Extension of Appointments to the Board of National Museums NI

The Department for Communities has extended the first term of appointment of the Chair Mr Miceal McCoy from 1 January 2020 until 30 June 2020. He has served on the Board since 1 January 2014.

New appointments of Assistant Commissioners for the Local Government Boundaries Review

The first term of appointment has been extended for the following four members of the Board of National Museums NI

• Professor Karen Fleming
• Mrs Daphne Harshaw
• Dr Rosemary Kelly
• Mr Alan McFarland

from 1 November 2019 until 30 June 2020. They have served on the Board since 1 May 2013.

The first term of appointment has been extended for the following five members of the Board of National Museums NI

• Professor Garth Earls
• Mrs Hazel Francey
• Dr Leon Litvack
• Dr George McIlroy
• Mrs Catherine Molloy

from 1 January 2020 until 30 June 2020. They have served on the Board since 1 January 2014.

Notes to editors: 

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 PA 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 Chairman for the Southern Local Commissioning Group for the Health and Social Care Board [NI] 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. He has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Professor Karen Fleming

Professor Fleming, Belfast School of Art at Ulster University is a senior member of the leadership team of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and director of Northern Bridge Consortium for the University. She chaired the University Research Ethics Committee for many years up to 2017, and now chairs the University Athena Swan team (gender equality). She is a member of the UK Research Excellence Framework panel for Art and Design, History Theory and Practice for the REF 2021. A textile artist of international esteem, Professor Fleming is a member of a number of boards including trustee of the Council for Higher Education in Art and Design. Professor Fleming is a member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Peer Review College and provides peer review for the Pasold Institute, the Editorial board of Iterations Journal and for international conferences. Professor Fleming brings creativity, management and corporate governance skills to the NMNI board. She has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments

Mrs Daphne Harshaw

Mrs Harshaw is a Master’s graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, in the History of Art and taught History of Art and Art Appreciation in Dublin. She is a Communications and Marketing professional and was a Principal Officer, Personnel and Management Services, in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, initiating programmes to promote equality and counter educational disadvantage. Mrs Harshaw is a Board Member of Cambridge House Grammar School and a former Vice Chair of Triangle Housing Association. Her experience also spans the arts and heritage sector where she worked as a curator for the National Trust and had curatorial, house and staff management experience at Mount Stewart. Mrs Harshaw brings organisational and communication skills, as well as a passion and interest in museums, to the NMNI Board. She has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments

Dr Rosemary Kelly

Dr Kelly is currently a Board member of the Royal Ulster Academy of Artists and she is also a member of the Kilfinnan Group. She was, formerly, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland; Chairman of the British Council in NI (and a member of its International Board in London); a Governor of the Irish Times in Dublin; a Council Member of Ulster University; a member of the Ofcom Content Board in London; a Board member of the NI National Trust; Chairman of Help the Aged NI and a member of its international board in London; Chairman of the Ormeau Baths Gallery; Deputy Chairman of the Ulster Orchestra; and President of the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals. She was also a founding member of the Irish and Television Academy. Dr Kelly is a former BBC programme producer and was, subsequently, Head of Public Affairs and Secretary Northern Ireland in the corporation. She was awarded an OBE in January 2009 and an honorary DLitt by the University of Ulster in 2012, both for services to the Arts. She has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments

Mr Alan McFarland

Mr McFarland served as an officer in the British Army until 1992. He served as Press Officer for the UK Mobile Force and as a Management Consultant with the Ministry of Defence. He was also Curator of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment Museum, was Director of the Somme Museum and is currently Chairman of the Somme Association. His wide ranging public service has included Trustee of the Scotch-Irish Trust of Ulster and membership of the NI Forum for Political Dialogue. He also served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, holding a variety of positions and serving on various committees. He was a member of the first Northern Ireland Policing Board. Mr McFarland brings leadership, press and media skills, as well as a particular expertise in military history, to the NMNI Board. He has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments

Professor Garth Earls

Professor Earls was appointed Vice Chairman of the NMNI Board of Trustees in September 2019. 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.  He has not undertaken any political activity in 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 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ArtsEkta charity and a former member of the Intercultural Committee of the Bryson Charitable Group. She is also a former 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. She has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Dr Leon Litvack

Dr Litvack is a Trustee of the Charles Dickens Museum, London; for this appointment he receives expenses only. He also holds UK Cabinet appointments (through DCMS) to the advisory Council on National Records and Archives. And to the Forum on Historical Manuscripts and Academic Research; for these appointments he receives remuneration and expenses. 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. He has not undertaken any political activity in 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 a 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 now DAERA. Dr McIlroy is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management. He brings central government experience and corporate governance skills to the body.  He has not undertaken any political activity in 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 currently volunteers with the National Trust as a Visitor Experience Guide. She brings local government experience, corporate strategy and corporate government experience and skills to NMNI. She has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

6. 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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