Pen pictures of further education college board members who have had their appointments extended.
Belfast Metropolitan College
Wendy Gillies
Mrs Wendy Gillies is currently Programme Director Belfast Destination Hub, for Belfast City Council. Her previous roles include Head of Social Affairs and Communication for the Odyssey Trust and heading up East Belfast's Connswater Community Greenway from inception to delivery. She is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and has an extensive background in finance, operations, regeneration and project management. She was awarded social entrepreneur of the year in 2010. Mrs Gillies does not currently hold any other public appointments.
John McGrillen
Mr John McGrillen is CEO of Tourism NI. His previous roles include Director of Development at Belfast City Council and Chief Executive of Down District Council. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast and also holds an MSc in Engineering Computation and an MBA in International Business. Mr McGrillen is also a Board Member of Tourism Ireland.
Northern Regional College
Isobel Allison
Mrs Isobel Allison, a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, is an HR specialist with over 15 years’ experience of leading HR strategy in commercial organisations within private, public and charitable sectors across UK and Ireland. Mrs Allison does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Gillian McConnell
Mrs Gillian McConnell is an architect. Following her studies, she worked at Building Design Partnership’s Belfast office for 12 years, contributing to prestigious projects such as the George Best Belfast City Airport and Victoria Square Regeneration Project. During that time, she also sat on the company’s Quality of Life Committee for three years.
Following a short career break to devote time to her family she pursued an interest in autism spectrum disorders and the intrinsic difficulties faced by children in mainstream educational settings. She now works in the school system supporting pupils with high functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome.
She has undertaken studies not only of the fundamentals of autism, but also females with autism, autism and adolescence, comorbidity of autism and ADHD, the prevalence of anxiety in autism and the development of social skills in autistic Pupils. Mrs McConnell does not currently hold any other public appointments.
North West Regional College
Gavin Killeen
Mr Gavin Killeen was educated at Foyle and Londonderry College and has been Managing Director of Nuprint Technologies Ltd since 2004 having joined the business in 1997 as General Manager. Specialising in supplying the Food, Beverage and Manufacturing sectors with labels and flexible packaging. Nuprint lists many Global leading companies as customers. Major investment in both people and equipment have allowed Nuprint to transform itself to become a design led producer of packaging to world-class companies internationally for which it has been awarded many local, regional and national awards.
Mr Killeen is actively involved in the Education and Skills agenda. He is a Co-Chair, along with the Mayor, of the Derry City Strabane District Council-Strategic Growth Plan since 2016. He has chaired the Council’s Education and Skills Implementation Group since 2009 and has been a member of the DfE Minister’s Expert Panel reviewing Apprenticeships and Youth Training.
Mr Killeen is Past President of both the local Rotary Club (2012-2013) and the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce (2016). He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry in March 2018. He is a Vice President of the City of Derry Rugby Club. He has been a member of the Governing Body since August 2011, and is currently Vice Chair. Mr Killeen does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Martin O’Kane
Mr Martin O’Kane has worked in the fields of education and disability for over 20 years. His current post is as UK Head of Employment Services with the Royal National Institute of Blind People. He has led on the design and development of a range of programmes and services aimed at improving the skills and abilities of people who are blind or partially sighted to find and retain employment.
He comments: “I have a particular interest in removing barriers to education for people with disabilities. Although my work focuses on the particular challenges that sight loss can bring to education, all students encounter barriers of some sort throughout their learning. Overcoming these barriers is greatly improved by having the right people and resources in place to support students every step of the way in helping them to achieve successful and fulfilling careers. The FE sector plays a very important role in making that happen.”
Mr O’Kane does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Samuel McGregor
Mr Samuel McGregor is a former director of Development Services, Leisure and Tourism at Limavady Borough Council. In this role he had responsibility for policy formation and corporate planning. He is a member of the Governing Body of St Finlough’s Primary School in Ballykelly and Limavady/Vigneux-sur-Seine Twinning Committee. He was appointed to the Causeway Coast & Glens Policing & Community Safety Partnership in June 2020.
