Pen pictures of members of boards of Further Education colleges whose terms of office have been extended.
Belfast Metropolitan College
Wendy Gillies
Mrs Wendy Gillies is currently Programme Director Belfast Destination Hub, for Belfast City Council. Prior to this she was Head of Social Affairs and Communication for the Odyssey Trust. Before that she headed up East Belfast's Connswater Community Greenway from inception to delivery. She is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and has an extensive background in finance, operations, regeneration and project management. She was awarded social entrepreneur of the year in 2010. She has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Mrs Gillies does not currently hold any other public appointments.
John McGrillen
Mr John McGrillen is CEO of Tourism NI. He was formerly Director of Development at Belfast City Council, and prior to that Chief Executive of Down District Council. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast and also holds an MSc in Engineering Computation and an MBA in International Business. He has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Mr McGrillen is also a Board Member of Tourism Ireland.
Northern Regional College
David Lennox
Dr David Lennox is a civil servant and has experience of the development and implementation of strategies and policies in the public sector as well as a range of corporate functions, including the sponsorship of arm's length bodies. He previously held a joint appointment as a lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Food Science in Queen's University Belfast whilst working in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Dr Lennox a former chair of the Abbeyfield & Wesley Housing Association and the BBC Northern Ireland Appeals Advisory Committee. He is a former Fulbright Fellow and has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Dr Lennox does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Isobel Allison
Mrs Isobel Allison is an HR specialist with over 15 years’ experience of leading HR strategy in commercial organisations within private, public and charitable sectors across UK and Ireland. Mrs Allison does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Gillian McConnell
Mrs Gillian McConnell is an Architect. Following her studies, she worked at Building Design Partnership’s Belfast office for 12 years, contributing to prestigious projects such as the George Best Belfast City Airport and Victoria Square Regeneration Project. During that time, she also sat on the company’s Quality of Life Committee for 3 years.
Following a short career break to devote time to her family she pursued an interest in Autism Spectrum Disorders and the intrinsic difficulties faced by children in mainstream educational settings. She now works in the school system supporting pupils with High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.
She has undertaken studies not only of the Fundamentals of Autism, but also Females with Autism, Autism and Adolescence, Comorbidity of Autism and ADHD, the Prevalence of Anxiety in Autism and the Development of Social Skills in Autistic Pupils. Mrs McConnell does not currently hold any other public appointments.
North West Regional College
Gavin Killeen
Mr Gavin Killeen was educated at Foyle and Londonderry College and has been Managing Director of Nuprint Technologies Ltd since 2004 having joined the business in 1997 as General Manager. Specialising in supplying the Food, Beverage and Manufacturing sectors with labels and flexible packaging. Nuprint lists many Global leading companies as customers. Major investment in both people and equipment have allowed Nuprint to transform itself to become a design led producer of packaging to world-class companies internationally for which it has been awarded many local, regional and national awards.
Mr Killeen is actively involved in the Education and Skills agenda. He is a Co-Chair, along with the Mayor, of the Derry City Strabane District Council-Strategic Growth Plan since 2016. He has chaired the Council’s Education and Skills Implementation Group since 2009 and has been a member of the DfE Minister’s Expert Panel reviewing Apprenticeships and Youth Training.
Mr Killeen is past President of both the local Rotary Club (2012-2013) and the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce (2016). He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry in March 2018. He is a Vice President of the City of Derry Rugby club. He has been a member of the Governing Body since August 2011, and is currently Vice Chair. Mr Killeen does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Samuel McGregor
Mr Samuel McGregor is a former director of Development Services, Leisure and Tourism at Limavady Borough Council. In this role he had responsibility for policy formation and corporate planning. He is a member of the Governing Body of
St Finlough’s Primary School in Ballykelly and Limavady/Vigneux-sur-Seine Twinning Committee. He has been a member of the Governing Body since August 2011. Mr McGregor does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Martin O’Kane
Mr Martin O’Kane has worked in the fields of education and disability for over 20 years. His current post is as UK Head of Employment Services with the Royal National Institute of Blind People. He has led on the design and development of a range of programmes and services aimed at improving the skills and abilities of people who are blind or partially sighted to find and retain employment.
He comments:
“I have a particular interest in removing barriers to education for people with disabilities. Although my work focuses on the particular challenges that sight loss can bring to education, all students encounter barriers of some sort throughout their learning. Overcoming these barriers is greatly improved by having the right people and resources in place to support students every step of the way in helping them to achieve successful and fulfilling careers. The FE sector plays a very important role in making that happen.”
Mr O’Kane does not currently hold any other public appointments.
South Eastern Regional College
Neil Bodger
Mr Neil Bodger is currently a member of the NI Social Care Council, the regulatory body for the social care workforce in Northern Ireland, a role for which he receives £6,559 per annum. He was previously a member of the Board of Governors at Stranmillis University College, and has held various Board positions including as Chair of the Education Authority Appeals Tribunals, formerly Southern Education & Library Board, and a Trustee of National Museums, Northern Ireland. He has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. In December 2018, Mr Bodger was appointed as a member of the Probation Board Northern Ireland, a role for which he is remunerated at £5,050 per annum. Mr Bodger was appointed as a member of the Board of Libraries NI in July 2019, a role for which he is remunerated at £3,000 per annum.
