Reappointment of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Chairman

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has announced the reappointment of Professor Peter Matthews as Chairman of the Board of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (the Utility Regulator).

Professor Matthews has been reappointed for a further two years effective from 1 April 2010. He will receive annual remuneration of £33,996 and is expected to devote around one day a week to Authority business.

Notes to editors:

1. The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (the Utility Regulator) is the non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the electricity and gas industries and water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, to promote the short and long-term interests of consumers.
2. Professor Matthews has been Chairman of the Utility Regulator since April 2006. He spent over 25 years at Anglian Water in a number of roles and retired as Deputy Managing Director of Anglian Water International. He is a past President of the European Water Association, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and past Chair of the Society for the Environment. From 2000-2006, he was appointed to the Board of the Environment Agency and Chair of its Audit Committee. He served on the Board of Anglia Ruskin University and is currently a Visiting Professor. He was awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to water and the environment.
3. Professor Matthews currently holds two other public appointments. He was appointed in February 2009 as a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution for a term of three years, for which he receives remuneration of £240.56 per day. In 2006 he joined the Port of London Authority as a Board Member, for which he receives an annual remuneration of £27,142.
4. This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.
5. All appointments to the Board of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation are made with the approval of the Minister for Finance and Personnel.
6. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Professor Matthews has declared that he has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
7. All media queries to DFP Press Office on 028 9052 7374. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.