Northern Ireland Housing Executive Board Appointments

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has appointed Councillor Aoife Finnegan, Councillor Stephen McIlveen and Councillor Deirdre Varsani as Board Members of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) with effect from 8 January 2025 until the next local council elections.

This is in line with the statutory requirement to have four Board Members drawn from the Northern Ireland Housing Council (one member has already been appointed to the Board).

The NIHE was established by the Housing Executive Act (NI) 1971. It is the overall housing authority for Northern Ireland with an overall annual budget of over £1.2bm and a staff of approximately 3,500. 

Notes to editors: 

1. NIHE Board Members receive remuneration of £7,567 per annum for a minimum of one day per month.
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 biography.
3. Biographical Details:
   • Councillor Aoife Finnegan
   Aoife has been a Sinn Fein Councillor for Slieve Gullion, Newry Mourne and Down Council since 2020. As a political adviser, she has gained experience of analysing information from a wide variety of sources and applying effective scrutiny and constructive challenge to decisions. She deals with a range of stakeholders on a regular basis, including government departments, local councils and elected representatives, to work towards shared goals and successful outcomes for her constituents. She holds no other public appointments.
   • Councillor Stephen Mcilveen
   Stephen is a qualified solicitor, which includes running his own practice, and is a barrister with over 15 years' post qualification experience. He has been a Councillor for Newtownards since 2011, and DUP Group Leader on Ards and North Down Borough Council. In this role he has experience of working in partnership and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, experience of which he brings to the NIHE Board. He holds no other public appointments.
   • Councillor Deirdre Varsani
   Deirdre has been a Sinn Fein Councillor for Dungannon, Mid Ulster since 2023. As well as a full member of Council, she sits on a range of Committees and groups, for example the Planning Committee, Environment Committee, Policing and Community Safety Partnership and is the Housing Council representative for Mid Ulster Council. She has over 25 years' experience as a teacher, at various levels and in various settings, working with others to develop the ethos and vision for a range of schools and organisations. She holds no other public appointments.