Commissioner for Older People appointed
Date published:
The First Minister and deputy First Minister have today announced the appointment of Siobhan Casey as the new Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said:
“We want to congratulate Siobhan on her appointment to this very important role. Older people are at the heart of our families and play a vital role in our communities and it is important we do everything we can to support them.
“Siobhan has significant experience working with older people and we are confident that she will be a strong champion for their rights and needs in the years ahead.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:
“Older people make a valuable contribution in so many ways and it is only right that we appoint a Commissioner who will ensure they have the support and services they need.
“Driving change to improve the wellbeing of older people has been central to Siobhan’s work and I have no doubt she will use her experience to make sure their voices are heard.”
Siobhan will take up her post on 7 April 2025 for a period of four years.
Notes to editors:
- The Written Ministerial Statement confirming the appointment of the new Commissioner is available here - www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/official-report/written-ministerial-statements/the-executive-office---appointment-of-the-commisioner-for-older-people-for-northern-ireland/
- The principal aim of the Commissioner is to safeguard and promote the interests of older persons.
- The Commissioner has 12 statutory duties which includes promoting an awareness of matters relating to and safeguarding older persons interests, promoting provision of opportunities and the elimination of discrimination, promoting positive attitudes towards older persons and encouraging their participation in public life; keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practices and services; encouraging best practice in the treatment of older persons; providing advice to relevant authorities on matters concerning older persons interests; encouraging older people to communicate with the Commissioner and staff and seek their views and as far as practicable, ensuring Commissioner’s services are at a convenient place; leading and providing strategic direction, developing and delivering outcomes-focused strategic plans and providing good governance and controls for an annual budget of c. £1.3million.
- The Commissioner has a number of powers, including conducting investigations, undertaking or commissioning research, issuing guidance on best practice in relation to any matter concerning the interests of older persons. Further information on the work of the Commissioner for Older People can be found at https://www.copni.org
- The appointment is remunerated and attracts a salary of £79,237 per annum The position is full time for a term of four years with eligibility of one renewal for a second term of office, subject to satisfactory performance.
- The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice. Older persons’ representatives formed part of the selection panel for the process.
- 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. Ms Casey has not declared any political activity in the last five years.
- Siobhan Casey was Director of Marketing & Business Development at Age NI for the last 15 years, where she forged strong relationships and harnessed thought leadership to accelerate change and innovation, while raising circa £35million for advocacy and service delivery for older people.
During her time with Age NI, she developed and secured programme funding for: people living with dementia, mild cognitive impairment and older people / carers who were isolated as a result of COVID-19; led a three-nation programme to support older workers; and created high profile campaigns and partnerships to combat loneliness, promote healthy ageing and redress frailty.
Siobhan is a recognised business leader with extensive experience working in international marketing, business development and strategic development with SME’s through to multi-national organisations, private and public sector bodies. She has held posts as: Director of Derry Boston Ventures; Director of Corporate Communications at Fruit of the Loom International and was a consultant in business development and marketing delivering training and support to hundreds of businesses / organisations across Northern Ireland.
Siobhan is the European Vice-President the IFA (International Federation on Ageing); a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute; a member of Age UK’s Services for Older People’s Consortium. She was a member of the UKRI Healthy Ageing Advisory Committee 2022-24.
A graduate of Ulster University, she also holds post-graduate qualifications in Business; European Marketing; Entrepreneurship; Sustainable Investment and Equity for Brain Health. - Ms Casey does not hold any other public appointments.