Pen pictures
Ken Nelson MBE
Ken has extensive involvement in economic development and entrepreneurship as chief executive of Local Economic Development Company (LEDCOM) Ltd.
Ken has over 27 years’ experience working as a business advisor, mentor and trainer with entrepreneurs, start-up companies, small businesses and social enterprises. In 2010 he was the sole Northern Ireland recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. Ken is a voluntary member of the board of directors of three social enterprises. He has a BA in Business Studies, MBA and MSc in Human Resource Management as well as being a Chartered Manager (CMgr) and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI).
In 2018 Ken was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours for services to local economic development and the voluntary sector.
Ken is a member of the governing body of Stranmillis University College (non-remunerated, travel and subsistence expenses only). He has been a member of the Board of Invest Northern Ireland since April 2012 and in December 2016, he was appointed as Chairman of InterTradeIreland by the North South Ministerial Council.
Dr Gerard O'Hare CBE DL FRICS
Gerard is currently Chair and MD of Parker Green International, a property company with an extensive portfolio of Irish, UK and international investments. He is also a visiting professor at the Ulster University School of the Built Environment and the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Design, USA.
Dr O’Hare was awarded a CBE in 2010 for his involvement in and dedication to the championing of public private partnerships and urban regeneration. Gerard has been involved in a range of local activities in the Newry and South Down area. He is a former President of the Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade. Dr O’Hare chaired Tall Ships Belfast 2009 and 2015 and is currently on a number of boards including Belfast Harbour Commissioners (remunerated at £12,300 per annum), Business in the Community and the Northern Ireland Prince's Trust.
He has been a member of the Board of Invest Northern Ireland since April 2012 and is also a Founding Trustee of the Air Ambulance for Northern Ireland.
Scott Rutherford
Scott joined Queen’s University as Director of Research and Enterprise in November 2010. He provides strategic oversight for the development of the research base and the delivery of knowledge exchange activities both within the region and beyond. Before joining Queen’s, Scott spent several years at Imperial College London leading academic research activities within the Faculty of Medicine and more broadly as Research Office Head and Programme Director, Business Intelligence.
During his time at Imperial College, Scott also oversaw the successful delivery of a number of major projects to support research development and commercialisation.
Scott has also held a number of posts within research strategy and policy development, working for the Medical Research Council and for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, where latterly he played a key role in developing the Research Excellence Framework programme. Scott is a member of the Northern Ireland MATRIX Panel, the Catalyst Inc Leadership Group and holds an undergraduate degree in English and Geography from the University of Keele and an MBA from Imperial College London. Most recently, Scott has been involved in helping secure a City Deal for the Belfast region and continues to be heavily involved the innovation strand of the City Deal.
He has been a member of the Board of Invest Northern Ireland since April 2012 and he does not hold any other public appointments.