Appointment of Nine Non-Executive Directors to Health and Social Care Trusts

Health Minister, Simon Hamilton today announced the appointment of nine Non-Executive Directors to Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts. The appointments are:

South Eastern HSC Trust – Mr. Noel Brady (Finance) for the period 22 February 2016 to 21 February 2020, Dr. Maura Briscoe (Lay), and Mr. Maynard Mawhinney (Lay) both for the period 15 February 2016 to 14 February 2020.

Southern HSC Trust – Mrs. Hilary McCartan (Finance), Ms. Eileen Mullan (Lay), and Mr. John Wilkinson (Lay) all for the period 15 February 2016 to 14 February 2020.

Northern HSC Trust – Mr Jim McCall (Lay), Mr Paul Corrigan (Lay), and Ms Geraldine McGahey (Lay) all for period 1 March 2016 – 29 February 2020.

The appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The HSC Trusts were established as statutorily separate organisations within the HSC family, responsible for the delivery of responsive and effective health and care services and for the ownership and management of hospitals and other establishments and facilities. They provide health and social care services against Ministerial priorities, standards and targets. Services are provided as specified in contracts with the commissioners of health and care services, namely the Health and Social Care Board. This may include Trusts exercising certain statutory functions, principally in the field of social services, on behalf of the HSC Board. Although Trusts are statutorily separate organisations, they are an integral part of the HSC and are expected to deliver against an agenda set by the Minister and performance managed by the Department and HSC Board.

Each HSC Trust is managed directly by a board of directors which has corporate responsibility for its operation. A board is made up of five Executive Directors, seven Non-Executive Directors and a Non-Executive Chair. 

Notes to editors: 

1. The rate of remuneration payable for these appointments is £7,960 per annum for a time commitment of 1 day per week.
2. The appointments were made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are no specific qualifications for appointment.
3. 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 the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. All appointees declared that they had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
4. Noel Brady – Noel is MD of his company, Consult Nb1, which provides services to national and international companies. He has held senior positions for over 40 years in both the public and private sectors. He is an Honorary Fellow and Chairman of the Sales Institute of Ireland and is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Noel is a member of the Board of the NI Assembly Business Trust and he has just completed 8 years as a Belfast Harbour Commissioner.
5. Maura Briscoe - Maura qualified as a medical practitioner from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1978. She subsequently trained as a general practitioner and worked as a GP until early 1991. In 1997 she became a medical officer in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), becoming a Senior Medical Officer in 2002. In 2007 Maura moved into core policy and legislation setting up the Safety, Quality and Standards Directorate becoming its first Director. In 2008/9 she transferred within DHSSPS to become Director of Mental Health and Disability. In 2010 she became Director of Secondary Care in DHSSPS and subsequently led on special projects within the hospital and community sector. In 2012 Maura became Director of Mental Health, Disability and Older People. Maura retired from the Civil Service in July 2014. Her main interest since then has been in the development of models of care and support for those living with learning disabilities and their families.
6. Maynard Mawhinney - Maynard is a member of the board of the Health and Safety Executive (NI) and an Independent Director with Around Noon Limited. He sits on the College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise’s College Advisory Group, is an Independent Assessor with the Commissioner for Public Appointments (NI) and Agri-Food consultant to BDO. Maynard is married to Hazel, has two grown up sons and is involved in local church leadership. He enjoys travel and hiking.
7. Hilary McCartan BA (Hons) FCA MBA lives in Belfast. A chartered accountant by profession, Mrs McCartan has held a number of senior management posts in the private sector including the role of Finance Director and non-executive roles in the public sector. She is currently a Member of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (April 2011 - March 2016), a Commissioner for Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, and a Non-Executive Member of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. Mrs McCartan brings to her role as SHSCT Finance Non-Executive Director a wealth of financial, auditing, governance and operational experience.
8. Eileen Mullan - Eileen is a governance practitioner with over twenty years’ experience serving on and supporting voluntary and statutory sector boards. These roles included strategic oversight and accountability for delivery of services within communities, health and care, regulation, environment, and enterprise. Eileen is a highly accomplished trainer, facilitator and public speaker. Eileen holds an MSc in Management and Corporate Governance and an Institute of Directors’ Diploma in Company Direction.
9. John Wilkinson - John Wilkinson OBE for services to Education. John is a former Principal of Dromore High School, a former Board Member of the SELB and of the C2k Project Board. He is Vice Chair of CCEA, Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, CCEA. John is a Member of Education Committee CCEA, and a Member of Regulation Advisory Committee, CCEA. He provides a service to schools as an Education Consultant, and is employed by the Education Authority as an Education Associate.
10. Jim McCall - Jim is a qualified professional social worker and has been employed in a variety of professional and senior manager positions during his career. Until recently Jim was Managing Director of Four Seasons Health Care in Northern Ireland and Wales. Prior to taking up this role in 2008, he was Chief Executive of the former Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust. He is as non-executive Director with Diabetes UK. Jim was appointed to the Board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive from 1st June 2015 and was appointed to the Board of NI Water from 1 September 2015.
11. Paul Corrigan - Paul is a former Logistics Director for Royal Mail NI. He now works as a self-employed consultant supporting clients in the public and private sector with independent investigations and appeals in workplace disputes. Paul has been a member of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) panel of Arbitrators and Independent Chairs since 2002, and has conducted numerous arbitration and independent appeal hearings. Paul is a Non-Executive Board Member for the Local Government Staff Commission (LGSC) providing HR oversight to the 11 Local Councils. In 2015 Paul was also appointed as a Lay Representative with the Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) and as a Lay Member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT). Paul is married and lives in Randalstown, Co. Antrim.
12. Geraldine McGahey – Geraldine stood down as Chief Executive of Larne Borough Council on 1 April 2015 when the new Northern Ireland district councils were formed. During her time as Chief Executive she was the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives & Senior Managers (SOLACE’s) gender champion promoting women in local government, a representative on the Good Relations Panel reporting to the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers, and an appointee of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to the Northern Zone Steering Committee for the Social Investment Fund. Previously, Geraldine was a Building Control Surveyor in Belfast City Council (1993-2001) and Grants Officer with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (1983-1989). She received an OBE for services to local government in the New Year Honours list for 2015. Geraldine currently holds an appointment as an Equality Commissioner for Northern Ireland and is a mentor to the Woman’s Leadership Initiative.
13. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0567. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned. Follow us on twitter @healthdpt

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