PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announces the appointment of new Non-Executive Board Member [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 2 March 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has announced the appointment of Fiona Ross as a Non-Executive Board Member at the Northern Ireland Office.

Ms Ross will take up her appointment with effect from 1 March 2023.

Biography

Fiona Ross is chair of the Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Ireland’s Public Transport Provider. She served on the Board of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) for two years before being appointed in August 2021 to chair the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. She also holds non-executive positions with Rail, the Scottish Government, and private enterprises including SphereInvest and Smith & Williamson Europe and acts as independent advisor to the Mayor of Bristol City Council.

Terms of Appointment

• The position is part-time for a term of three years.
• The position attracts a fixed remuneration of £10,000 a year for a time commitment of approximately 15-20 days a year, including supporting the work of the department’s Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee.
• The position is not pensionable.

Regulation

This appointment is not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Political Activity

Non-Executive Board members are appointed on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Fiona Ross has declared that she has not been politically active in the last five years.