Following an open competition for the appointment of new members the following have been appointed with effect from 1 November 2008 for a term of five years to 31 October 2013:
Mr Eamonn Peter Donnelly
Mr James Ignatius Shields
Mr Alastair Peoples
Mrs Primrose Eileen Wilson
Thanking all the new members for agreeing to serve on the Management Committee the Minister said: "This is a very interesting and challenging time at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium and I welcome the appointment of the new members who will bring a variety of experience and skills and will make a valuable contribution to the work of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium."
Notes to Editors:
The Management Committee comprises:
· The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh or his nominee (Chairman):
· Three nominees from the Board of Governors of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
· Six nominees from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure;
· One Queens University Belfast nominee;
· One Particle Physics and Research Council nominee;
· One Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies nominee; and
· up to two additional members co-opted by the Board of Governors.
Nominees and those co-opted by the Governors normally serve for an initial period of three to five years with the possibility of extension.
The Management Committee was set up in 1984 to strengthen and support professional astronomical research in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom; to assist the Universities in Northern Ireland in the education of professional astronomers; and to act as a focal point for astronomy within Northern Ireland by contributing to public information and education in conjunction with the Planetarium.
The appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Public Appointments. All appointments 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.
Members attract no remuneration and receive expenses only.
Biographical details of the new members
MR EAMONN DONNELLY: lives in Belfast. He has over twenty years experience delivering development and management support to the not-for-profit sector in Northern Ireland as Business Advisor and subsequently Business Development Manager with the Social Economy Agency based in Londonderry and Belfast.
He also has some years previous experience teaching in Belfast.
Mr Donnelly has declared that he has not been engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
MR ALASTAIR PEOPLES: lives in Moira, Craigavon. He is the Deputy Chief Executive of the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) Bristol, England since April 2008.
He was the Operations Director at VOSA during the period December 2004 to April 2008. Prior to that, he was employed by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, Belfast, NI holding the position of Director of Technical Policy and Legislation from April 2000 to December 2004 and Operations Director April 1993 to April 2000.
Mr Peoples has declared that he has not been engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
Mr JAMES IGNATIUS SHIELDS (SEAMUS): lives in Sixmilecross, Omagh. He is a Solicitor with John McGale, Kelly and Co Solicitors since 2005. He was the Principal at St Matthews Primary School, Ballygawley from 1984 to 2000.
He is a SDLP elected member for the electoral ward of Mid-Tyrone on Omagh District Council since 1989. He is also a Member of the Management Committee of Omagh Youth Club since 1993.
He was the SDLP representative on the RPA Shared Services Working Group established by Department of the Environment during the period 2005 to 2007 and a Member of the Western Education and Library Board from 1993 to 2005.
Mr Shields has declared that he has been engaged in political activity in the last five years.
MRS PRIMROSE EILEEN WILSON: lives near Armagh. She was Deputy Chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund 2000-2006 and Chairman of the Committee for Northern Ireland. She was awarded an OBE in 1997 and a CBE in 2007 for services to conservation.
She is Chairman of the Follies Trust, a member of the Advisory Committee of Maintain, a committee member of the HEARTH Housing Association and HEARTH Revolving Fund, a trustee of the Ulster Historic Churches Trust, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Association of Preservation Trusts, a trustee of the
Irish Heritage Trust (Republic of Ireland) and a member of the Historic Churches Advisory Committee for the Church of Ireland. In 2001 Mrs Wilson was made an Honorary member of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects
She was formerly Chairman of the Historic Buildings Council for Northern Ireland, Chairman of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, a director of the Irish Landmark Trust (Dublin), a member of the Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland, a Director of the Irish Architectural Archive (Dublin), a member of the Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland, a trustee of the Ulster Museum, and a member of the Southern Education and Library Board and a trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund and a member of the Heritage Council (Republic of Ireland). She was born in Roscommon, Republic of Ireland.
Mrs Wilson has declared that she has not been engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
