Department for the Economy public appointments

DfE current vacancies

None.

Why apply for a public appointment?

In this video, Sheila McClelland explains how she developed her skills further by applying for a public appointment.

The benefits of a public appointment

In this video, Frank Bryan (former chair of Belfast Metropolitan College) discusses the many personal benefits associated with public appointments.

For more information on the role of a public appointee, please see the following article by Marie Mallon, former chairperson of the Labour Relations Agency:

Public bodies sponsored by DfE

The department sponsors a number of public bodies. Appointments to these bodies are made by the Minister for the Economy. 

Regulated appointments – appointments within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for NI (CPANI)

Information on the role of CPANI is on its CPANI website.

Public body Web link Board information
The Certification Officer for Northern Ireland NI Certification Officer website

NICO website

Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland CITB website

CITB board

Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Consumer Council website Consumer Council board information
The Governing Bodies of Northern Ireland's six colleges of further education FE colleges information on nidirect
The Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland HSE NI website

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland InvestNI website

Invest Northern Ireland

The Labour Relations Agency LRA website

Labour Relations Agency

Northern Ireland Screen NI Screen website

NI Screen board

St. Mary's College St Mary's College website

St. Mary's College board

Stranmillis College Stranmillis College website

Stranmillis College

Tourism Northern Ireland TourismNI website TNI board information

Appointments within the spirit of the CPANI Code (Unregulated)

Public body Web link
Re-instatement Committee for Reserve Forces in Civil Employment No website
The Industrial Court The Industrial Court website
Office of the Industrial Tribunals and The Fair Employment Tribunals OITFET website 

Becoming a public appointee

You can find out more about becoming a public appointee including information on the application and interview process on the nidirect website. 

Upcoming vacancies

The “All Aboard” newsletter published by the Executive Office (TEO) provides an overview of public appointments coming up over the next six months across the whole of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. 

Recent appointments and competitions

The table below shows appointments made and competitions launched in the past two years.

Date Appointments/competitions
15 October 2024 Minister Murphy reappoints members to the board of NI Screen
4 September 2024

Re-appointment of Chair and four members to the Labour Relations Agency Board

22 July 2024

Murphy reappoints members to the board of Stranmillis University College

28 June 2024

Minister appoints members to South Eastern Regional College Governing Body

27 June 2024

Economy Minister announces appointments to the Board of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

26 June 2024

Appointment of new Chair to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

1 February 2024 SERC appointment of three new governing body members
1 February 2024

Public appointment of new Chair of Invest Northern Ireland

12 December 2023 Secretary of State announces appointment of three members to the Board of Tourism Northern Ireland
28 November 2023 Reappointment to the board of Northern Ireland Screen
4 October 2023 Reappointment of members to board of Stranmillis University College
4 October 2023

The Secretary of State announces four new appointments to the Labour Relations Agency

21 September 2023 Temporary governing body chair appointed at Belfast Metropolitan College
11 September 2023 Secretary of State announces appointment of five members to the Board of Tourism Northern Ireland
1 August 2023

Appointment of governing body member to Belfast Metropolitan College

11 July 2023

Appointment of governing body members to five further education colleges

27 June 2023

New Chair and members appointed to Northern Ireland Skills Council

24 May 2023

Extension to the term of Northern Ireland Screen board member

4 May 2023

Industrial Court appointments announced

28 April 2023 New members appointed to board of Stranmillis University College
20 April 2023

Reappointments to the Board of Invest NI

27 February 2023

Appointment of Interim Chair to the Board of Invest NI

8 November 2022 New members appointed to the SEM Committee
19 October 2022 Lyons appoints Governing Body members to FE colleges
05 August 2022 Lyons announces appointments to board of Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland
28 July 2022 Lyons announces Invest NI Board appointments
18 July 2022 New Chair of Tourism NI
4 July 2022 Lyons appoints Governing Body Chairs at further education colleges
20 June 2022 Lyons appoints new Certification Officer for Northern Ireland
17 June 2022 Lyons appoints temporary Governing Body Chair at North West Regional College 
14 June 2022

Lyons announces public body extension at Stranmillis University College

31 March 2022

New board member appointed to the Labour Relations Agency

30 March 2022

Reappointments to the board of Northern Ireland Screen

8 February 2022

Lyons announces new Chair to Northern Ireland Screen

28 January 2022

Economy Minister announces public appointment extensions

24 January 2022

Lyons appoints governing body members to five further education colleges

5 January 2022

Appointment of Chairperson to the Governing Body of Stranmillis University College

16 September 2021

Competition to appoint a new Chairperson to Stranmillis University College Governing Body

26 August 2021

Public appointment competition for Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland board members

Privacy notice

How we handle personal information is set out in our privacy notice:

Complaints procedure

The Public Appointments Unit (PAU) within the Department for Economy is committed to the principles of public appointments as set out in the Commissioner for Public Appointments (CPANI) code of Practice.

Contact the DfE Public Appointments Unit

The department has a dedicated Public Appointments Unit which co-ordinates the public appointments process. For general queries or to register your interest in upcoming vacancies visit our contact page:

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