Heather Reid
Mrs Heather Reid is a retired Grammar School Head teacher with over thirty-five years’ service in Education. She is experienced in Curriculum Development, Pastoral Care, Safeguarding, Special Education Needs, Resource Management and Policy Development. Mrs Reid has been involved across the Secondary, Comprehensive and Grammar sectors of Post Primary provision. Her Governance experience in the public sector at School, College, and Further Education level spans over thirty years. As Chair of one of the Area Learning Communities she was engaged in activities to encourage a more collaborative approach between schools and Further Education Colleges. Within the Area of Human Resources she has experience in the recruitment and selection of teaching, lecturing and senior staff and she has chaired Disciplinary Committees. In the Voluntary sector Mrs Reid has been a Governor and has held the position of Chair of an Area Management Committee for a Charity since 2012.
Mrs Reid continues to be engaged within the world of Education and Training, she Chairs Independent Appeals Tribunals addressing Expulsion, Curriculum, and School Admissions at Nursery, Primary and Post Primary level. She has an interest in and works with students requiring special access arrangements for examinations. Mrs Reid does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Southern Regional College
Andrew Saunders
Mr Andrew Saunders is an employee of the Ulster Bank Group and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors UK and Ireland. He assumed the Chairmanship of Governing Body in August 2011. Prior to this he was a member of the College’s Governing Body since its formation in August 2007. Mr Saunders does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Gordon Gough
Mr Gordon Gough is the former Chief Executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland. He now runs his own consultancy business specialising in mentoring SMEs and 3rd sector organisations. His charitable activities include Chairman of Brain Injury Matters NI and member of the BBC Children in Need Northern Ireland Appeals committee. An MBA graduate from the Open University, he also holds an MSc in Human Resource Management and he is also a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and a past Chairman of the Northern Ireland branch. He has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Mr Gough does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Nicola Wilson
Mrs Nicola Wilson is the Head of Department: Economic Development with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. She is responsible for leading on the Council’s economic growth agenda. Key priorities include enterprise development, investing in the Borough, connectivity and international trade. Mrs Wilson does not currently hold any other public appointments.
South West College
Margaret Martin
Mrs Margaret Martin has spent all of her professional life in education and was Principal of St Catherine’s College, Armagh for 15 years. She has served on many educational bodies including the Post-Primary Review Working Party, the BBC Education Councils NI & UK, the Council of CCEA, the Area-Based Planning Strategy Group and the Review of Home to School Transport. She is a trustee of Gaelscoil Aodh Rua, Dungannon and consultant to Gaelcholáiste Dhoire. Mrs Martin is currently the Network Co-ordinator for Sacred Heart Schools. She served on the executive of Trócaire, the radio authority of RTE, the management committee of the trauma organisation RAFT and chaired the board of Foras na Gaeilge for 8 years. She has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Mrs Martin does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Monica McGeary
Mrs Monica McGeary is owner and manager of Source Business Leads, a lead generation, appointment setting and market research company based in Edendork. Employing seven staff, the business has been in operation for the past 19 years. She previously worked as a Director of International Operations and Client Business Development with the Frantz Group in Wisconsin, USA for five years. She is also part of Enterprise Ireland’s mentor panel, offering sales development and export marketing insight to businesses across Ireland. She has been a member of the Parent Support Group in her local primary school for the last 15 years. She has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Mrs McGeary does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Gerard O’Hanlon
Mr Gerard O’Hanlon is Project Manager for Change and Performance Management with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, implementing the introduction of new ways of working and lean management methodologies. He is a former Director and Senior Consultant at Stredia, a risk management consultancy specialising in the management of workplace stress, and has led a large number of workplace stress reduction projects in both the public and private sectors. He is also a member and past president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce. He has been a member of the governing body since August 2011. Mr O’Hanlon does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Michael Skuce
Mr Michael Skuce was a career police officer for 30 years, retiring in November 2010. Prior to his retirement, his last post was as District Commander of the South West region, incorporating Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the Mid Ulster District Council. In this role he was responsible for the delivery of all policing services and was accountable for a budget of £32 million. He also had responsibility for delivering a significant change programme which introduced a new style of community policing. Since his retirement, Mr Skuce has been working with his son in the development and growth of his engineering business, providing support and guidance in areas including human resources, finance and business planning. He is also an active member of Derrygonnelly and District Community Partnership. He has been a member of the governing body since August 2011 and is currently Vice Chair. Mr Skuce does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Peter Archdale
Mr Peter Archdale served in the Royal Navy until his retirement in 2006. He was previously Vice Chairman of Council for Nature Conservation & the Countryside (CNCC), statutory advisory council to Department of Environment and currently Chair of a local charity. Mr Archdale does not currently hold any other public appointments.