Extension of Appointments to the Board of Libraries NI

1. The primary duty of the Northern Ireland Library Authority (known as Libraries NI), as set down in the Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, is to provide a comprehensive and efficient public Library service for persons living, working or studying in Northern Ireland.

2. The member position receives remuneration of £3,000 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances in line with Northern Ireland Civil Service rates.

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

4.  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.

5. Biographical details

Mrs Deirdre Kenny

Mrs Kenny was previously Director of Corporate Services, Director of Health Development and Director of Road Safety and Vehicle Regulation in various government departments. She was appointed to the Board of the Northern Ireland Police Fund by DOJ on 1 April 2016 for which there is no remuneration. She has experience of gender equality and anti-discrimination issues, and also brings governance and financial responsibility skills to the Board.
Mrs Kenny holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years.

Ms Angela Matthews

Ms Matthews has been a member of the Libraries NI Board since 2009.
She is a qualified Barrister having been called to the Bar in 2011. She previously practised as an independent management consultant specialising in equality and diversity, advice and training. She is an Independent Member of the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal and is also a member of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland for which she receives a remuneration of £5050 per annum. She is a former member of the BBC Audience Council for Northern Ireland. Ms Matthews brings strong communication and advocacy skills to the Board, as well as experience of policy development. She holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years

Mr Alastair James McDowell OBE

Mr McDowell previously served as the acting Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Prior to that he was Head of Business Affairs at the Policing Board. Mr McDowell, who is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and a Graduate of the Open University, has wide corporate governance and financial management skills and experience and holds a post graduate diploma in IT Applications in Accounting from Dublin City University. He holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years.

Mr Harry Reid

Mr Reid is a Senior Partner of the specialist communications consultancy Purple Balloon and founder of the digital technology and disability charity Digital Express. Harry, who is a former Assistant Librarian, has thirty years experience of working in the third and public sectors, brings strategic planning, project management and digital inclusion experience to the Board of Libraries NI. Mr Reid holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years.

Ms Jane Williams

Ms Williams is an Education Officer at National Museums NI. She was formerly a Lecturer in Museum Studies at the University of Ulster, a member of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Chair of the Library Committee of the South Eastern Education and Library Board and a member of the Executive Committee of the Bryson Charitable Group. She has a particular interest in learning and in widening participation. She has brought strategy and policy development skills to the Board. Ms Williams holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years.

Dr Margaret Ward

Dr Ward was Chief Executive of the Women’s Resource and Development Agency until her retirement. She is a Board Member of National Museums NI for which she receives expenses only. She brings experience of equality and social inclusion issues, as well as strategic planning skills to the Board. Dr Ward holds no other public appointments and has declared no political activity in the last five years.

6. For media enquiries please contact the Department for Communities Press Office on 028 9082 3505 or email press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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