Extension of Non-Executive Member Appointments for the Board of Northern Ireland Water

17 July 2019 12:36

The Department for Infrastructure has announced that the appointment terms of Mr Kingsley Donaldson, Ms Trisha McAuley, Mr James McCall, Mr Peter McNaney and Mr John Rae, Non-Executive Members to the Board of Northern Ireland Water (NIW), have been extended.

This is with effect from 1 August 2019 to 31 January 2020. 

These extensions have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.

Notes to editors:

1. NI Water is established as a government owned company (DfI is the sole shareholder). It operates under a Companies Act. The articles of association state that the Board shall consist of no more than 10 Directors including the Chair.
2. The Board currently has a membership of a Chair, five Non-Executive Members and four Executive Members. The Non-Executive Members currently receive remuneration of £18,000 per annum based on anticipated attendance of 2 days per month.
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 to be published.  All five Members have declared that they are not involved in any political activities.
4. Kingsley Donaldson retired from the Army in 2015 after over 20 years’ service with the Ministry of Defence. Since then he has held a number of senior executive and non-executive positions in business and industry as well as running his own conflict resolution consultancy. He has considerable experience in leadership, risk advisory, finance, strategic management and reputational engagement. He is also currently the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Veterans Advice and Pensions Committee.
5. Trisha McAuley is an independent consumer expert and Non-Executive Director. For over twenty years she was a senior executive in the Scottish and National Consumer Councils and Consumer Focus, and she was the Scottish Director of Consumer Futures. She was awarded an OBE for services to consumer affairs in 2015. She is currently working across the UK in a range of sectors and regulated industries, including as a Member of the Heathrow Consumer Challenge Board and as the Independent Chair of the National Grid RIIO-2 Gas and Electricity Transmission User Groups.
6. James McCall has a background in the health and social care sector. He was employed as Managing Director and adviser to Four Seasons Healthcare in Northern Ireland and Wales and has experience of strategic management, leadership and employee relations. He has served on the Board of Diabetes UK as Northern Ireland Trustee. He is currently a Board member of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and receives remuneration of £7,108 per annum. He is also a member of the Governing Body of Belfast Metropolitan College and he receives circa £3.500 per annum. He serves on the Board of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and receives remuneration of £8,978.00 per annum. James is also a Lay Member of the Northern Ireland Care Tribunal and a Member of the Belfast Metropolitan College Trust which is not remunerated.
7. Peter McNaney was the Chief Executive of Belfast City Council from 2002-2014. He has experience in finance, strategic management and corporate governance from working within the public and local government sectors. He is a qualified solicitor and was Director of Legal Services for the Council 1994-2002. He is a past Chair of Belfast Metropolitan College and was a member of Invest NI until August 2018. He is currently Chair of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and receives remuneration of £35,000 per annum.
8. John Rae has served on NI Water’s Board since October 2011. He is currently the Water Operations Director of Scottish Water and he has considerable professional experience within the Water Industry, including operations, customer focus, programme and project management, leadership and strategy.  He was previously a Board member for both Scottish Water Solutions and the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme; and received no remuneration for these two positions.
9. These are extensions rather than re-appointments. 
10. The Department for Infrastructure does not reappoint board members automatically to a second term. All appointments are made through open competition.
11. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press on 028 9037 8110.
12. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra