Minister Muir makes new Northern Ireland AFBI Board appointments

Minister Muir makes new AFBI Board appointments

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has appointed Siobhan McCauley as the new Deputy Chair of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Board.

The Minister has also appointed Xiaohui Chen, David Graham, Brian McTeggart, Bill Montgomery, Thérèse Rafferty, Nigel Scollan, Esther Skelly-Smith, Joseph Stewart, Derek Wilson and Vanessa Woods as Members of the AFBI Board.

Confirming the appointments, Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to welcome the new Deputy Chair and Members to the Board of AFBI.  The appointees will play a key role in leading and governing AFBI in the delivery of its statutory functions and scientific services in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, food, fisheries, forestry, the natural environment and rural development and enterprise.

“As I welcome the new Deputy Chair and Members, I would also like to offer my sincere thanks to the outgoing Board Members; Martyn Blair, Daphne Johnston, Tim McClelland, Alan Moore, Tom Tynan and Tom Wright for their dedication and valuable contributions throughout their tenures.”

Notes to editors:

1. The appointments are effective from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2028.  Bill Montgomery and Thérèse Rafferty have previously served one term as AFBI Board Members from 1 May 2022 to 31 July 2025.  Their appointment to a second term through this public appointment process is effective for a two-year term from 1 August 2025 until 31 July 2027.

2. The Deputy Chair position attracts a remuneration of £12,289 per annum (under review). The Member position remuneration is £436 per day (under review).

3. AFBI, set up by the Agriculture (NI) Order 2004, is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by DAERA. It is empowered under the Order to undertake scientific work (research and development, testing, advice and information on scientific matters and dissemination of the results of scientific research) in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, food, fisheries, forestry, the natural environment and rural development and enterprise.

4. Biographical Details of the appointees are listed below:

Siobhan McCauley brings significant experience from senior roles across the public and private sectors, including in tourism and housing.  With a background in economic and business development, she has considerable experience of financial management, corporate governance and strategic planning.  As the former Director of Regional Services at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, she was responsible for leading the regional housing services, providing strategic direction and oversight of large-scale investment and transformational initiatives.  Siobhan is currently a Board Member of Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority and a Non-Executive Director to the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which are remunerated at £5,355 and £9,327 per year respectively.

Dr. Xiaohui Chen is an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds and is currently the Deputy Director of Research and Innovation at the School of Civil Engineering, with expert knowledge in Physics-Informed Machine Learning (PIML) and Coupled Multiphysics Modelling for Materials and Fluids.  He has led and directed numerous research initiatives with broad industrial applications across his specialist areas including geotechnical engineering, water research, subsurface disposal, energy, sustainable agriculture and food, biodiversity and environmental engineering.  He is a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Science and a Chartered Environmentalist. 

Dr. David Graham is a qualified vet and has a wealth of experience in animal health matters including specialist knowledge in the diagnosis and control of viral and bacterial diseases. In a previous role in the Department of Agriculture's then Science Service (now AFBI), he led a cattle health scheme promoting monitoring, eradication and accreditation programmes to tackle bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), Johne's disease and leptospirosis and also led the Fish Diseases Unit. More recently, as the former Chief Executive of Animal Health Ireland, he developed and led national programmes addressing health and welfare in the cattle, pig, sheep and poultry sectors. He currently works as an animal health consultant.

Bill Montgomery OBE has vast experience in economic development and international investment working for the Industrial Development Board and Invest Northern Ireland. He has held a variety of Director roles in Northern Ireland including leading the International Investment Division, where he was responsible for negotiating and securing high value global projects, and more recently encouraging export growth and innovation in the advanced manufacturing sector. Bill received an OBE in 2023 for his contribution to the Northern Ireland economy.   Bill is currently a Member of the AFBI Board receiving a remuneration of £436 per day and a Member of Belfast Metropolitan College Governing Body receiving a remuneration of £250/ £150 for governing/committee meetings respectively.

Brian McTeggart has extensive experience in financial management, governance and organisational development and transformation. He runs a holiday property management business and has held various senior public sector roles, including as a director at Waterways Ireland and in the former Department of Culture, Art and Leisure. In these roles, he had responsibility for a significant budget and capital investment programme, as well as oversight of strategic and business planning, finance, property and legal services and governance arrangements for Arm's Length Bodies. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Brian is a Lay Member of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, where he has also served as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, remunerated at £338 per day.

Thérèse Rafferty is a graduate of Queen's University, the University of Ulster, and an alumnus of Boston College, Massachusetts. She has held senior roles across a career in higher education and local government. Her extensive experience includes the delivery of a wide portfolio of strategic and capital development programmes and environmental initiatives, financial and corporate planning and performance and risk management. Thérèse is currently a Member of the AFBI Board, receiving a remuneration of £436 per day and a Member of National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland which is not remunerated.

Professor Nigel Scollan is currently the interim Head of School of Biological Sciences and Professor of Agriculture and Sustainability in the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast.  From his academic and research background, Nigel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on livestock agriculture and sustainable agricultural food systems.  Nigel also has a strong track record in knowledge exchange and partnering with industry in the practical application of research and has initiated and managed numerous national and international projects, working with scientific and industry partners.

Dr. Esther Skelly-Smith MRCVS is a practicing equine veterinary surgeon, sheep farmer and business owner, with a special interest in equine welfare, sports medicine and rehabilitation.  She is past President of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association and British Veterinary Association Northern Ireland; and is the current chair of the British Veterinary Association Animals in Performance Sport Working Group. She holds roles such as Honorary Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast and is a published researcher, peer reviewer and supervisor of postgraduate research. Esther currently sits on the CAFRE College Advisory Group which is remunerated at £237 per day and DAERA's High-Level Science Advisory Group, remunerated at £250 per day.

Joseph Stewart OBE LLB JP brings significant finance and governance experience from his executive and non-executive roles in the private and public sectors. He has extensive experience at Director level in employee relations and occupational health and safety matters. Joseph runs two breeding flocks on his family farm and was a trustee of the Suffolk Sheep Society until 31 March 2025, as well as an experienced horse breeder. Joseph is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Public Health Agency, chairing its Governance and Audit Committee, which is remunerated at £9,678 per year.  He is also the Chair of the Livestock and Meat Commission, remunerated at £18,180.75 per year.

Derek Wilson has a background in financial services, having held a number of senior positions in several banking institutions, latterly specialising in mortgage finance.  Derek has significant experience in managing risk and business transformation and change in the financial sector and has extensive experience in governance matters through his non-executive roles, having served on a number of boards.  He is currently the Non-Executive Chair of the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, with a remuneration of £16,131.  Derek is also a Commissioner with the Parades Commission, which is remunerated at £22,000 and serves as a member of the governing body of the South Eastern Regional College which is remunerated at £250/£150 for governing/committee meetings respectively.

Dr. Vanessa B. Woods is founder and Chief Executive of Ireland's first Science Communications Consultancy. She works with government bodies, agri-food industry leaders, engineering and education professionals, translating science into accurate and engaging messages and stories. A former Chief Executive of independent consumer education body, Agri Aware, she has award-winning experience in communications and consumer engagement. Vanessa brings a strong scientific background, with a degree in Microbiology and PhD in ruminant nutrition. She was previously a Senior Scientist with AFBI, working in the areas of carbon footprinting, global research and data modelling. She also delivered lectures at Queen's University Belfast. 

5. The above appointments are based on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) requires the political activity of appointees to be published. The appointees have not been involved in any political activity during the past five years.

6. These appointments are made in accordance with the Agriculture (NI) Order 2004 and the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.