Reappointments to the Board of Sport NI

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has reappointed Mr George Lucas as Chair, Mr Jay Colville as Vice-Chair and Mr Darryl Petticrew as a Board Member of the Board of Sport NI with effect from 1 February 2021 until 31 January 2025.

They have all served one term of appointment on the Sport NI Board, in their current positions, from 1 February 2017 to 31 January 2021.

Sport NI works with the Department for Communities to deliver on Sport Matters: The NI Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation, 2009-2019. This Strategy sets out a new shared sporting vision of "a culture of lifelong enjoyment and success in sport", as well as the key strategic priorities for sport and physical recreation, and informs the direction of future investment – underpinning three areas: participation, performance and places. The constitution of the Sports Council for NI (Sport NI) is set out in Schedule 1 of the Recreation and Youth Service (NI) Order 1986.

Notes to editors: 

1. The current remuneration for the position of a Chair is £26,900 per annum, with an expected time commitment of eight days per month.

2, The current remuneration for the position of a Vice-Chair is £3,500 per annum, with an expected time commitment of 15 days per annum.

3. Board Member positions are unpaid and receive expenses only. The time commitment is 12 days per annum.

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

5. 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.

6. Biographical details:   

Mr George Lucas: Mr Lucas has operated at Board level for over 30 years. He held the roles of Managing Director of Corus Steel Ireland and Chair of Steel Company of Ireland during a long and successful career in the industry. Formerly Chair of the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI), he is also a past Chair of the Ulster Branch of Tennis Ireland. He has brought a range of business, change management and sport sector experience to Sport NI since his appointment as Chair of its Board in February 2017 by the NI Executive’s Minister for Communities.  He was appointed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to the Board of UK Sport for a three-year term in July 2020. A strong believer in the lifelong benefits from participation in sport and physical recreation, a keen sportsman he currently plays tennis for Ireland at Veterans level and has competed in 14 International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Team Championships, held in a range of countries.  He is a Trustee of Downshire Tennis Club in Hillsborough, County Down, having served for 25 years as its Chair. As Sport NI Chair, his appreciation of and commitment to all parts of the sporting system from participation to high performance level has proved valuable.  He takes an active interest in a wide range of sports and positively promotes the power of sport for all. Mr Lucas has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Jay Colville: Mr Colville is the previous Area Director of Nationwide Building Society in Northern Ireland, where he had responsibility for 14 branches and 200 staff. He was the Chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders in Northern Ireland, as well as a former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Royal Yachting Association NI. He brings leadership, management and team working skills to the Sport NI Board. Mr Colville has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Darryl Petticrew: Mr Petticrew works for Deloitte UK, where he specialises in Programme and Project Management for major Transformation Programmes with Clients across the UK and Europe. He has over 10 years’ experience working in sport, with previous roles in the community and voluntary sector as well as private sector. He has delivered major projects for Ulster Rugby and is a prominent Committee Member of his local basketball club. He brings experience in Programme/ Project Management, equality and social inclusion, strategic planning and knowledge of the sector to Sport NI. Mr Petticrew has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

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8. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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