Justice Minister announces Probation Board for Northern Ireland appointments
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Justice Minister Naomi Long has today announced appointments to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.
Glenn Houston has been appointed as the Chair to the Board.
He will be joined on the Board by: Maureen Brunt, Brian Ingram, Jackie Johnston, Bria Mongan and Eileen Patterson, who have been reappointed for a second term. Also joining them will be new Board members: Kerry Anthony, David Bowden, Ken Cameron, Denise Hunt, Claire Keatinge, Maynard Mawhinney and Gemma McKeown.
The members were appointed following an open competition regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland and they commenced their term of office on 1 March for a three-year term.
Announcing the appointments, Naomi Long said: “I would like to welcome the new appointees to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) and I have no doubt that they will make an important contribution supporting the PBNI in its crucial role in helping make communities safer.
“The Probation Board for Northern Ireland is involved at all stages of the criminal justice process working in courts, the community, in prisons and directly with victims of crime. Its contribution to reducing crime and re-offending along with the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals into the community cannot be underestimated.
“The PBNI helps to deliver a number of key justice priorities such as tackling domestic abuse and sexual and violent offending and implementing a trauma informed approach among others.”
Notes to editors:
- The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) established by the Probation Board (NI) Order 1982. The Board is tasked with providing an adequate and efficient probation service and is responsible for determining its policy within the broad parameters set by Government and for monitoring the service’s performance against objectives.
- The main activities of PBNI are: the supply of information to the courts through pre-sentence reports; the supervision of offenders made subject to community disposals; and the provision of social welfare services in prisons. The Board also funds community initiatives aimed at supporting the statutory supervision of offenders in the community.
- Appointments to the Board are made by the Minister of Justice in accordance with Schedule 1 to the 1982 Order. Statutorily, the Board must consist of a Chair, Deputy Chair and not less than 10 nor more than 18 other members. These appointments are for a term of three years and take effect from 1 March 2025. The remuneration for the post of Chair is £33,010 per annum and for Board Member is £5,050 per annum.
- 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.
- A Deputy Chair will be appointed from within the Board in due course.
- The details of the Probation Board membership, with effect from 1 March 2025 is as follows:
• Chair: Glenn Houston
Glenn is a skilled senior executive with over 40 years experience working in the integrated health and social care system in Northern Ireland. He has more than 20 years experience working at Board level in large complex organisations, having worked as a Director and as Chief Executive in several Health and Social Care Trusts. Between 2009 and 2016 Glenn was Chief Executive of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, Northern Ireland's independent health and social care regulator. In 2017 he was appointed by the Bailiwick of Jersey to lead the Board of the newly formed Care Commission, a responsibility he discharged continuously until December 2024. Glenn has held several other public appointments in the UK and in Northern Ireland. He has served previously as a Non-Executive Director with the Disclosure and Barring Service and with the Human Tissue Authority. In Northern Ireland Glenn served two terms as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Prosecution Service. Glenn is a qualified social worker. He was Executive Director of Social Work in the Northern Trust and has previous experience as a Council member with Northern Ireland Social Care Council. Glenn holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from the Ulster University (Ulster Polytechnic), and a Masters in Integrated Health and Social Care Management from Queen's University. Glenn lives in Holywood, County Down. Political Activity: none - Members:
Kerry Anthony MBE
Kerry is currently the Chief Executive of Inspire, an all-island charity and social enterprise working with people living with mental ill health, addictions and intellectual disability. She joined the organisation in August 2019 following 14 years with the Depaul an all-island and international charity, supporting people experiencing homelessness. She is a qualified social worker and holds a Masters in Voluntary Sector Management. An expert in organisational governance, structure and strategy, Kerry has led on transformation projects in a number of large, complex organisations both nationally and internationally. Kerry is a Trustee of Tuath Housing Association, chairing the Governance and People Committee. Political Activity: none.
David Bowden
Dave Bowden dedicated 35 years to The Northern Ireland Prison Service, fulfilling roles as both an Officer and Governor, with a focus on operational rehabilitation for people in prison. His extensive experience includes international exposure, notably serving as Head of Prisons and Probation in a Caribbean nation. Additionally, Dave holds a BSc Honours in Criminology and volunteers as an operations manager for the RNLI. Political Activity: none.
