Ford appoints new Chairperson and two new Board Members to the Northern Ireland Police Fund

Justice Minister David Ford has today announced the appointment of a new Chairperson and two Board members of the Northern Ireland Police Fund.

They are:

Chairperson:             Dr Michael Wardlow

Board members:       Mr Daniel Anderson

                                  Ms Kelly Robinson

The new members have been appointed following an open competition regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland and will take up office on 1 April 2016. 

David Ford said: “I welcome the appointment of the new Chairperson and Board members to the Northern Ireland Police Fund. The Fund provides financial assistance, advice, support and care to police officers and former police officers who have been killed or injured by terrorism, and their families and dependants.

The work carried out by the Fund is critical to the care and continuing well-being of all its clients.  I wish to place on record my thanks to those Directors who are now leaving the Fund after serving the clients and community so well, in a voluntary capacity, over many years.

I am sure that my successor will work with the incoming Chairperson, Dr Michael Wardlow and the Board members to advance the agenda of the Fund in the coming months.”

Four serving members will continue in post.

Notes to editors: 

The Northern Ireland Police Fund is transitioning from a Company Limited by Guarantee to an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department of Justice (DOJ).  The Fund provides financial assistance, advice, support and care to members and former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve and their families and dependents, who have been killed or injured by terrorism.

Board members, in conjunction with the Chairperson, have corporate responsibilities for ensuring that the Fund fulfils the aims and objectives set by the DOJ and approved by the Minister, and for promoting the efficient, economic and effective use of staff and other resources by the Fund.

Appointments to the NI Police Fund are made by the Minister of Justice in accordance with section 11(2) of the Financial Provisions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014(a).  Statutorily it must consist of a Chairperson, and Six Board members.  These appointments are envisaged to be for a period of four years and take effect from 1 April 2016.  The remuneration for the post of Chairperson is £6,000 per annum.  Board members are not remunerated.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland Code of Practice.  All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.

At a recent meeting with Trustees, the Minister commended the Fund for improving the quality of life for its clients by providing a caring and considerate service, supplementing the income of those on very low pensions, particularly those widowed prior to 1982, helping to provide better prostheses and household equipment for the disabled, breaks for carers and bursaries for dependent children.  He also thanks those Directors who were leaving the Fund after serving for a number of years in a voluntary capacity for their dedication and energy in bringing their diverse skills to bear for the benefit of the Fund and its clients.

The details of the Northern Ireland Police Fund membership, with effect from 1 April 2016 are:

New Members

Dr Michael Wardlow works part-time as the Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission.  He has served almost 15 years as CEO of the NI Council for Integrated Education.  Dr Wardlow is a member of the Audit Committee of Queen’s University and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.  He holds voluntary appointments as Senator of Queen’s University and as a member of St Malachi’s oversight group.

Political Activity: Dr Wardlow was a member of the Alliance party until 2009.  He no longer has a connection with the party.  He has never at any time worked for or canvassed for any political party.

Mr Daniel Anderson has held a number of US-based senior management and financial roles, most recently as the Managing Director of a New York and Atlanta-based business and investment advisory group.  He returned to the UK in 2014 to join Iron Box Capital, an independent UK media investment group.  In February 2016 he co-hosted a business seminar in Belfast alongside HMRC, Invest NI and local companies, to discuss investment strategies for the region.

Political Activity: None

Ms Kelly Robinson holds the honorary title of Visiting Research Associate, School of Education, Queen’s University Belfast. Ms Robinson is also a Regeneration and Neighbour Renewal Officer.  She delivers neighbourhood renewal in North and West Belfast, on behalf of the Department of Social Development.  Ms Robinson is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Centre of Innovation in Early Intervention and Prevention Research, Queen’s University Belfast.  She is also a qualified mediator and is a voluntary Board Director of the Belfast Hills Partnership.

Political Activity: None

Current Members

There are four members who will continue to work as directors on the Board:

Chief Superintendent George Clarke – representative of the Chief Constable, PSNI
Mr Mark Lindsay – representative of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland
Mrs Deirdre Kenny – appointed in January 2015 via a CPANI regulated process
Mr Brian McCargo – appointed in January 2015 via a CPANI regulated process

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