Controlled Schools Council (not remunerated). She was appointed to the Governing Body of Stranmillis University College from 1 April 2023 for a period of four years. She is currently a Member of the Education and Audit & Risk Committee.

David Nichol

Mr Nichol is a lifelong trade unionist and has a proven record of advocating for workers’ rights.

Appointed to his current role within the Employment Relations and Union Services Directorate of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, he plays a leading role across the United Kingdom in relation to Health and Safety.  

Mr Nichol spent most his working life with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services (NIFRS), retiring from his role as a senior operational officer in 2023. Mr Nicholl was an active member and representative of the Fire Brigades Union elected to the role of Regional Official leading on Health, Safety and Welfare. On becoming a senior officer within NIFRS he stood down from his union role but remained an active member and supporter of the trade union movement.  

Mr Nicholl was supported by Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress Trade Unions for the role as a representative of employees and will be a voice for trade unions on the board.

He is currently a Board member of the Health and Safety Executive for NI and a member of their Audit and Risk Committee.

Sam Snodden

Mr Snodden is a Chartered Accountant. He trained in a major Belfast firm of chartered accountants before running his own professional accountancy practice. Mr Snodden then spent 23 years working in the Health Service in a range of senior finance posts, including Director of Finance for the Southern Health and Social Services Board. Mr Snodden was also foremost in the development of corporate governance in the Health Service for a number of years. Mr Snodden was also a Non-Executive Director with the Consumer Council Northern Ireland and chaired their Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. He was also an independent member of the NI Chest Heart and Stroke Association’s Audit and Risk Committee. 

As a Governor for Belfast Metropolitan College from December 2015, Mr Snodden was Chair of the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee and a Member of the Human Resources Committee as well as being a Director for Springvale Educational Village Limited. 

Outside of work Mr Snodden was involved as a member of a number of committees for the Chartered Accountants Ireland Ulster Society and was chair of their public sector group. 

Mr Snodden was appointed to the Governing Body of Stranmillis University College from 1 April 2023 for a period of four years. He is also a Member of the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee (Chair from 1 July 2023).