Appointment of Members to the Board of Ulster Supported Employment Ltd

Communities Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, has appointed Damian Duffy and Sarah Wakfer as Board Members of Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) with effect from 1 December 2020 until 30 November 2024.

USEL is a Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Communities. It was established in 1962 to provide supported paid employment for disabled people. Approximately 70% of employees at its manufacturing and recycling facility in Belfast have a disability or heath related condition. Today USEL is the largest supporter of people with disabilities within Northern Ireland with offices in Belfast, Londonderry, Portadown and Ballymena. Each year the company supports over 1200 people with disabilities in more than 750 companies to enter and sustain economic employment through its various employment programmes.

Notes to editors: 

1. The current remuneration for the position of a Board Member is £140 for each board meeting attended and attendance is approximately 11 meetings per year.

2. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.

3. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, CPANI requires political activity of appointees to be published.

Biographical details:

Mr Damian Duffy

Mr Duffy is the Director of Development at Belfast Metropolitan College with responsibility for business development, training and apprenticeships and supporting strategic planning for skills and employability programmes for the future. He has experience of working within the public and private sector to support financial management and developing networks, and strategic relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. He holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity during the last five years.

Ms Sarah Wakfer

Ms Wakfer’s background is in local government primarily in internal audit and business improvement, with experience of internal controls, risk management and good governance principles, and as Head of Policy for Alternative Service Delivery.  She has also been Chair of a Board of Directors of a Community Interest Company that works with people with physical disabilities and mental ill health. She holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity during the last five years.

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