Dr Nigel Hand
Dr Hand is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. Since 1993 he has been employed in local manufacturing industry, initially with Du Pont (UK) and, following changes in company ownership, currently with The LYCRA Company, fulfilling a variety of roles including Project Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Technical Support Engineer and Production Manager. His current role is the Site Operations Manager which includes all production and Engineering processes including Power and Utilities, leading a Team of over 250 employees. Dr Hand has been a certified Six Sigma Black Belt since 2002, and has expertise in process safety management, operational excellence, problem solving and leadership. He does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Southern Regional College
Andrew Saunders
Mr Andrew Saunders assumed the Chairmanship of Governing Body of Southern Regional College in 2011. Prior to this Mr Saunders was a member of the Governing Body of the Southern Regional College since its formation in August 2007. Mr Saunders is an employee of the Ulster Bank Group and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. He does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Gordon Gough
Mr Gordon Gough is the former Chief Executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland. He now runs his own consultancy business specialising in mentoring SMEs and 3rd sector organisations. His charitable activities include Chairman of Brain Injury Matters NI and member of the BBC Children in Need Northern Ireland Appeals committee. An MBA graduate from the Open University, he also holds an MSc in Human Resource Management and he is also a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and a past Chairman of the Northern Ireland branch. Mr Gough does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Nicola Wilson
Mrs Nicola Wilson is the Head of Department: Economic Development with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. She is responsible for leading on the Council’s economic growth agenda. Key priorities include enterprise development, investing in the Borough, connectivity and international trade. Mrs Wilson does not currently hold any other public appointments.
South West College
Margaret Martin
Mrs Margaret Martin has spent all of her professional life in education and was Principal of St Catherine’s College, Armagh for 15 years. She has served on many educational bodies including the Post-Primary Review Working Party, the BBC Education Councils NI & UK, the Council of CCEA, the Area-Based Planning Strategy Group and the Review of Home to School Transport. She is a trustee of Gaelscoil Aodh Rua, Dungannon and consultant to Gaelcholáiste Dhoire. Mrs Martin was the Network Co-ordinator/Executive for Sacred Heart Schools (Ireland, Scotland, Malta) until 2020. She served on the executive of Trócaire, the radio authority of RTE, the management committee of the trauma organisation RAFT and chaired the board of the Cross Border Implementaion Body An Foras Teanga/ Foras na Gaeilge for 8 years. Mrs Martin does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Monica McGeary
Mrs Monica McGeary is owner and manager of Source Business Leads, a lead generation, appointment setting and market research company based in Edendork. Employing seven staff, the business has been in operation for the past 20 years. She previously worked as a Director of International Operations and Client Business Development with the Frantz Group in Wisconsin, USA for five years. She also provides mentoring and consultancy around sales development and export marketing insight to businesses across Ireland for both Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland. She has been a member of the Parent Support Group in her local primary school for the last 15 years. Mrs McGeary does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Gerard O’Hanlon
Mr Gerard O’Hanlon is Project Manager for Change and Performance Management with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, implementing the introduction of new ways of working and lean management methodologies. He is a former Director and Senior Consultant at Stredia, a risk management consultancy specialising in the management of workplace stress, and has led a large number of workplace stress reduction projects in both the public and private sectors. He is also a member and past president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce. Mr O’Hanlon does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Michael Skuce
Mr Michael Skuce was a career police officer for 30 years, retiring in November 2010. Prior to his retirement, his last post was as District Commander of the South West region, incorporating Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the Mid Ulster District Council. In this role he was responsible for the delivery of all policing services and was accountable for a budget of £32 million. He also had responsibility for delivering a significant change programme which introduced a new style of community policing. Since his retirement, Mr Skuce has been working with his son in the development and growth of his engineering business, providing support and guidance in areas including human resources, finance and business planning. He is also an active member of Derrygonnelly and District Community Partnership. Mr Skuce does not currently hold any other public appointments.
Peter Archdale
Mr Peter Archdale served in the Royal Navy until his retirement in 2006. He was previously Vice Chairman of Council for Nature Conservation & the Countryside (CNCC), statutory advisory council to Department of Environment. He currently is chair of a local charity and has recently been appointed to the Drainage Council, a statutory body of the Department for Infrastructure. He does not receive any remuneration for this role.