The Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, Roy Millar MBE has welcomed the appointment of five new Board Members for Sport NI by Minister for Culture Arts & Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín. Following an open competition the new appointees will begin their roles on 1st January 2016 for a term of up to four years.
“NI Sports Forum welcome these appointments to the Board of Sport NI following some difficult times for our Sports Council. The calibre of these new appointees will provide Sport NI with the required skills and experience to support the organisation through the remaining years of Sport Matters and also their new Corporate Plan. As always, NI Sports Forum will continue to support the organisation for the development of sport in Northern Ireland” said Mr Millar.
After an open competition, the following individuals have been appointed as Board Members:
- Ms Wilma Erskine BEM
- Mr Kyle Ferguson
- Mr Kieran Harding
- Ms Celine McStravick
- Dr Catherine O’Mullan
All appointments take effect from 1 January 2016 for a term of up to four years.
Welcoming the appointments the Minister said: “I welcome the opportunity to make these appointments to the Board of Sport NI given the recent challenges it has experienced. These high calibre appointees bring a wide and varied range of skills and experience which are vital to the organisation now and into the future.
“The new Board members will provide high quality leadership to Sport NI, allowing it to focus on its mission of leading sports development at all levels.
“I wish the appointees every success as they take on the challenges that lie ahead.”
Biographical details of appointees:
Ms Wilma Erskine BEM
Wilma Erskine is the Chief Executive of Royal Portrush Golf Club, where she is also a Member of the Board for the 2019 Open Championship. She is currently Chairman of the North-West 200 Charity Golf Event, Member of Tourism NI Golf Advisory Board as well as a member of a number of local sports clubs. She was awarded a BEM in 2015 for services to Northern Ireland tourism and golf. Ms Erskine brings leadership and strategic direction experience to the Board, as well as team working skills. She holds no other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
Mr Kyle Ferguson
Kyle Ferguson works in the School of Sport at Ulster University, responsible for the Centre for Sports Enterprise. He previously served on a number of sports club boards and was the Project Manager for the North East Sport for Peace Project. His research focuses on the role of sport in the community and he brings sporting experience across grassroots, community development and performance to the Board, as well as financial oversight skills. Mr Ferguson holds no other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
Mr Kieran Harding
Kieran Harding is the Managing Director of Business in the Community and Director of East Belfast Enterprise. He is currently Assistant Manager at Portadown FC, an Irish Premier League football club. Mr Harding brings equality and social inclusion experience, as well as financial management skills to the Board. He holds no other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
Ms Celine McStravick
Celine McStravick is the Director of the National Children’s Bureau NI and Board Member of Chief Officers 3rd Sector. She was previously company secretary for the NI Council for Integrated Education and worked in local government for a number of years. Ms McStravick brings experience in relation to equality and social inclusion activities, and collective decision making skills to the Board. She holds no other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
Dr Catherine O’Mullan
Dr Catherine O’Mullan is the Director of Curriculum at the Northern Regional College (NRC) and was previously the Director of Support and Development at NRC and the acting Deputy Director of the previous North East Institute. She has led the establishment of a number of Sports Academies in golf, soccer and GAA. She is a Member of the Board of Trustees of W5, for which she receives expenses only, and a Board Member of the Odyssey Trust Company. Dr O’Mullan has experience in leadership and strategic direction, and team working skills, which she brings to the Board. She has not undertaken any political activity in the past five years.
Courtesy of DCAL.gov.uk