Appointment of new Members to the Historic Building Council and Historic Monuments Council

Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA has announced the appointment of the following new Members to the Historic Building Council following open competition:

• Mr John Anderson
• Mr Ciaran Andrews        
• Mrs Johanna Higgins
• Mr Erl Johnston
• Mr Paul Kendrick
• Mr Charles McMurray MBE  
• Dr Tanja Poppelreuter

These seven appointments are with effect from 1 July 2016 until 30 June 2019.

He has also announced the appointment of the following new Members to the Historic Monuments Council following open competition:

• Miss Christina O’Regan
• Mr Robert Wilson

These two appointments are with effect from 1 July 2016 until 30 June 2021.

Welcoming the appointments, the Minister said: “I am delighted to make these appointments to the Historic Buildings Council and Historic Monuments Council. The individuals have a wealth of experience that will be of great assistance to both Councils, helping government maintain our built heritage for future generations, as well as allowing our assets to be positively developed to realise their full potential.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Historic Buildings Council (HBC), a statutory advisory council to the Department for Communities, was first established in 1973 under the provisions of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. HBC was re-established under the provisions of the Planning (NI) Order 1991. Its current authority is derived from the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. It provides independent advice to the Department on the listing of buildings, the general state of listed buildings and other matters relating to their preservation and the contribution they make to our communities and economy.
2. The Historic Monuments Council was first established in 1971 under the provisions of the Historic Monuments (Northern Ireland) Act 1971. Its current authority is derived from the Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (the Order). Its roots rest in the Ancient Monuments Advisory Council 1926-1970. It is a statutory advisory council which provides advice to the Department of Communities on the exercise of its powers under the Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (NI) Order 1995.  This includes the conservation and preservation of monuments in state care, scheduling of monuments, maritime archaeology, industrial and defence heritage and the identification of Areas of Significant Archaeological Interest in the context of Development Plans.
3. Members of both Councils are not paid but are entitled to an allowance for travelling and other expenses including a subsistence allowance, payable in line with current Civil Service rates.
4. The appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.
5. 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 political activity of appointees to be published.
6. Biographical details:

   Historic Building Council Members

   Mr John Anderson

   John is a mechanical engineer, initially working in the racing car construction industry. He has been a Director and Committee member of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society since 2002 and is currently Chair of its Planning and Policy Subgroup. John has previously served three terms on the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside. He has been a Director and committee member of the Glenarm Buildings Preservation Trust since 2004 and has been actively involved in the re-generation and protection of buildings in the Larne and Glenarm area. Interested in industrial heritage and machinery, he also has a long term interest in both defence structures and military history. John does not currently hold any other public appointments and has stood as an Independent in a Council election within the past five years.

   Mr Ciaran Andrews

   Ciaran is a Chartered Building Surveyor, Chartered Architectural Technologist and one of only two RICS Accredited Building Conservation Surveyors in NI. He has almost 14 years experience in the conservation, maintenance and repair of historic buildings, for example the restoration of Castle Leslie and Belfast City Hall. Ciaran has been a part-time lecturer for over five years in Belfast Metropolitan College, lecturing Construction/Architecture students. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Mrs Johanna Higgins

   Johanna was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1993, in 1994 to the Northern Ireland Bar and to the Bar of Ireland in 2007. Since her call to the NI Bar she has practised law as an independent barrister, an in-house lawyer with the Law Centre and, most recently, as a Senior Public Prosecutor. Johanna was employed by the Public Prosecution Service NI from 2002 until her recent early retirement and has a great interest and experience in all matters pertaining to history. She does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Mr Erl Johnston

   Erl is a chartered member of the Engineering Council (through the Institution of Engineering and Technology) and spent the greater part of his professional life as an engineer within the Airbus organisation. His enthusiasm for historic buildings was a significant factor for him in changing his professional career from engineering to architecture. Erl has made his interest in heritage buildings and in their cultural and economic value a central theme. He has worked on a number of listed buildings and related projects and is a member of the managing committee of the Hearth Housing Association. Erl does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Mr Paul Kendrick

   Paul as a chartered surveyor, has gained extensive knowledge of the built heritage of NI having worked as a property manager for the National Trust in England and NI for more than 17 years. During his time with the National Trust he was involved in the restoration of many historic buildings, particularly in obtaining funding for restoration projects as well acting as a managing agent for four major houses and for key sites such as the Giant’s Causeway. Paul has also been involved in tourism studies specialising in the built and natural heritage. He has held several roles in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), culminating as Chairman of RICS in NI from 2013-2015. Paul does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Mr Charles McMurray MBE

   Charles has been an accountant for more than 35 years. During his career he was the Regional Financial Controller for the National Trust in NI, during which time he convinced National Trust headquarters of the merits of acquiring Patterson’s Spade Mill. Charles was also accountant for the NI Tourist Board. He has also served as a volunteer committee member for Hearth Housing Association for 25 years and has served as a volunteer for Belfast Buildings Trust since its incorporation in 1995. Charles was awarded an MBE in January 2013 for services to built heritage and conservation in NI. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Dr Tanja Poppelreuter

   Tanja is a lecturer at Belfast School of Architecture (part of Ulster University) specialising in the history and theory of architecture. She is a trained art historian with a long standing interest in the history of art and architecture. She is a member of the All Ireland Architectural Research Group, European Architectural History Network, the Association of Art Historians and a member of the editorial committee of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects 'Perspective' Magazine. She was an intern in the architectural practice Bingenheimer, Schadler, Schmilinsky und Partner in Darmstadt, Germany while still a student. The practice focused on architectural conservation of predominantly medieval structures such as monasteries, fortresses, bakeries and mills. Tanja does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Historic Monuments Council Members

   Miss Christina O’Regan

   Christina is a Board member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland. She has a BA in Archaeology and History and an MSc in Environmental Archaeology, and has spent her entire career working in archaeology. Christina has worked on the preservation, conservation and investigation of historical monuments and sites. She has also been involved with heritage management throughout the island of Ireland. She currently works as an archaeological consultant providing technical reports to clients. Christina does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

   Mr Robert Wilson

   Robert has served as Principal of Limavady Grammar School for seven years, managing a budget of £3.2 million. He previously taught geography for almost 30 years, placing an emphasis on the principles of conservation and sustainability. He will retire from this role in the summer of 2016. He has experience of serving on the Boards of School Employers Connections, Roe Valley Learning Community and Association of Controlled Grammar Schools. Robert has been a member of Queen’s University Head Teachers Focus Group for five years and UCAS Council for three years. Robert does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

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