Sport NI Chair Appointment

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has appointed Gavin Boyd as the Chair of the Sport NI Board from 10 February 2025 to 09 February 2029.

He previously served as a Sport NI Board Member from 1 August 2021 to 27 August 2023, interim Vice-Chair from 28 August 2023 to 31 May 2024, and permanent Vice-Chair from 1 June 2024 to 9 February 2025.

Sport NI was established in 1973 to develop sport and physical recreation in Northern Ireland, in line with the Recreation and Youth Service (NI) Order 1986 and is an Arm's-Length Body of the Department for Communities (DfC). Its main objective is the furtherance of sport and physical activity in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity – ‘Active Living' – sets out a vision of: ‘Lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity will deliver an active, healthy, resilient and inclusive society which recognises and values both participation and excellence.'

Notes to editors: 

1. The Chair position attracts remuneration of £29,664 (currently under review) per year, plus travel and subsistence. This post will require an initial commitment of 8 days per month, which may be subject to review.
2. This appointment has 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 biography.
3. Gavin Boyd Biography: Mr Boyd is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having held a range of high-level positions across the private and public sectors. As the first Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Education Authority he designed and implemented the management and corporate governance structures for the new organisation. He is a former Director of the Cawoods Group, the largest fuel distributor in Northern Ireland. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.