Extension of Appointments to the Board of National Museums NI

1. The National Museums and Galleries of NI, was established under the Museums and Galleries (NI) Order on 1 April, 1998. The organisation’s corporate title is National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI).

2. National Museums includes the Ulster Museum, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, and the Ulster American Folk Park. It is managed by a Board of up to 15 Trustees including a Chair. The Chair attracts a remuneration of £10,000 per annum plus expenses. Trustees attract no remuneration and receive expenses only.

3. The extension to the terms of appointment have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.

4. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland requires political activity of appointees to be published.

5. Biographical details:

Mr Miceal McCoy

Mr McCoy is currently a Commissioner for the Southern Local Commissioning Group for the Southern Health and Social Care Board and past Chairman of Southern Organisation in Action in Rural Areas. He was previously a Trustee to the Board of NMNI and Commissioner for the NI Legal Services Commission. He brings governance and leadership experience and skills to the body. Mr McCoy has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Michael Catto

Mr Catto is a Board Member of NI Screen, where he sits on the Investment Committee for which he receives expenses only. He is also a Member of the NI Steering Committee of the British Film Institute Regional Hub. He brings academic experience and skills, as well as an interest in the heritage of NI, to the body. Mr Catto has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Professor Garth Earls

Professor Earls was appointed Deputy Chairman of the NMNI Audit and Risk Assurance Committee in September 2017. He is currently a Director of Conroy Gold and Natural Resources Limited and Central Asia Resources Limited. He was previously Director of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Chairman of the Geosciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy and Managing Director of Dalradian Gold Limited.  He teaches Economic Geology at University College Cork and brings corporate governance skills and corporate strategy experience to the body.  Professor Earls has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments. 

Mrs Hazel Francey

Mrs Francey spent most of her working life with Belfast City Council in various roles and led its Good Relations Unit where she had responsibility for community relations, race relations, equality and diversity. Mrs Francey is a former Board member of the Community Relations Council and is currently a Commissioner with the Equality Commission for NI for which she receives £5,000 for a commitment of about two days a month. She is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ArtsEkta charity and a member of the Intercultural Committee of the Bryson Charitable Group. She is also a member of the Board of Governors of two local schools, Wellington College Belfast and Rosetta Primary. She brings equality and social inclusion experience and skills to the body. Mrs Francey has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments. 

Dr Leon Litvack

Dr Litvack is currently Vice-Chairman of National Museums Northern Ireland; a Board Member of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and chairs its Finance & Capital Committee; and a Trustee of the Charles Dickens Museum, London. For all of these appointments he receives expenses only. He is an academic member of staff at Queen’s University Belfast and a freelance broadcaster. He brings corporate governance, business planning, collections management, audit and HR experience, as well as skills in equality, to the body. Dr Litvack has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments.  

Dr George McIlroy

Dr McIlroy is currently a Board Member of the NI Fishery Harbour Authority for which he receives a remuneration of £3,785 per annum. He also is a Board Member of the Western Health and Social Care Board for which he receives remuneration of £7980 per annum. He was previously Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute as well as Chief Scientific Officer/Deputy Secretary and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer in DARD. He brings central government experience and corporate governance skills to the body. Dr McIlroy has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments. 

Mrs Catherine Molloy

Mrs Molloy is a retired Primary School Principal and a former Trustee of Mediation NI. She was an elected member of Belfast City Council (1997-2005) and served on the then Belfast Education and Library Board, two primary school Boards of Governors, the South Belfast Partnership Board and represented Belfast City Council on the Linenhall Library Governing Body. She brings corporate strategy and corporate governance experience and skills to NMNI. She currently volunteers with the Prince’s Trust as a Progression Mentor and with the National Trust as a Visitor Experience. Mrs Molloy has declared no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments. 

Dr Margaret Ward

Dr Ward was Chief Executive of the Women’s Resource and Development Agency until her retirement. Dr Ward is a Board Member of Libraries NI for which she receives a remuneration of £3,000 per annum. She is a former Board Member of the NI Council for Voluntary Action, the NI Rural Women’s Network and the NI Women’s European Platform. She is an historian and the author of several books on women in Irish history. She brings experience of equality and social inclusion issues, as well as strategic planning skills to the body. Dr Ward holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years.

6. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office on 028 9082 3512 or email: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk.  Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383.

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