New independent board members appointed to DARD

The appointment of two new Independent Board Members to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Board has been announced.

Mr Frank Caddy and Mr David Russell have been confirmed as the new independent members. Mr Caddy will take up his position from 1 August 2010 and Mr Russell will take up his position from 1 November 2010. The appointments will initially be for a two year period but may be extended in further defined periods by agreement.

The primary role of the Independent Board Member is to contribute to the good governance of the Department. The Independent Member will:

• Provide constructive challenges across the Board’s business;
• Ensure that all aspects of strategy and delivery of policy are scrutinised for effectiveness and efficiency;
• Be involved in the monitoring of performance and progress of the Department; and
• Maintain a critical overview of the department’s financial controls and procedures for assessing and managing risk.

Notes to editors:

1. The Departmental Board is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Malcolm McKibbin and includes the Department’s Deputy Secretaries, Finance Director, HR Director and the two independent members.

2. The two independent members do not have a role in formulating policy advice, however they can perform a challenge role on issues such as the policy process and the capacity of the teams to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.

3. The guidance for appointing Independent Board Members on NICS Departmental Board was prepared by OFMDFM. The application and sifting process was managed initially by DFP and subsequently by DARD.

4. Frank Caddy - In October 2001, Frank Caddy became chairman of the Inclusive Mobility & Transport Advisory Committee (ImTac), set up to advise government and other agencies/organisations on the provision of transport for disabled & older people throughout Northern Ireland.

Frank has been engaged widely in the voluntary sector – he was the founder chairman of the children’s charity ‘Heartbeat’. He was also one of the founder members of Shopmobility (Belfast) and was chairman from 2001 through 2009. He currently chairs ‘Friends of Botanic Gardens’ and works with Belfast City Council to preserve and improve Belfast’s most popular green space. Frank was awarded the MBE in last year’s Birthday honours.

Frank has worked at senior management level in manufacturing for over twenty years in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and in North America.

Frank became a non-executive member of the Royal Victoria Hospitals Trust in 1999 and was appointed its chair in 2006. Subsequently Frank was appointed chair of East LCG, commissioning health services for South Eastern Area until 2009.

Following his retirement as Chief Executive of the Belfast Chamber of Trade & Commerce, Frank became self-employed and acted as public relations advisor to, amongst others, the Northern Ireland Drinks Industry Group (NIDIG), promoting the Sensible Drinking message.

Frank qualified as a Chartered Engineer in the mid 70’s and has maintained a home in Northern Ireland since graduating in 1965.

David Russell - retired in 2000 after 20 years with Hampden Group PLC, initially as Finance Director and then as Chief Executive. He was previously Finance Director of Masstock Group Limited. In his early career he held financial management positions in several international companies and subsequently spent five years in Management Consultancy.

Since retiring he has held a number of non-executive appointments in the public and voluntary sectors. He was Chairman of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Ulster Supported Employment Limited and Northern Ireland Seafood Limited and was a Trustee of Save the Children UK and on the Council of the University of Ulster.

He is currently a Belfast Harbour Commissioner, chairman of Portaferry Lifeboat Group ( RNLI) and a Non-Executive Director of Phoenix Natural Gas Limited and Portaferry Regeneration Ltd.

Mr Caddy and Mr Russell replace the outgoing Independent Members of the Board, Mr Donal Flanagan and Mrs Joan Ruddock whose terms of office are coming to an end.

5. Media enquiries to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.