Appointments to Board of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI)

The Department has appointed Mr Gerard McCurdy as the Deputy Chief Commissioner of CCNI and Mr Kieran Donaghy as a CCNI Commissioner.

The Department has appointed Mr Gerard McCurdy as the Deputy Chief Commissioner of CCNI and Mr Kieran Donaghy as a CCNI Commissioner, following an open competition, from 1 March 2019 until 29 February 2024.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) was established under Section 6(1) of the Charities Act (NI) 2008. The Commission’s objectives are set out in Section 7 of the Act and its general functions and duties are set out in Sections 8 and 9 respectively.

2. The Deputy Chief Commissioner position attracts remuneration of £3,500 per year and is eligible to claim allowances, at rates set centrally, for travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on CCNI business.

3. The Commissioner position attracts remuneration of £2,300 per year and is eligible to claim allowances, at rates set centrally, for travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on CCNI business.

4. The terms of appointment have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.

5. 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 political activity of appointees to be published.

6. Biographical details:

Mr Gerard McCurdy 

Mr McCurdy is the former NI Director of the Food Standards Agency, overseeing its establishment and having overall responsibility for its budget and governance structures. In this role he led on the development of a policy to introduce a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme for food businesses. He is a Board and Audit Committee Member of the Health & Social Care Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority for which he receives £5,962 per annum.He has not undertaken any political activity in the last 5 years and holds no other public appointments. 

Mr Kieran Donaghy

Mr Donaghy is a former Director of Human Resources in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. In this role, he led a range of projects to achieve a number of the Trust’s strategic objectives. He also has experience of reviewing governance and finance structures, and partnership / stakeholder engagement. He is an Independent Member of the CCNI Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, through which he provides a constructive challenge to the executive members. He is a Board Member with the Probation Board for which he receives a re-numeration of £5,050 per annum. He has not undertaken any political activity in the last 5 years and holds no other public appointments.

7. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office on 028 9082 3516 or email: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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