Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) Board Appointments
Date published:
Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has announced the appointment of Mrs Ellen Finlay as a USEL Board Member. This appointment is from 1 December 2024 until 30 November 2028.
He has also announced the reappointment of Mr Damian Duffy and Ms Sarah Wakfer as USEL Board Members from 1 December 2024 until 30 November 2028. They have both served as Members since 1 December 2020.
USEL was established to provide supported paid employment for disabled people. Approximately 70% of employees at its manufacturing and recycling facility in Belfast have a disability or heath related condition. Today USEL is the largest supporter of people with disabilities within Northern Ireland with offices in Belfast, Londonderry, and Portadown. Each year the company supports over 1200 people with disabilities in more than 750 companies to enter and sustain employment through its various programmes. The company’s vision is “To be the lead provider in helping people with disabilities gain employment”.
Notes to editors:
1. The current remuneration for the position of a Board Member is £155 for each board meeting attended, plus reasonable expenses. Attendance is approximately 11 meetings per year.
2. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s (CPA NI) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, CPA NI requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Any relevant details are provided in the below biographies.
3. Biographical Details:
- Ellen Finlay. Mrs Finlay brings extensive experience from the voluntary, community, and public sectors. As a Commissioner for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, she serves on its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, contributing strategic oversight and policy insight. She founded the Mental Health Policy Alliance to foster collaboration within mental health advocacy and has a proven track record in advancing key social policies. With expertise in finance and policy development, Mrs. Finlay’s contributions add value to the Board. She does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years
- Sarah Wakfer. Ms Wakfer’s background is in local government primarily in internal audit, with experience of internal controls, risk management and good governance principles, and as Head of Policy for Arms Length Bodies. She has also been Chair of a Board of Directors of an organisation with responsibility for delivering funding to disadvantages groups. Ms Wakfer holds a Non-Executive role with the Department of Justice and is a Member of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority for which she receives remuneration of £6535 per annum. She has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
- Damian Duffy. Mr Duffy is Interim Principal/ Chief Executive at Belfast Metropolitan College with responsibility for strategic planning, financial oversight and governance. He has experience of developing skills and employability networks with a range of internal and external stakeholders to support training and apprenticeship programmes. He does not currently hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
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