New appointments and re-appointments to the Board of the Consumer Council
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced new appointments to the Board of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
~ Wednesday, 25 January 2012
A new Deputy Chair, Mandy Patrick, and three new Board Members: David Beattie, Samuel Snodden, and David Galloway are to be appointed.
The Minister also announced the re-appointment of Rick Hill as Chairman and Kit Chivers as a Board Member.
Mandy Patrick, David Beattie, Samuel Snodden, and David Galloway will serve for a period of three years from 1 January 2012.
Rick Hill and Kit Chivers will serve for a second period of three years, from 1 January 2012.
Arlene Foster said: "The new appointees and re-appointees bring valuable expertise and experience to the Board of the Consumer Council.
“This is particularly important in the current challenging economic environment when it has never been more important that consumers in Northern Ireland are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and exercise their rights.”
The appointments and re-appointments have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Northern Ireland.
Notes to editors:
1. Pen Pictures
New appointments
a) Ms Mandy Patrick MBE
Mandy is a Director of the Park Avenue Hotel, a family business started by her grandparents over 50 years ago. She has previously represented the hotel sector on the Board of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau and in 2003 she was appointed to the Board of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board where she served two terms. She then served three years on the Board of Tourism Ireland. Mandy was asked to join the Board of the East Belfast Partnership in 2005 and is a member of the Executive Committee and chairs the Tourism Sub Group. In October 2011, Mandy was elected Vice President to the Board of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, a member organisation. Mandy is a DENI appointed Governor of Glendu Nursery School. In 2010 Mandy was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday List with an MBE for her contribution to tourism.
b) Mr David Beattie
David is currently a Senior Manager Retail Strategy with Ulster Bank having previously been Head of Tesco Bank, (Ireland) and held other Ulster Bank and Northern Bank management posts. Most of his professional career has been in marketing orientated posts.
c) Mr Samuel Snodden
Samuel is currently Finance Officer with the Girls Brigade NI. A Chartered Accountant, he held a number of senior finance posts, prior to taking early retirement, in the public sector in Health and Social Services Boards in NI and, following the Review of Public Administration, the Health and Social Care Board.
d) Mr David Galloway
David is a Senior Manager with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), having previously worked in a number of senior management posts in the DHSSPS. He has a BA in Business Studies and in 2008 undertook an executive leadership programme at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard.
Reappointments
e) Mr Richard Hill, Chairperson
Richard was appointed Chairperson of the Consumer Council from 1 January 2009. He currently serves as Chair of Northern Ireland Screen Commission, (Honorarium of £10,000 per annum), Chair of Consumer Focus Post, Northern Ireland and an ex-officio member of the Consumer Focus Board. Richard is a former Minister of Garnerville Presbyterian Church, Belfast. He is a former member of the BBC Audience Council for Northern Ireland and BBC Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland.
f) Mr Kit Chivers
Kit was the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland from the formation of the office in August 2003 to August 2008. Prior to that he worked as Chief Inspector of the Courts in England and Wales and the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service for five years and from 1968-1998 he held a range of posts in HM Treasury. He is currently a Commissioner in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, remuneration £5,000 per annum.
2. The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, established in 1985, under the terms of the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984, is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. It is an independent consumer organization, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
3. Under the provisions of the Order, the Board of the Council shall consist of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairperson and no more than 16 members. Current membership stands at 11 (Chairman, Deputy Chairperson and nine Members). Chairmanship of the Consumer Council is currently salaried at £21,765 per annum. The Chair is expected to attend Board meetings, committee meetings and other events involving a time commitment of up to 1½ days per week. Membership of the Consumer Council is not salaried but the following fees are payable: Deputy Chair - £135.25 per day, Members - £101.34 per day.
4. All appointments and re-appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointment for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. None of the appointees/re-appointees carried out any political activity in the past five years.
5. For media enquiries please contact the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9604. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.
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