This is for a period of a further four years, effective from 1 October 2008.
The Minister said: “I am delighted to confirm the reappointment of Sean Hogan, Bonnie Horsman and Bill Luney to the board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority for a period of four years. All three have served on the Authority very enthusiastically over the past three years. I am therefore particularly pleased that the Authority will continue to avail of their wealth of experience and detailed knowledge of the port business and shipping operations.
“The next few years will be a very significant period for the Authority as it completes its infrastructure development project aimed at securing the long-term future of the Port of Warrenpoint as a major regional gateway. Moreover, this project will have to be delivered in the context of a challenging economic and trading environment."
The Minister concluded: “I am confident that, under the chairmanship of Jim Stewart, Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has a strong board, able to meet these challenges.”
Notes to Editors:
- Media queries to Press Office, Department for Regional Development, Tel: 028 9054 0837. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
- Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has responsibility, under a series of Harbour Acts and Orders, for improving, maintaining and managing the harbour. The constitution of the Commissioners was established under the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 (No 42). The Authority currently has a membership of a Chairman and ten members, including the serving Chief Executive, Finance Director and three representatives from Newry and Mourne District Council. Authority Members currently receive remuneration of £6,945 per annum.
- The Chairman of the Authority, Jim Stewart, was reappointed for four years on 1 October 2007.
- The process of making the reappointments was carried out in accordance with the guidance of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (OCPANI). Under OCPANI guidance, appointees are required to declare involvement in political activity. None of the three appointees has declared any such involvement.
- Pen pictures of the three members being reappointed are set out below:
Sean Hogan
Sean Hogan, a Masters Graduate from QUB in Organisational Management took up his position as Member of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority in October 2005 for a three year period.
Currently he is Chair of the Agri-Food and Bio-Science Institute for Northern Ireland, a Commissioner with the Southern Health Commissioning Group and Managing Director of STH Management Solutions Ltd. A Fellow of the Institute of Marketing Management and Member of the Institute of Directors and a member of the Board of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. Sean has spent many years in senior management positions with both the public and private sector bringing a wealth of experience to his role with the Authority.
Bonnie Horsman
Bonnie Horsman has strong links with the local area and has been involved in operations at Warrenpoint Port at Senior Management level for the past 16 years. Bonnie is Managing Director of a shipping agency company at Warrenpoint Port and previously played a fundamental role in the setting up of the roll on roll off service that now contributes heavily to overall port tonnage. At present Bonnie divides her professional time between her business interests and studying for an MSc in ‘Leadership for Sustainable Development’ at Queens University.
Captain Bill Luney
Capt. Bill Luney is a qualified Master Mariner and is an established maritime specialist with 40 years of experience in this field, both afloat and ashore. Before establishing his own Maritime Consultancy Company he spent 25 years in Port Operations at the Port of Belfast with the last 10 years as Harbour Master. He is also a Director of Simentra Ltd, a company involved in international political and security risk management.
