Following open competition, Dominic Walsh has been appointed as Vice-Chair. The appointment of the Chair is still under consideration.
Thirteen general members have been appointed for a four year term:
Dr Olive Brown
Mr Murray Cowan
Mr John D’Arcy
Ms Una Duncan
Mr Barry Macaulay
Mr Brian McCargo
Mr Hugh McCaughey
Mr Alan Moneypenny
Ms Maura Muldoon
Mr Danny O’Connor
Cllr Jim Rodgers
Mr Alan Strong
Mr Patrick Turnbull
Welcoming the members Edwin Poots said: “ I am very pleased to be making these appointments and I am looking forward to working with all the members of the Board in taking forward the new Strategy for Sport, due to be launched this Spring. Sport Northern Ireland will have a pivotal role in delivering key aspects of the strategy and in promoting the value, importance and priority of sport and physical recreation in Northern Ireland.”
Mr Poots also expressed his sincere thanks to the outgoing Chair, Mr Eric Saunders and to the outgoing members for their contribution and commitment to the work of Sport Northern Ireland during their previous terms of appointment.
Notes to Editors:
The following members of the Council have been reappointed to serve a second term:
Dr Olive Brown
Mr Brian McCargo
Mr Hugh McCaughey
Ms Maura Muldoon
Cllr Jim Rodgers
Mr Alan Strong
The outgoing members are:
Prof Eric Saunders – Chair
Mr Gerry Carson – Vice-Chair
Ms Hilary Brady
Mr J Campbell
Ms Maureen Cusdin
Mr J Gallagher
Dr Aidan Hamill
Mr C Logue
Dr M Murphy
Sport Northern Ireland (formerly known as the Sports Council for Northern Ireland) is a statutory body set up under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 and is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland, including the distribution of funding.
It is managed by a Board of up to fifteen members including a Chair and Vice-Chair. The terms of office of outgoing members ended on 31 December 2007. The new appointments took effect on 1 January 2008 for a period of four years. Members are appointed by the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
The Chair and Vice-Chair attract a remuneration of £10,000pa and £3,500pa, plus expenses, respectively. The members receive no remuneration and receive expenses only.
The appointments process was carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. A selection panel, which included an independent assessor, as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointments rested with the Minister.
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 declared) to be published.
Biographical details of new Vice- Chair Dominic Walsh
Dominic Walsh is the Chief Executive of the MSO Group. He was previously Managing Director of Home Fuels and General Manager of Cawoods Oil. His academic achievements include a BSc in mechanical engineering and an MBA from Queen’s University Belfast. Outside of his business life he is a non-executive Director of the British Printing Industry Federation and the RUC Athletic Association. A keen sportsman, Dominic played competitive rugby for 35 years and has since moved into coaching and management. Dominic has declared no significant political activity.
Biographical details of new general members
Danny O’Connor
Danny is the independent Chair of Belfast City Marathon Co, Vice Chair of North Belfast Play Forum and Commissioner to the Irish Basketball Association. Danny has an interest in sport informed by over 50 years, teaching, coaching, refereeing and administering at local, national and international levels. He is a leisure consultant developing sport programmes for a number of schools. Danny has declared no significant political activity.
John D’Arcy
John has been Chief Executive of the Association of NI Colleges since 2003. Previously he was Director of Organisational and Human Resource Consulting at BDO Stoy Hayward. John’s interest in sport is reflected in his experience as Director of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council since 1997 representing the sport of ten-pin bowling. He is also a qualified Phase 2 coach with the British Tenpin Bowling Federation. John has declared no significant political activity.
Una Duncan
Una was a former Principal of St. Comgall’s College and retired in August 2005. Previously she was a field officer at the North East Education & Library Board. She has experience of Board Membership, serving on the Board of the N.E.E.L.B. and in Sub-Committees relating to education, young people and libraries. Una has declared no significant political interest.
Barry Macaulay
Barry is currently a Senior Manager at the Royal National Institute of the Blind responsible for policies relating to children, youth, sport and Leisure. Previous roles have included working as a Social Worker for people with disabilities and the elderly. Barry has participated competitively in Football, Rugby, Cricket and Triathlon and currently coaches Mini Rugby and Youth Cricket. Barry has declared no significant political interest.
Mr Alan Moneypenny
Alan is Chief Executive of Strabane Lifford Development Commission, a cross border economic regeneration group. He has had previous cross border experience as Chief Executive of North West Rural Development Ltd. He is also a Director of the Odyssey Trust Ltd, Ulster Community Investment Trust and Enterprise N.I. Formerly an International Basketball player he is also a Board member for Basketball N.I and is a member of the Riverside Theatre. Alan has declared no significant political interest.
Murray Cowan
Murray is currently a management consultant with Helm Corporation based in Moira and a Board Trustee with Victim Support NI. He is a competitive orienteer and athlete, a qualified coach in both sports and a member of Lagan Valley Orienteers. Murray has declared no significant political interest.
Patrick Turnbull
Patrick has over 35 years experience of working for large corporate multi-nationals and is currently working as head of Operations at Damovo (Ireland) Ltd, one of the principal solutions integrators of the Irish telecoms industry. Previous employers include Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd, where he was General Manager and Trivirix International where he was Managing Director and then Vice President. He has served, in a non-executive basis, on the Board of Business in the Community and Investment Belfast. He is currently a member of the Institute of Director’s Economic Strategy Committee. Patrick has declared no significant political interest.
Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office Tel (028) 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