Maureen Brunt
Maureen Brunt started her career in finance and moved to the voluntary sector where she has worked for over 25 years. Currently working as a business and well-being consultant, Maureen brings extensive experience in community development; strategy development; health and well-being; and life-coaching. Maureen serves as Non-Executive Director with the Drainage Council for NI (unremunerated), a governor with South West College, an Equality Commissioner and manages her husband’s dairy farm and property interests. Maureen recently completed BSc(Hons) Psychology, winning the Futures Award Student of the Year 2021, and continues her research into chronic pain. With a long history of voluntary work, Maureen serves as a Trustee of Mallard Community Charitable Hub (voluntary). Political Activity: none
Ken Cameron
Ken Cameron has spent his professional career working within the criminal justice system, gaining experience locally, nationally and internationally. Upon retiring as a senior police officer after 33 years’ service, Ken spent several years as a short time expert assisting with the introduction of police reform in the Western Balkans. Following that, he was appointed as an Associate Inspector with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, leading and taking part in inspections to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of UK police services. He is experienced in risk management and organisational change and is a graduate of the University of Central Lancashire where he was awarded an MSc. Political Activity: none
Denise Hunt
Denise Hunt is a qualified barrister with over 20 years post qualification experience. In 2011 she assumed the ownership and management of the Londonderry Arms Hotel, Carnlough, until her retirement in 2024. She is a graduate of Queen's University Belfast and obtained a Masters in Law from the London School of Economics. In the 2021 Honours List she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Hospitality Sector.
Brian Ingram
Brian Ingram was the Director of Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre within the Youth Justice Agency until his retirement in July 2020. Prior to this, he was a Senior Manager in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, working with vulnerable adults preparing them for resettlement into the community and enabling them to develop life skills and qualifications for employment. Brian is highly experienced in organisational development, corporate governance and leadership. He has an MSc in Criminology and was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Queen’s New Year Honours. Brian is also Chairperson of The Cithrah Foundation which is a charity supporting women, men and children subjected to domestic abuse. Brian has been a member of the Governing Body of South West College since July 2022. Political Activity: none
Jackie Johnston CBE
Jackie Johnston is a former senior civil servant with wide experience of public administration including oversight of the corporate governance requirements for statutory bodies. During his career he has held senior policy positions in the areas of economic development, constitutional development, corporate regulation, urban regeneration and the health service. He has served as a Non-Executive Director of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland from 2022 to 2025, chairing the Board's Corporate Resources Committee. In February 2024 he was appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and currently chairs the Trust Board's Governance Subcommittee. He has an MSc in Executive Leadership from Ulster University and was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to healthcare. Political Activity: none
Claire Keatinge
Claire brings knowledge and experience from across the charitable and public sectors. As former Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, in leadership roles in Age NI and Alzheimer’s Society, Claire brings policy and operational expertise, with a focus on equality and inclusion. Having served as a Non-Executive Member of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Big Lottery as well as on the Board of a number of charities, Claire brings substantial Board level expertise. Political Activity: none
Maynard Mawhinney
Maynard Mawhinney was formerly Director of Food & Commercial Tourism in InvestNI and is currently a non-executive Director with the Business Services Organisation and the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority where he chairs the Audit & Risk Committee. He is chair of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprises' College Advisory Group. Maynard served with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust and the Health & Safety Executive. In the private sector he served as non-Executive Director with Newry based Around Noon Ltd and was also a consultant with BDO. Maynard is married to Hazel and they have two sons Ryan and Simon. Political Activity: none
Gemma McKeown
Gemma McKeown is a solicitor with expertise in human rights and public law, gained through work in the private, voluntary, and public sectors. She has experience in governance and organisational management and holds an LLM in Human Rights from Queen’s University Belfast. Political Activity: none
Bria Mongan OBE
Bria Mongan OBE has extensive experience working across the Health and Social Care (HSC) sector in Northern Ireland, serving as Executive Director of Social Work and Children’s services and previously as Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Prisoner Healthcare, working closely with justice agencies developing HSC services for people in detention. Bria brings extensive experience of managing a wide portfolio of HSC services across community and hospital services, which includes extensive experience in corporate governance, organisational development, professional leadership and significant financial management gained as Executive Director and Board member in a large complex Public Sector organisation. Bria holds a Masters degree in Social Work and held responsibility for all issues relating to Social Work policy, workforce, professional standards and ensuring the effective discharge of Delegated Statutory Functions as Executive Director of Social Work and Director of Children’s services in an HSC Trust. Bria was awarded an OBE in recognition for services to Social Work and healthcare for prisoners. Bria is currently an Associate Consultant at the HSC Leadership centre and is a trustee and non-executive director of the Caring Breaks charity (Unremunerated). Political Activity: none
Eileen Patterson
Eileen is an independent professional with over 35 years’ experience in all aspects of social and housing policy in Northern Ireland. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Housing and is committed to professionalism in the delivery of social and support services through evidence based policies. She has held senior management positions in the Housing Executive, Fold and Radius Housing and has served on the Board of Housing Associations. Eileen holds an MSc in Housing and is a graduate of Queen’s University Business Leaders’ Programme. Political Activity: none - Media enquiries to DoJ Press Office via Email
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