Invest NI Board Appointments April 2026
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Members
Fiona Derry
Fiona brings strong commercial leadership and hands-on operational experience to Invest Northern Ireland, alongside a deep understanding of supply chains and cross-border trade.
As Co-Owner and Director of Derry Group Ireland, Fiona operates across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with a footprint in Armagh, Dublin and Cork. Through this role, she has developed expert knowledge in the movement of goods across both jurisdictions and east–west trade, working closely with producers, retailers, logistics providers and wider supply chain partners.
Her experience provides a practical insight into the challenges and opportunities facing businesses, including navigating regulatory requirements, maintaining resilient supply chains, and supporting growth across domestic and export markets. She brings a clear understanding of operating in a complex trading environment and the importance of competitiveness and adaptability and she has shown leadership in bringing the issues of business to government from Stormont and Whitehall, to Brussels.
A qualified solicitor, Fiona holds degrees from University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast. Her legal background complements her commercial experience, bringing strong governance, analytical and strategic capability.
Fiona is committed to supporting sustainable economic growth, creating opportunities for young people, and strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy for future generations.
She does not hold any other public appointments.
Emma Garrett
Emma has over 20 years’ experience in enterprise development and economic growth across Northern Ireland, spanning grassroots delivery through to strategic leadership and governance.
As Chief Executive of Mallusk Enterprise Park, she leads a social enterprise supporting over 60 SMEs and start-ups, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, business growth and regional economic development. She has extensive experience working with early-stage entrepreneurs, micro-businesses and scaling SMEs, as well as designing and delivering enterprise support programmes that drive growth and competitiveness.
She has significant board and governance experience, currently serving as a Director of Enterprise Northern Ireland, where she has been elected twice and contributes to strategic oversight through governance and future structures committees. She is also a member of her local Labour Market Partnership and Local Enterprise Partnership boards, providing insight into skills development, workforce challenges and regional economic priorities.
Her experience spans both operational delivery and strategic influence, with a particular interest in aligning skills development, entrepreneurship and economic growth. She has led organisational transformation, strengthening financial sustainability, governance frameworks and long-term growth planning within a social enterprise context.
She is committed to supporting inclusive economic growth and strengthening Northern Ireland’s enterprise ecosytem.
She does not hold any other public appointments.
Peter Lynch
Peter is the CEO of the West Belfast Partnership Board which, is a Belfast Area Partnership, a registered charity, a community development organisation, a social economy and a company limited by guarantee.
He has been a community activist for over 20 years and previously worked in Tar Anall and The Blackie River Community Group.
He sits on several boards including:
- The Falls Community Council.
- The Belfast Labour Market Partnership
- The Local Economic Partnership
- Belfast City Council’s Community Planning Partnership.
- Belfast City Council’s Our Planet Board.
- Belfast City Council’s Connectivity, Active & Sustainable Travel working group.
- Development Trust NI.
- NICVA, (Council for Voluntary Action).
He does not hold any other public appointments.
Mairtin O’Muilleoir
Máirtín has been involved in community media with the Belfast Media Group and Irish Echo for five decades.
A journalist and author of books both in Irish and English, he served as a Sinn Féin council member in Belfast City Hall from 1987-1997 and again from 2011-2014. He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 2013-14.
He moved to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2015 and served as Finance Minister in the Stormont Executive in 2016 before stepping back from front-line politics in December 2020.
He is co-founder of Aisling Events which organises regular transatlantic conferences including the New York-New Belfast Conference and the Belfast International Homecoming.
Máirtín is a graduate of QUB and the proud recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, USA.
He is married to Helen O'Hare and they have four grown up children.
He does not hold any other public appointments.
Andrew Webb
Andrew brings over 25 years’ experience in economic policy, strategy and investment, working with governments, economic development agencies and private sector clients across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
A former business owner and most recently Chief Economist at Grant Thornton, he is Managing Director, Economics at OCO Global, where he leads the firm’s economic advisory practice. His work focuses on regional growth strategy, investment appraisal, sector development and public policy evaluation, supporting major investment programmes and place-based economic strategies.
Andrew is Chair of Belfast City Centre Management and a board member of Action Renewables Energy Trading, and serves as a Parent Governor at Ashfield Girls’ High School. He has also held a range of advisory roles across economic development and regeneration, with experience supporting net zero and sustainability-related initiatives.
He is a regular commentator on economic issues, contributing analysis on regional growth, infrastructure, trade and investment across broadcast and print media.
Andrew holds a BA (Hons) in Economics and a Masters in Applied Economics.
He does not hold any other public appointments.