Appointment of chairperson and board members to the Education Authority

The Department of Education has announced an extension to the appointment of the Chairperson and the appointment of 12 members to the Board of the Education Authority (EA).

Eleven are current members of the board with one new board member being appointed. 

Chairperson

Ms Sharon O’Connor previously served as Chairperson on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. She was formerly Chief Executive of Derry City Council. Ms O’Connor currently holds two other public appointments: member of the National Oversight & Audit Commission (ROI), for which she receives remuneration of €7,695 per annum and member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland, for which she receives £265 per day. She has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past 5 years.

Members

Four persons nominated by the NI Commission for Catholic Education to represent the interests of trustees of maintained schools -

Mrs Patricia Carville OBE previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. She is a former school principal and has been a Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) Council member for over 24 years and a governor of a number of schools in both the primary and secondary sectors. Mrs Carville has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and she does not currently hold any other public appointments.

Professor Muredach Dynan previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. He is a member of the Board of Directors, Edmund Rice Schools Trust (NI) and a former Professor of Education emeritus, Australian Catholic University (ACU). Mr Dynan has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Mrs Sarah Kelly previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from July 2018 until 31 March 2019. She is a retired school principal and member of a board of governors. Mrs Kelly has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Mr Gerry Lundy previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from November 2017 until 31 March 2019. He is currently a self-employed Education Advisor, member of the board of governors of a grammar school and is a former deputy Chief Executive of CCMS. Mr Lundy has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Four persons nominated by the Transferor Representatives’ Council to represent the interests of transferors of controlled schools –

Reverend Amanda Adams previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019.  She is a Church of Ireland Minister in the Diocese of Connor and a governor of two primary schools.  Rev Adams has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Mr Edgar Jardine previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019.   He is a retired senior civil servant.  Mr Jardine currently holds one other public appointment: Vice-Chair of the Governing Body of Stranmillis University College, for which he receives no remuneration.  He has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past 5 years.

Reverend Robert Herron previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. He is a Presbyterian Church Minister serving in Omagh and a member of the Strule Main Campus Project 2 Board & the Managing Authorities Liaison Group.  Rev Herron has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Miss Rosemary Rainey OBE previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. She is vice-Chair of the Transferor Representatives’ Council, a governor of Grosvenor Grammar School, a member of the Board of Education, Methodist Church in Ireland and a Council member on the NI Cancer Registry Council.  She is also an honorary Life Member of the Women’s Forum NI, a committee member of Queen’s Women Graduates’ Association, a director of the Belfast South Network Company and treasurer of Bloomfield Collegiate School (former pupils’ association). Miss Rainey currently holds one other public appointment as Council member on the GTCNI, for which she receives no remuneration, and has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years.

One person nominated by Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta to represent the interests of Irish-medium schools –

Ms Áine Andrews previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. She is a member of the Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and Altram and is a former principal of Gaelscoil Na bhFál and a part-time lecturer with the North West Regional College. Ms Andrews has declared that she has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

One person nominated by the NI Council for Integrated Education to represent the interests of integrated schools –

Dr Ian McMorris previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019.  He is a management consultant for Linkubator Ltd, Springfield Road.  He is a former Chair of the Dale Farm Board, Chair of CBI in NI and Chair of the Board of NICIE. Dr McMorris has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

One person nominated by the Association of Controlled Grammar Schools to represent the interests of controlled grammar schools -

Mr Kieran Mulvenna is a recently retired school principal and secretary to the Board of Governors. He has chaired and led the Steering Group of the Carrickfergus Learning Community (CLC). Mr Mulvenna has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

One person nominated by the Governing Bodies Association to represent the interests of voluntary grammar schools –

Sir Gerry Loughran previously served as a representative member on the EA Board from April 2015 until 31 March 2019. He is a former Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the NI Executive.  He is currently Chair of Forward Emphasis International, Director of Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe and Chair of the board of governors of St Malachy’s College, Belfast.  Sir Gerry has declared that he has not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and does not hold any other public appointments.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Education Authority (EA) came into operation on 1 April 2015 and replaced the five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and their Staff Commission.
2. The constitution of the EA Board is set out in the Education Act (NI) 2014.  The Board comprises a Chairperson appointed by the Minister and 20 members who are nominated by a range of interests i.e. there are 12 members representing the trustees of maintained schools, transferors of controlled schools, Irish-Medium schools, integrated schools, voluntary grammar schools & controlled grammar schools, and 8 political members who are nominated by the relevant political parties.  
3. The appointment will commence on 1 April 2019 and end on 31 March 2020 (unless terminated before that time).  The annual remuneration for members on the EA Board is £8,800 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances.
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education’s Press Office telephone: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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