Governing Body Chairs appointed at Northern Regional College and South West College

The Department for the Economy has appointed Ms Joy Allen as Chair of the Governing Body of Northern Regional College and Dr Nicholas O’Shiel as Chair of the Governing Body of South West College.

The appointments of both Ms Allen and Dr O’Shiel are effective from 7 January 2019 and are for a period of four years.

Notes to editors: 

1. Northern Regional College and South West College are two of the six Northern Ireland further education colleges. The governing body of a further education college is responsible for securing the efficient and effective management of the college, the provision of suitable further education to its students and determining the college’s strategic direction. In sustaining and developing its services, the governing body takes into account the educational needs of the business sector and the local community.

2. Appointments to further education college governing bodies are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice which can be found at: CPANI Code of Practice.

3. Appointments to the governing bodies of further education colleges are remunerated. The post of Chair carries a rate of remuneration of £20,000 per annum. Travel and subsistence allowances are also payable at Northern Ireland Civil Service rates.

4. Ms Joy Allen is Managing Director of Leading Governance Ltd, a training and professional services business launched in 2013 providing support to boards and directors in the private, public and voluntary sectors across the UK and Ireland.  She is a Chartered Director, following completion of the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction, and has been a specialist in corporate governance and board effectiveness for 15 years. During this time she has worked with a large number of boards conducting reviews of board effectiveness and using training, facilitation, coaching and mediation to support development.  She delivers training on behalf of the Institute of Directors on its Certificate in Company Direction, and is the holder of a range of qualifications in her areas of professional expertise including an MSc in Executive Leadership and ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring. She has won two National Training Awards for her work. Ms Allen has significant experience of board membership in the public, private and social enterprise sector, as both member and Chair.  She is currently chair of the board of Morrow Communications Ltd (since 2015), a member of the Insolvency Licensing Committee of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has recently joined the board of Ashton Community Trust in North Belfast. She recently stepped down from the board of Alzheimer’s Society (UK) after four years’ service.

5. Dr Nicholas O’Shiel is currently Chairman of Enterprise Northern Ireland, a network of 28 Enterprise Agencies across Northern Ireland, and is also Chief Executive of Omagh Enterprise Company. He has held this latter role for a period of over 20 years, and is responsible to the Board for the leadership, strategic positioning and financial performance of the company.  Former roles include President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Omagh Local Partnership and Chairman of Omagh Business Forum.  He also represented the business sector on the Fermanagh and Omagh Council Community Plan group. In recognition of his achievements in business, Dr O’Shiel is a recipient of the Queen’s Award for outstanding contribution to enterprise. He was previously a Governor of South West College, and during his tenure served as Chair of the Education and Curriculum Committee and as a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, and holds both a Doctorate and Masters in Management.   

6. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Neither Ms Allen nor Dr O’Shiel have carried out any political activity in the past five years.

7. For media enquiries, please contact DfE Press Office on 028 9052 9604. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110 and your call will be returned.

8. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI.

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