Reappointments to governing bodies of North West Regional College and South West College

Topics:

Further education

Reappointments to serve a Second Four Year Term

North West Regional College

Mr Brian O’Neill

Brian is the Director of Development and Enterprise at Enterprise North West, a leading enterprise agency specialising in business support, economic development and social enterprise development in north-west Ireland.

Prior to joining Enterprise North West, he worked for an American multinational engineering company in a number of roles.

Brian plays an active role in the economic development agenda across the North West and to support ongoing engagement with enterprise stakeholders, he has held several strategic positions within local, regional and national bodies and organisations. He is currently a member of the DfE Social Enterprise Action Plan Co-Design Group and the DCSDC Local Economic Partnership.

As an experienced business consultant, Brian specialises in business planning & strategy, social enterprise, coaching, entrepreneurship, governance, strategic planning and partnership working. He has extensive experience of working on boards and is currently a voluntary member of the Board of Directors of two local social enterprises, as well as of the national economic and physical regeneration body, Development Trusts Northern Ireland. Brian is currently chair of the North West Community Wealth Building Partnership.

Brian does not hold any other public appointments.

Mr Frederick Smyth

Fred is a Chartered Accountant and experienced finance consultant with extensive non‑executive experience across the public, voluntary, and private sectors. He has held a range of senior roles in Corporate and Business Banking, leading teams through change, overseeing business performance and risk management.

Fred is an accredited mediator, mentors a range of businesses and seeks to develop collaborative relationships for organisations, and communities. He is a non-executive Board member of the Business Services Organisation (remuneration of £6,332 per annum and a time commitment of three days per month) and a non-executive member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (remuneration of £7,404 per annum and a time commitment of a minimum of two days per month), both are public bodies within the Department of Health. He is also a non-executive of Social Finance UK, the charity Include Youth, and related social enterprise, Viable Limited.

Fred’s previous roles include serving on the Board of the Children’s Court Guardian Agency NI and acting as Vice‑Chair of the Simon Community.

South West College

Dr Frances Campbell

Frances is the Northern Ireland Director and Head of Research at the Community Transport Association. With a career predominantly focused in the community and voluntary sector, she specialises in outcomes-driven research and evaluation.

Frances holds a PhD in Health Science from the University of Ulster and has significant expertise in developing impact frameworks and supporting organisations to demonstrate meaningful, evidence-based change. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive and participatory approaches, ensuring that people’s voices shape decision-making and that research is grounded in lived experience.

Frances has been a member of the Governing Body of South West College since July 2022.

Frances does not hold any other public appointments.

Mr Brian Ingram OBE

Brian was the Director of Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre within the Youth Justice Agency until his retirement in 2020. Prior to this, he was a Senior Manager in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, working with vulnerable adults preparing them for resettlement into the community and enabling them to develop life skills and qualifications for employment.

Brian is highly experienced in organisational development, corporate governance and leadership. He has an MSc in Criminology and was awarded an OBE in the 2018 Queen’s New Year Honours in recognition for his work with vulnerable adults and young people.

Brian is also a member of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and Chairperson of The Cithrah Foundation which is a charity supporting women, men and children subjected to domestic abuse. He has been a member of the Governing Body of South West College since July 2022.