The Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC), which will continue to be chaired by Patrick Casement, provides advice on the protection of our natural heritage.
The Minister said: “Effective protection of our natural heritage is an important aspect of the Executive’s environmental policy.
“With a growing appreciation of the natural environment’s importance in Northern Ireland, I believe the advice of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC) and its individual members will be valuable.
“I am announcing 19 new appointments, including that of Peter Archdale as deputy chairman.
“I would like to thank all outgoing members for the important contribution they made during their period of office. We owe a great deal to those who undertake work of this nature and the responsibilities associated with it.”
The new appointments do not extend to the present council’s chairman, Mr Casement whose term of office will expire on 28 February 2011.
The CNCC is a statutory advisory council and all appointments were made on merit through an open public competition involving an application and interview process in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland.
Mr Peter Archdale is a member of the Ulster Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, Lough’s Agency Forum, Northern Ireland Coastal and Marine Forum and the Camphill Communities, with a wide experience of Oceanography.
Notes to Editors:
1. The following have been appointed as members:
- Mr John Anderson - Self-employed engineer.
- Dr Tony Bazley - Chartered Geologist
- Mr Brian Black - Specialist TV producer dealing with natural history and countryside issues.
- Mr James Campbell - Senior Environmental Health Officer.
- Mr Malachy Campbell - Policy Officer in WWF NI.
- Mr Patrick Dorian - Retired Teacher of Geography.
- Mr Mervyn Hill - Education advisor.
- Dr Richard Horton - Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Mining, Minerals and Materials.
- Mr Dermot Hughes - Member of staff of the Ulster Wildlife Trust.
- Mr James Jackson - Retired Town Planner/Northern Ireland Housing Executive Manager.
- Dr Hilary Kilpatrick - Policy Officer in the Ulster Wildlife Trust
- Mr Aidan Lonergan - Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
- Mrs Elizabeth McCullough - Retired Civil Servant.
- Mr Samuel McGregor - Former Director of Leisure and Tourism with Limavady Borough Council.
- Mr Robert Northridge - Vice Principal of a grammar school. Chairman of Fermanagh Naturalists’ Field Club.
- Mr James Simpson - Farmer. Previously employed by the Ulster Farmers’ Union and is an Alderman on the Ballymoney Borough Council.
- Professor Bernard Smith - Professor of Physical Geography at Queens University
- Mr Andrew Upton - Director of Ulster Wildlife Trust.
2. Apart from John Anderson who stood as an independent candidate in the Larne Council elections and by-elections, and James Simpson who is an Ulster Unionist Party Councillor on the Ballymoney Borough Council, none of these appointees has undertaken any political activities in the last five years.
3. None of these appointees hold any other public appointments.
4. The chairman of the council receives a salary of £9,740 per annum and the deputy chairman receives a salary of some £6,525 per annum. Members of the council receive no salary but are entitled to travelling and other incidental expenses that are reimbursed at standard civil service rates. Appointments are for a three-year term.
5.For media enquires please contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
