Announcement of the extension of the appointments of the Chair and Members of the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation

The Executive Office has announced the extension of the appointments of the Chair and Members of the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation (MLKDC). The Chair and Members were originally appointed on 10 September 2012 for a five year period. They were reappointed for a 12 month period on 10 September 2017.

The appointments of the following have been extended for a period of six months from 10 September 2018 to 9 March 2019:

• Mr Terence Brannigan (Chair)
• Prof Anthony (Tony) Gallagher
• Mr John (Jack) Gallagher
• Mr Maurice Kinkead
• Mr Ciaran Mackel
• Mr Duncan McCausland
• Mr Joe O’Donnell
• Dr Conor Patterson

Notes to editors: 

1. Biographical Details

Terence Brannigan (Chair)

Mr Brannigan brings senior management and Board-level skills with strategic management experience in the private and public sectors. Mr Brannigan is Chairman of Tourism Northern Ireland for which he receives £25,420 pa. Mr Brannigan’s other appointments include being Chairman of Epiquip International Ltd, Chairman of BrandBlack Ltd, a Board member of Co-operation Ireland and a Visiting Professor attached to the Business Institute and Ulster Business School at the University of Ulster. Mr Brannigan has not been involved in political activity in the last five years.

Prof Anthony (Tony) Gallagher

Professor Gallagher brings senior management level skills with experience in developing, implementing and monitoring corporate business strategies and in corporate governance and change. Professor Gallagher is Professor of Education (Chair) at Queen's University Belfast, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science, Acting Dean of Research in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Lead Editor of Education, Citizenship and Social Justice (Journal).  Professor Gallagher is not a member of any political party, but in the 2017 Assembly election he canvassed for a family member who stood as a candidate for the Social Democratic and Labour Party. He holds no other Ministerial appointments’.

John (Jack) Gallagher

Mr Gallagher brings senior management level skills with experience in developing, implementing and monitoring corporate business strategies and in corporate governance and change. Mr Gallagher has not been involved in political activity in the last five years and holds no other Ministerial appointments. 

Maurice Kinkead

Mr Kinkead brings extensive experience in applying interpersonal, influencing and networking skills to build commitment and consensus within a wide constituency of business community and political stakeholders to deliver agreed outcomes. Mr Kinkead is CEO of EastSide Partnership responsible for the regeneration of East Belfast. He is a Board Member of EastSide Arts, Connswater Community Greenway, EastSide Tourism and EastBelfast Enterprise. Mr Kinkead has not been involved in political activity in the last five years. He holds no other Ministerial appointments.

Ciaran Mackel

Mr Mackel brings senior management level skills with experience in developing, implementing and monitoring corporate business strategies and has extensive experience in a field of activity relevant to the discharge of the functions of the Corporation. Mr Mackel is the Director of ARdMackel Architects, Associate Senior Lecturer at the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University, and provides specialist advice on Architecture to the Ministerial Advisory Group for the Department for Communities. Mr Mackel has not been involved in political activity in the last five years.  He holds no other Ministerial appointments.

Duncan McCausland

Mr McCausland brings senior management level skills with experience in developing, implementing and monitoring corporate business strategies and in corporate governance and change. Mr McCausland is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Strategic Investment Board receiving a salary of £11,110 pa. Mr McCausland’s other appointments include Independent Board Member of the Department of Communities. Mr McCausland is Deputy Lieutenant for County Down and has not been involved in political activity in the last five years.

Joe O’Donnell

Mr O’Donnell brings extensive experience in a field of activity relevant to the discharge of the functions of the Corporation. As the Strategic Director of the Belfast Interface Project he is engaged in peacebuilding, reconciliation and conflict transformation. Mr O'Donnell has experience and expertise in senior positions in local social regeneration organisations in Belfast and practical knowledge in a range of perspectives including community development, social economy and regeneration. Mr O’Donnell has not been involved in any political activity during the past five years and holds no other Ministerial appointments.

Dr Conor Patterson

Dr Conor Patterson brings senior management level skills with experience in developing, implementing and monitoring corporate business strategies and in corporate governance and change. Dr Patterson is an economist and a chartered urban and regional planner. He has extensive experience of stakeholder engagement and local and international economic development. Dr Patterson is currently the Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Co-Operative and Enterprise Agency. Dr Patterson has not been involved in political activity in the last five years.  He holds no other Ministerial appointments.

2. The MLKDC was established by the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation) Order (NI) 2011 to secure the regeneration of the Maze Long Kesh site. The Corporation is an Executive non-departmental public body funded by The Executive Office (TEO). 

3. The MLKDC is governed by a Board consisting of a Chair and 10 Members (currently seven Members and three vacancies). The contracted remuneration for the Chair is £30,000 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses. Remuneration for Members is £6,000 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses.  However, the Chair and Board members have agreed an interim reduced remuneration package based on a per diem rate and reduced number of Board meetings, to reflect the current position in relation to the site.

4. The extensions have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. This information is included with the biographical details above.

5. Media enquiries to The Executive Office Press Office on 028 9037 8283. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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