Appointments to the Ministerial Advisory Group for Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland

The Department for Communities has announced the re-appointment of the Chair, Andrew Haley, and one Member, Roisin Donnelly, to the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for Architecture and the Built Environment NI from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2027. They have both served on the MAG in their current roles since 1 June 2019, with Andrew also previously serving as a Member since 1 May 2014.

In addition, seven new Members have been appointed from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2027:

• Dr David Coyles
• Dr Kate Crinion
• Mr Rodney Hall
• Prof Ruth Hunter
• Dr Barry McCarron
• Ms Alice McGlone
• Mrs Carol Ramsey

The MAG was established following publication of the ‘Architecture and the Built Environment’ policy. It advises on the implementation of this policy and champions good design in the built environment in Northern Ireland.

Notes to editors: 

Details of Appointments

1. Chair Remuneration: It is the expectation that the Chair will be required to work on MAG activities for 4 days per month – the first 2 days a month will be unremunerated, with the remaining 2 days paid at the daily rate of £250. Any additional work undertaken will be remunerated at the rate of £250 per day or £150 per half day.

2.  Member Remuneration: Members may be required to work on MAG’s activities including Design Review up to 2 days per month which will be unremunerated. Time over 2 days per month which is approved by the Secretariat will be remunerated at the rate of £250 per day or £150 per half day.

3.  Reasonable travelling and subsistence expenses incurred through carrying out official duties and certain dependant carer expenses determined in accordance with the Northern Ireland Civil Service Handbook can be claimed.

4. These re-appointments and appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice. 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, with detail provided in the below biographies.

Biography of MAG Chair:

Mr Andrew Haley

Andrew is a Director with The Paul Hogarth Company, is a Built Environment Expert with the Design Council and is a High Street Task Force Expert Advisor. He contributes his placemaking skills in neighbourhoods, towns, cities and rural locations, having been responsible for award-winning Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Regeneration projects across the UK, Ireland and internationally. These have included Hillsborough Castle, Connswater Community Greenway and the Wild Atlantic Way. His projects put people and the environment at their heart. Andrew leads MAG’s work in Northern Ireland, as well as representing it and sharing knowledge with UK counterparts and internationally. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Biographies of MAG Members:

Ms Roisin Donnelly

Roisin specialises in Historic Building Conservation, becoming an RIBA Accredited Specialist Conservation Architect in 2011. She is a former SPAB Scholar and has served on the Ulster Architectural Heritage and the RSUA Conservation Committees. Her expertise includes restoration and re-use of historic buildings as well as development proposals for significant or sensitive locations. She is currently a Project Manager with the National Trust responsible for Visitor and Commercial Growth across the region. As secretary of a local Regeneration Forum, she contributes to its management, governance and strategic direction. She does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Dr David Coyles

David currently works in academia as a senior lecturer in further education and is a qualified architect, having previously worked in an architectural practice. He is the Director of the Architectural Research Group at Ulster University, through which he helps provide insights into architecture, urban design, sustainable design and community engagement, and is an elected councillor of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Dr Kate Crinion

Kate currently works as an academic researcher and is a qualified architect, having previously worked in an architectural practice. Through her research she has worked collaboratively with others, engaged with stakeholders and worked towards an agreed outcome. She brings a range of planning and urban design skills to the MAG, with a particular interest on flood related issues. She does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Mr Rodney Hall

Rodney Hall is a registered architect, now semi-retired following a long career as principal/partner/director in local architectural practice, and is a former Council member of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. He has led a large number of successful architectural schemes covering sectors including healthcare, leisure, housing and conservation. He has worked with stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams on projects such as Bank Buildings in Belfast and Omagh Hospital. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Prof Ruth Hunter

Ruth is a Professor in Public & Planetary Health in higher education, focusing on how the urban environment can be improved for better population health and planetary health. She has experience in leading a range of research projects, and working with a range of partners and stakeholders on key government policies and consultations. She does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Dr Barry McCarron

Barry is an architectural technologist working in research and teaching in further education, through which he drives the college to be a leader in passive house construction locally, nationally, and internationally. He has worked with a range of delivery partners across a large number of countries to deliver energy efficient and renewable projects. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

Ms Alice McGlone

Alice is a qualified town planner, currently working in local government where she has managed a number of key regeneration schemes.  She previous has held roles in planning, housing, urban regeneration and the integration of services across the built and rural environments across the UK and Australia. She does not currently hold any other public appointments. She has undertaken political activity with the SDLP party in the past five years.

Mrs Carol Ramsey

Carol is a chartered Town Planner with over 40 years’ experience working across a number of Departments. She has worked on a range of major urban regeneration schemes and public realm schemes across Northern Ireland. She was Director of Strategic Planning in the Department of Infrastructure prior to her retirement in 2018. She is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a Board Member of Belfast Healthy Cities. She brings a range of skills and experiences in planning, community planning and working with communities to the MAG. She is also a Member of the Historic Buildings Council, which is unremunerated. She has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.

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