Our Board oversees our performance and strategic direction. The Board represents the business community and education sectors, and is appointed by the Minister responsible for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
It is also responsible for ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance, efficiency and propriety in the use of public funds.
Invest NI's Board members are:
Mark Ennis- Chairperson
Mark was appointed as Executive Chairman of energy utility company SSE (Ireland) in 2010. He has a particular interest in climate change and has addressed audiences in China, Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam. Mark was previously CEO of Boxmore International plc. He has been an advisor to a number of businesses and has served as a Non-Executive Director on several boards. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of a number of small start-up companies operating in the energy, connected health and pharmaceutical sectors. Mark is also a council member and past Chairman of CBI Northern Ireland and has recently retired as Chairman of the Management Leadership Network. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management.
Roy Adair
Mr Adair became Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC) in 2005 with overall responsibility for performance of the business including strategy and providing oversight of all operational matters. His career started with Rothmans International with a variety of engineering and manufacturing management roles. He became Director and General Manager of the Ballymena engineering company, Flexibox at 28.
He was the first Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Quality Centre. He joined the DDL Group as Managing Director of Irlandus Circuits Ltd in January 1994. He assumed European Group Managing Director role with responsibility for the other Group company, DDL Electronics in 1996, ultimately purchasing Irlandus from its US parent in 1999.
He is a former non-Executive Director of the Laganside Corporation and former Chairman of the Institute of Directors’ Economic Strategy Committee. Mr Adair is a Board Member of the UK Major Ports Group Ltd, a Board Member of Business in the Community, a member of the council of the Prince’s Trust, a National Training Awards Judge and President Emeritus of the General Stevedoring Council.
In 2007 he was appointed as HRH Prince Charles Ambassador for Corporate Social Responsibility for Northern Ireland.
Tim Brundle
Timothy Brundle is Director of Innovation at the University of Ulster. He is responsible for the University’s commercial output and is the CEO of Innovation Ulster Ltd, Ulster’s award-winning knowledge venturing and investment company.
Timothy has over a decade of experience in both the successful commercialisation of technology and in business & economic development. His background in the private and academic sectors is complemented by success in the management of public to private sector transition and strategic change management. He is an angel investor and an experienced Director of both young companies and mature public Institutions.
Prior to his appointment with Ulster, on behalf of QinetiQ Group PLC, he held the positions of both Director of Sales and Marketing and Technology Transfer Director within the Ministry of Defence Diversification Agency.
Timothy holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Biotechnology from the University of Glamorgan and both a Master of Medical Science Degree (MMedSc) and an Executive Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) from Queen’s University of Belfast.
Dr David Dobbin, CBE
Dr David Dobbin has extensive international business experience in the food and drink and packaging sectors and is currently Group Chief Executive of United Dairy Farmers, a leading UK dairy processor based in Northern Ireland. He is actively involved in promoting regional economic development and is Chairman of the cross border economic body, InterTradeIreland and Chairman of the Strategic Investment Board.
He previously held a number of public and industry appointments including Chairman of CBI Northern Ireland and Chairman of the Prince's Trust in Northern Ireland. In addition to receiving the CBE in the 2005 Birthday Honours for his service to the agrifood and packaging industries, he was awarded the IOD Lunn’s Award for Excellence in 2008, an honorary Chinese citizenship in 1998 in recognition of his service to economic development in China and an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast in 2005 for his services to the economy.
Frank Hewitt
Mr Hewitt is currently Chairman of the Northern Ireland Science Park and Chairman of the BIG Lottery Fund Northern Ireland Country Committee. He is also a board member of the UK BIG Lottery Fund Board, of the ILEX Urban Regeneration Company, of the Strategic Investment Board and of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company
He is currently Honorary Consul for the Federal Republic of Germany
Between 2002 and 2008 he was CEO of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce with overall responsibility for management of the Chamber including financial management, strategic development, business development, and communications. Prior to this he was Deputy Secretary with responsibility for Corporate Services in Department of Culture Arts and Leisure for 18 months. During this time he was the DCAL representative on the board of Odyssey Trust.
Between 1996 and 2000 he held the post of Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Growth Challenge, a private sector organisation established to take a private sector approach to economic development in Northern Ireland.
He has many years of industrial development experience with the former Industrial Development Board and was formerly IDB Deputy Chief Executive with overall responsibility for inward investment
Dr Alan Lennon, OBE
An engineer with many years in senior management roles in both public and private sector organisations throughout the UK, Dr Lennon is currently a self employed consultant and serial entrepreneur who chairs a number of Northern Ireland based SME companies. He has also been a Civil Service Commissioner and Chairman of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s sponsored Research and Education Advisory Panel. Dr Lennon was Chairman of CCEA for nine years and led the organisation in the development and delivery of education services to Northern Ireland schools and achieving the top European EFQM award for business excellence. In January 2008 he received an OBE for services to education in Northern Ireland.
Prof Gerry McCormac
Professor Gerry McCormac became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling on 1 May 2010. He recently undertook a review of teachers’ pay and conditions on behalf of the Scottish Government. The review, chaired by Professor McCormac published a report titled Advancing Professionalism in Teaching.
Professor McCormac was Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast from 2001 to 2010, where he had responsibility for Academic and Financial Planning, Economic Development and External Affairs. He served on the Northern Ireland (NI) Committee of the Institute of Directors, the NI Economic Development Forum, the NI Science and Industry Panel (MATRIX) and the boards of both the NI Science Park and Business in the Community. He was a Director and Chair of the Management Board of Queen’s University’s commercialisation company, QUBIS.
He is currently a board member of Invest Northern Ireland, a member of the United States/Northern Ireland Economic Development Working Group, Universities Scotland, Universities UK, The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland Executive Committee and the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) Scottish Committee. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, the Higher Education Academy and the Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufacturers.
Gerry McGinn
Mr McGinn is currently Chief Executive, Irish Nationwide Building Society. His extensive private sector experience includes being Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland’s – Banking – UK with responsibility for Corporate, SME and Personal Banking throughout UK. During this time he led the merger of Bank of Ireland’s Great Britain and Northern Ireland operations. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland, NI. From September 2001 to July 2007 he held the posts of Permanent Secretary for the Department of Education and then the Department of Regional Development.
Ken Nelson
Appointed to the Board on 1 April 2012.
Gerard O'Hare
Appointed to the Board on 1 April 2012.
Scott Rutherford
Appointed to the Board on 1 April 2012.
Rose Mary Stalker
Appointed to the Board on 1 April 2012.
