PRESS RELEASE : Four non-executive members reappointed to the board of the Independent Monitoring Authority [September 2023]

The Lord Chancellor has reappointed the following non-executive members, of the IMA:

• Ronnie Alexander – member with knowledge about conditions in Wales relating to citizens’ rights – from 17 March 2024 until 16 December 2027
• Joyce Cullen – member with knowledge about conditions in Scotland relating to citizens’ rights – from 10 February 2024 until 9 December 2027
• Marcus Killick OBE – member with knowledge about conditions in Gibraltar relating to citizens’ rights – from 8 December 2023 until 7 December 2026
• Leo O’Reilly CB – member with knowledge about conditions in Northern Ireland relating to citizens’ rights – from 8 December 2023 until 7 December 2026

The IMA was established under the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (EUWAA). Under the provisions set out in EUWAA, the IMA has the power to receive complaints, launch inquiries and initiate or intervene in legal proceedings. The IMA also has a duty to review the effectiveness of the legislative framework relating to citizens’ rights. In exercising its functions, the IMA must have regard to the importance of dealing with general or systemic issues in the implementation and application of citizen’ rights.

Biographies

Ronnie Alexander

Ronnie left the civil service, in 2013, to pursue a variety of other interests; including consultancy. He is currently an Independent Member of Powys Teaching Health Board. In addition, he serves as Independent Chair of the Standards Committees for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and also for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. He has a considerable record of engaging with the public, professionals and politicians at all levels, to influence policy. This follows a civil service career spanning over 20 years and an equivalent period working in local government. Ronnie Alexander has not declared any political activity.

Joyce Cullen

Joyce has practised as a litigation solicitor with Brodies LLP for over 40 years and served as Chair of the firm from 2004 to 2013. In 1995, she was admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in Scotland. She was Convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s Employment Law Reform Sub-Committee from 2006 to 2018. From 2015 to 2021 she was a Non-executive Director of the Joint Management Board of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland. In 2020, she was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of George Heriot’s School. She was initially appointed and has served as a Non-Executive member of the IMA since 2021. Joyce Cullen has not declared any political activity.

Marcus Killick

Marcus is also Chairman of the IMA’s Delivery and Impact Committee and a Member of its Audit Committee. Marcus is qualified as: a Barrister at Law (England and Wales); an Attorney at Law (New York) and; a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment,

He is currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the law firm ISOLAS LLP. From 2003 – 2014, he served as the CEO of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (“Commission”).

During his time at the Commission, he was also Chair of the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors as well as Chair of both the Gibraltar Investors Compensation Scheme Board and the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Board. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE for services to regulation; particularly in Gibraltar. Marcus Killick has not declared any political activity.

Leo O’Reilly

Leo is also Deputy Chair of the IMA. He is a Member of the Senate of Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Council of the Institute of Professional and Legal Studies in Belfast. He is also a Non-Executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee Member of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. He is a former civil servant, in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, with over 27 years’ experience as a senior civil servant covering a diverse range of functions and activities across government in both NI and GB. These include over 11 years as the Permanent Secretary of three Northern Ireland departments. Leo O’Reilly has not declared any political activity.

The appointment of non-executive members of the IMA are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These reappointments comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.