Gildernew announces Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) appointments

Minister Michelle Gildernew MLA has announced the appointment of four new members and the re-appointment of two existing members to the Board of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

The newly appointed members, comprising Mr Trevor Hinds, Mr Seamus McCaffrey, Mr Alan McKeown and Mrs Hilda Stewart, have been appointed for a four year period. Mr Kieran Campbell and Dr Michael Hollywood have been re-appointed for a one year period to provide their expertise in finance related matters.

Confirming the appointments, the Minister said: “AFBI has been established for four years now and continues to provide expertise in agri-food and biosciences. The Board provides and communicates strategic direction and promotes good governance. I am confident the new and re-appointed Board members will make a major contribution to the important task of leading this world class centre of scientific excellence.”

The four new appointees are:

• Mr Trevor Hinds who lives in Holywood. He has held a number of senior positions within the public, private and voluntary sectors, having served as General Manager of International Factors NI Ltd (IFNI), which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Ireland; Director of Executive Resourcing Division, Price Waterhouse Coopers (NI) and Chairman of NI Outward Bound Association.
• Mr Seamus McCaffrey who lives in Irvinestown. He is a practising accountant and a livestock farmer at Irvinestown. He is Chair of Business in the Community’s Western Team and a member of the Western ‘Investing for Health Partnership’, representing the interests of the private sector along with other members from the statutory and voluntary sectors. Mr McCaffrey is immediate Past Chair of the Ireland-Poland Business Association, an all-island trade association.
• Mr Alan McKeown who lives in Cookstown. He has a first class honours degree in Biochemistry and is currently Group Business Development Director at Dunbia, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest meat processing businesses headquartered in Dungannon. Mr McKeown has previous experience in management consultancy and is a member of the NI Meat Exporters Associations (NIMEA).
• Mrs Hilda Stewart who lives in Randalstown. She has an MSc in Sustainable Rural Development from Queens University Belfast and is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Rural College for Education and Training Committee at Derrynoid, Draperstown. Mrs Stewart currently holds two other Ministerial appointments. She sits on the DARD Independent Appeals Panel. This post is not remunerated and is due to end in 2010. Mrs Stewart is also Chair of the CAFRE College Advisory Group (CAG). This post attracts remuneration of £300 per full day and the Chair is expected to commit four full days per year to the post.

The two re-appointees are.

• Mr Kieran Campbell who lives in Newry. He has an MSc in Corporate Leadership and is a chartered accountant with 20 years’ experience in senior finance and management roles. He is currently principal within property development and property management companies. Mr Campbell is also a member of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, for which he receives £6,000 per annum.
• Dr Michael Hollywood who lives in Belfast. He holds a PhD in atomic physics from Queen’s University. Dr Hollywood is a self employed management consultant. He is the recently retired Head of Scientific Research at the Gallaher Ltd Group.

All appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner of Public Appointments (CPANI) Code of Practice. All appointments to the Institute are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. No political activity has been declared by any appointee.

Notes to editors:

1. AFBI was established on 1 April 2006 under The Agriculture (NI) Order 2004, as an Executive non-departmental public body sponsored by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
2. AFBI is responsible for the provision of scientific programmes in the areas of agri-food, animal and plant health, fisheries and the environment, providing access to specialist expertise and providing facilities to private and public sector bodies for contracted scientific services. AFBI employs approximately 870 people across seven sites and it has an annual operating budget of approximately £50million.
3. AFBI Board members are expected to commit in the region of 15 days per year to these posts and will receive a remuneration of £3,745. The current terms and conditions are under review. Other Ministerial appointments held by the new and re-appointed members have been detailed.
4. All applicants for these posts were assessed by an open, competitive process in accordance with the Commissioner of Public Appointments (CPANI) Code of Practice. A selection panel, which included an independent assessor, as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considered the suitability of all candidates.
5. All appointments to the Institute are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. No political activity has been declared by any appointee. The final decision on the appointments rested with the Minister.
6. The Department will be seeking to appoint two members with finance experience with a view to taking up post from 01 April 2011.
7. All media queries should be directed to the DARD Press office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.