Northern Ireland Minister appoints new members to Board of the Education Authority

The Northern Ireland Education Minister has announced the appointment of 12 members to the Board of the Education Authority (EA). Six new members have been appointed with six reappointed.

Education Minister, Paul Givan said:

“I am pleased to appoint these 12 members to the Board of the Education Authority. The education sector and the EA are facing unprecedented challenges and the appointment of these members, each with their own expertise and skills, will prove invaluable in taking forward a programme of transformation to address these issues.

“I would like to thank the outgoing members for their work and contribution to the Board during their tenure and wish the new appointees all success in the years ahead.”

The appointments are as follows:

Four persons nominated by the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education (NICCE) to represent the interests of trustees of maintained schools:

Mrs Patricia Carville OBE has served as a representative member on the EA Board since April 2015.  She is a former school principal of St Patrick's College, Dungannon and has been a Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) Council member for over 29 years and a Governor of a number of schools in both the primary and secondary sectors. 

Mrs Marie Lindsay is a former school principal of St Mary's College, Londonderry.  She is a Governor of a primary school, chairperson of the Board of Management of an Irish school and a member of Council at Ulster University.

Mrs Gillian McGrath has served as a representative member on the EA Board since February 2021 and is a former Director of Education in CCMS.  She is an Independent Education Adviser, College Governor and Director on the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church, and Trustee of an Educational Trust.

Mr Arthur Scott is a former senior civil servant completing 20 years across four different Departments, an Executive Agency and a Non-Departmental Public Body.  

Four persons nominated by the Transferor Representatives' Council (TRC) to represent the interests of transferors of controlled schools:

Reverend Canon Amanda Adams has served as a representative member on the EA Board since April 2015.  She is a Church of Ireland Minister in the Diocese of Connor and a Governor of a number of schools in both the primary and secondary sectors. 

Reverend Robert Herron OBE has served as a representative member on the EA Board since April 2015 and is a retired Presbyterian Church Minister.  He is a member of the Strule Main Campus Project 2 Board and the Managing Authorities Liaison Group.

Mrs Edith Shaw is retired with a background in education and training and is a College Governor.  She is a Director of the Open College Network Northern Ireland.

Mr John Wilkinson OBE is a former member of the CCEA Council, the Southern Education and Library Board and more recently, a Non-Executive Director of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.  He is an Associate with CCEA.

One person nominated by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) to represent the interests of integrated schools:

Mr Maurice Johnston has served as a representative member on the EA Board since April 2020.  He is a former member of the North Eastern Education and Library Board and worked for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for 37 years. He is currently a Governor in the primary school sector.

One person nominated by the Association of Controlled Grammar Schools (ACGS) to represent the interests of controlled grammar schools:

Mr Trevor Robinson OBE is retired from the teaching profession after 36 years working in the grammar school sector where he was headmaster of Lurgan College. He is a former Director of the Controlled Schools Support Council, President of the Association of School and College Leaders NI as well as Chairman of the Association of Controlled Grammar Schools.  He is a Trustee of Ahorey Presbyterian Church. 

One person nominated by Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) to represent the interests of Irish-medium schools:

Mrs Eilís Uí Néill is a former teacher in the Irish Medium school sector and principal of Scoil na Fuiseoige, Dunmurry. She is an external reviewer for the Performance Review of Staff Development Scheme in several Irish medium schools and is a Professional Associate with CnaG.

One person nominated by the Governing Bodies Association (GBA) to represent the interests of voluntary grammar schools:

Mr Ronnie Hassard currently a Director and Vice-Chairperson of the GBA representing the voluntary grammar sector and is a College Governor. He has over 40 years' experience in controlled and voluntary post-primary schools and is a former school principal of Wellington College, Belfast and Ballymena Academy. 

The members have extensive backgrounds in such areas as corporate governance, finance, analytical ability and decision making, team working and communication. Their significant knowledge and skills will play a key role in underpinning the work of the Board.

All members have declared that they have not undertaken any political activity during the past five years and only one member, Mrs Patricia Carville, holds one other public appointment as member of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools for which she receives an attendance allowance of £22 for up to four hours and £30.39 for more than four hours.  All other members do not hold any other public appointments.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Education Authority (EA) came into operation on 1 April 2015, replacing the five former Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and their Staff Commission.

2. The constitution of the EA Board is set out in the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.  The Board comprises a Chairperson appointed by the Minister and 20 members who are nominated by a range of interests, i.e. there are 12 members appointed after consultation with bodies representing the trustees of maintained schools, transferors of controlled schools, Irish-Medium schools, integrated schools, voluntary grammar schools and controlled grammar schools, and eight political members who are nominated by the relevant political parties.  

3. The appointment of nominated members will commence on 1 April 2024 and end on 31 March 2025 (unless terminated before that time).  The annual remuneration for members on the EA Board is £8,800 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances. The expected time commitment for members on the EA Board is up to five days per month, including evening meetings and public occasions.