Reappointment of Commissioners to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

1. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) was established as the regulator of charities operating in Northern Ireland following the enactment of the Charities (Northern Ireland) Act 2008. The main functions of CCNI are to keep a public register of charities; encourage, facilitate and monitor compliance with charity law; determine charity status; identify and investigate misconduct in charity administration and take remedial or protective action as necessary.

2. The board of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland comprises a Chief Commissioner, a Deputy Chief Commissioner and five Commissioners. The Chief Commissioner receives remuneration of £5,750 per annum, the Deputy Chief Commissioner £3,450 and Commissioners £2,300 per annum in respect of their appointments.

3. The reappointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s (CPA NI) 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

Mr Steven Cockcroft

Mr Cockcroft is currently the Managing Partner of Johns Elliot, a commercial law firm in Belfast. With over 25 years’ experience, his main practice areas are commercial property law, with a particular emphasis on landlord and tenant issues, and matters of corporate governance. He has contributed articles to business and professional publications on these topics, and acted as a part-time tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. He also currently sits as a co-optee on two Law Society Committees concerned with property and regulatory matters. Mr Cockcroft has declared no political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Ms Geraldine Donaghy

Ms Donaghy was formerly Chief Executive of the Confederation of Community Groups, Newry & Mourne. Ms Donaghy has wide experience of the N.I. Charity and Voluntary Sector and has particular skills in the area of governance and compliance. Previously she has served as a Trustee of the Community Foundation for N.I. and a Non-Executive Director of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. She is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Southern Health & Social Care Board for which she receives £7,960 per annum. Ms Donaghy has declared no political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Seamus Magee

Mr Magee was the Head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland from 2001 until his retirement in 2014. He played a key role in the introduction of individual electoral registration and establishment of a regulatory framework for political parties in Northern Ireland. He was awarded an OBE for services to democracy in the Queens New Year Honours List 2015. He previously worked in the fields of health, social services and consumer affairs. Mr Magee is a non-executive lay member of the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority for which he receives an annual remuneration of £5,962. He is also a lay assessor with the General Medical Council and serves on the Board of Governors of Assumption Grammar School. He has declared no political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

6. For media enquiries please contact the Department for Communities Press Office on 028 9082 3512 or email press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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