The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Today Announced the Appointment of Four New Members to the Cafre
College Advisory Group Cag).
The Role of the Cag Is to Provide Advice at a Strategic and
Operational Level to the Management Team of Cafre. The Group Was
Established in January 2007 and Reports to the Acting College
Director, Paul Mchenry. In Carrying out Its Work, the Group Takes
Full Account of Departmental Policies and Strategies.
Orlaith Mclaughlin, Lawrence Whyte, Stephen Black and Cathal
Mcdonnell Have Been Appointed for a Three-year Period.
The Daera Minister, , Said: I Welcome the
Appointments of Ms Mclaughlin, Mr Whyte, Mr Black and Mr
Mcdonnell. The Advisory Group Plays an Important Role in Helping
Cafre Deliver Excellent Services to the Farming and Agri-food
Sectors and I'm Sure That the Wealth of Experience Brought by the
New Members Will Enable Cafre to Continue to Be Recognised As a
World Leader in Agri-food Education Provision.”
Minister Muir Also Thanked the Previous Members Esther
Skelly-smith, Malcolm Emery, Roy Little, and Deborah O'hare for
Their Work on the College Advisory Group, Recognising the
Important Work That This Group Has Done over the past Number of
Years.
Notes to Editors:
2. The College Advisory Group:
I. Makes Recommendations Regarding the Development of the College
Strategic Business Plan to Meet the Needs of Industry,
Participants and the Community in Line with the Daera Vision and
Strategic Goals and Its Policies on Education and Technology
Transfer;
Ii. Monitors the Programmes Delivered by the College and Makes
Recommendations Regarding Their Relevance to the Daera Strategic
Goals and Their Effectiveness in Meeting the Needs of Industry,
Participants and the Community;
Iii. Monitors the Delivery of the College Strategic Business
Plan, Including Achievement of Physical and Financial Targets,
and Value for Money and Makes Recommendations on How Performance
Could Be Improved;
Iv. Advises the College on the Marketing and Promotion of
Programmes to Secure Optimum Industry and Community Involvement
in the Development, Delivery and Uptake of Programmes.
3. Ms Orlaith Mclaughlin Will Represent the Equine Sector. She
Has Had a Lifelong Involvement in the Equine Industry from an
Early Age, As a Member of the Pony Club, Competing in a Wide
Range of Disciplines Including Eventing, Dressage and Mounted
Games. Before Moving into a Full-time Teaching Career, Ms
Mclaughlin Worked Within the Equine Industry Focussing Primarily
on the Development of Young Horses. In Recent Years She Has
Worked on a Part-time Basis Within the Horse Racing Industry and
Has an Interest in the Retraining and Welfare of Racehorses
Beyond Their Competitive Careers. In Addition, She Is Completing
a Masters in Equine Science.
4. Mr Lawrence Whyte Will Represent the Production Horticulture
Sector. He Comes from an Organic Suckler-beef and Cropping
Farming Background but Has Developed a Strong Interest in
Horticulture Having Been Involved in the Running of His Family's
Small Vegetable Operation, Producing for Local Markets. He
Further Developed His Experience in Horticultural Production
Working in a Local Agri-supplies Business; Supporting Agronomists
and Advising Growers. Mr Whyte Is Currently a Policy Assistant at
the Ulster Farmers' Union Ufu), Engaging with Members Involved in
the Horticulture Sector and Supporting Communication of Policy
Developments. At Farm Level, He Continues to Be Closely Involved
in the Management of Crop Production.
5. Mr Stephen Black Will Represent the Secondary Education
Sector. Since 1988, He Has Been Employed in Secondary Education
and Has Been a School Principal for Almost 19 Years; Firstly, in
Antrim Grammar School and from 2014 in Ballymena Academy. In
Addition, He Has Held Roles Including Principal Examiner for Ccea
a Level Mathematics, President of the Association of School and
College Leaders Ni), Member of Various Department of Education
Working Groups and Member of the Executive Committee of the
Governing Bodies Association. Outside of School, He Is an Ulster
Branch Representative on the Irfu Where He Is a Member of the
Management Committee and Chairman of Its Rugby Committee.
6. Mr Cathal Mcdonnell Will Represent Sustainability in the
Supply Chain. He Is Currently the Head of Business Transformation
and Sustainability at Deli Lites Ireland, Heading up the
Development and Delivery of Their Sustainability Strategy for the
past 11 Years. He Has Led Numerous Renewable Energy and Waste
Projects; Including Achieving Reductions in Plastic Packaging
Waste by 20% Year on Year for the past 4 Years, 0% Waste to
Landfill and 100% of Food Waste Being Used for Energy Generation.
He Has Overseen the Company Becoming the World's First Bcorp
Certified Sandwich Producer, Which Is One of the World's Most
Prestigious Sustainability Certifications. He Is Also a Member of
the Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee Who Advise and
Support the Food Standards Agency to Achieve Their Mission of
Safe, Healthier and More Sustainable Food.
7. These Appointments Were Made in Accordance with the
Departments Statutory Equality Duties Under Section 75. Also, in
Line with the Department's Published Commitments in Its Audit of
Inequalities, Daera Took All Necessary Steps to Address
Under-representation on Its Advisory Group.
8. The Period of Appointment Is Initially for Three Years. A
Payment Is Made for Each Meeting Attended and Expenses Are
Available for Travelling Costs and Childcare Costs.
