Public Appointments – Chairperson and Board members to the Education Authority

The Department of Education has announced an extension to the appointment of the Chairperson and also the appointment of 12 members to the Board of the Education Authority. Nine are current members of the Board with three new Board members being appointed.

Chairperson

Ms Sharon O’Connor previously served as Chairperson on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020.  She was formerly Chief Executive of Derry City Council. Ms O’Connor currently holds two other public appointments: member of the National Oversight & Audit Commission (ROI), for which she receives remuneration of €7,695 per annum and member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland, for which she receives £265 per day.  She has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past 5 years.

Members

Four persons nominated by the NI Commission for Catholic Education to represent the interests of trustees of maintained schools -

Mrs Patricia Carville OBE previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020.  She is a former school principal and has been a CCMS Council member for over 24 years (currently vice chairperson) and a Governor of a number of schools in both the primary and secondary sectors.  Mrs Carville has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and she does not currently hold any other public appointments.

Professor Muredach Dynan previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020.  He is a Member of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (NI) and a former Professor of Education, Australian Catholic University (ACU).  Dr. Dynan has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Mrs Sarah Kelly previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 2 July 2018 until 31 March 2020.  She is a retired school principal and member of the Derry Well Women Board.  Mrs Kelly currently holds one other public appointment as a member of a Board of Governors of a nursery school, for which she receives no remuneration, and has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years.

Mr Gerry Lundy previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 13 November 2017 until 31 March 2020.  He is currently a self-employed Education Advisor, member of the Board of Governors of a grammar school and is a former deputy Chief Executive of CCMS.  Mr Lundy has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Four persons nominated by the Transferor Representatives’ Council to represent the interests of transferors of controlled schools –

Reverend Amanda Adams previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020.  She is a Church of Ireland Minister in the Diocese of Connor and a Governor of a number of schools in both the primary and secondary sectors.  Rev Adams has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Miss Frances Anne Boyd is a member of the Church of Ireland Board of Education for NI, Secretary and Treasurer to the Clogher Diocesan Board of Religious Education and Secretary of the Scripture Union E3 Fermanagh and Fivemiletown District Support Team. She was Head of the RE Department in a Co Tyrone High School for 18 years and was Advisory Officer for Religious Education in the WELB for 12 years.  Miss Boyd has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Reverend Robert Herron previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020.   He is a Presbyterian Church Minister serving in Omagh, a Governor of a secondary school and a member of the Strule Main Campus Project 2 Board & the Managing Authorities Liaison Group.  Rev Herron has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Miss Rosemary Rainey OBE previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020.  She is Chairperson of the Transferor Representatives’ Council, and of the Board of Governors of a Belfast Grammar School, a member of the Board of Education, Methodist Church in Ireland and the Women’s Forum NI and past President, Association of Teachers and Lecturers.  She is also a Trustee of the Stephen Parker Memorial Trust, City of Belfast School of Music and Treasurer of a Belfast Collegiate School (former pupils’ association).  Miss Rainey currently holds one other public appointment as a member of the NI Cancer Registry CounciI, for which she receives no remuneration, and has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years.

One person nominated by Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta to represent the interests of Irish-medium schools –

Mr Liam Ó Flannagáin is a recently retired Chief Executive of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and former Chief Executive of Limavady Borough Council. He is a non-executive Director and Chairperson of the Coiste Forbartha Charn Tochair/Carntogher Community Development Association, and a former non-executive Director on the Board of the Rural Development Council. Mr Ó Flannagáin has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

One person nominated by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education to represent the interests of integrated schools –

Mr Maurice Johnston previously served as a member of the North Eastern Education and Library Board for 12 years, and worked for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for 37 years. He is currently Chairperson of the Board of Governors of an Integrated Primary School and a Director of the Limited Company.  He is a former Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education. Mr Johnston has declared that during the last five years he has undertaken political activity, canvassing on behalf of the Alliance Party at elections.

One person nominated by the Association of Controlled Grammar Schools to represent the interests of controlled grammar schools -

Mr Kieran Mulvenna previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2019 until 31 March 2020.  He is a former school principal.  He has chaired and led the Steering Group of the Carrickfergus Learning Community (CLC).  Mr Mulvenna has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

One person nominated by the Governing Bodies Association to represent the interests of voluntary grammar schools –

Sir Gerry Loughran previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2020. He is a former Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the NI Executive.  He is a Director of Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, Chairperson of the Board of Governors of a Belfast College and is engaged as a consultant by several private sector companies.  He is an executive member of the Governing Bodies Association and a member of the Queen’s University Remuneration Committee.  Sir Gerry has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Education Authority (EA) came into operation on 1 April 2015 and replaced the five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and their Staff Commission.

2. The constitution of the EA Board is set out in the Education Act (NI) 2014.  The Board comprises a Chairperson appointed by the Minister and 20 members who are nominated by a range of interests i.e. there are 12 members representing the trustees of maintained schools, transferors of controlled schools, Irish-Medium schools, integrated schools, voluntary grammar schools & controlled grammar schools, and 8 political members who are nominated by the relevant political parties.

3. The appointment of nominated members will commence on 1 April 2020 and end on 31 March 2024 (unless terminated before that time).  The annual remuneration for members on the EA Board is £8,800 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances.

4.  Media enquiries to the Department of Education’s Communications Team on press.office@education-ni.gov.uk.  Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer on 02890 378110 and your call will be returned.

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