New Chairperson appointed to Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust

1. PRRT is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department of Justice.  It provides psychological therapies, physiotherapy, coaching and development, training and education programmes (in accordance with assessed needs) to support police officers retiring from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), or the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC); and other Justice partners.
2. The PRRT Board shall consist of a Chairperson and six Board Members.  Of the six Board Members, one is nominated by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and two are nominated by the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, subject to the approval of the Department. 
3. The procedure for the appointment of Board members is compliant with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice. The appointments are made by the Department of Justice taking account of its statutory duty under the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust Regulations 2014.
4. Membership of the PRRT Board is as follows:

• Mr Michael Boyd OBE, Chairperson
• Ms Paula Kealey
• Dr Julie Aiken
• Ms Danielle McEneaney
• Mr Damian Walsh
• Mr John Perry
• Acting Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett

5. The tenure for Mr Boyd and Ms McEneaney commenced on 21 September 2026 to 20 September 2030.

6. The tenure for Mr Walsh and Mr Perry will commence on 24 October 2026 and end on 23 October 2030. The tenure for Dr Aiken and Ms Kealey commenced on 21 September 2026 and ends on 20 September 2030.

7. The statutory appointments do not attract remuneration. Remuneration for the Chairperson is £10,000 per annum and Board Members receive £5,000 per annum.

8. The new Chairperson, Mr Michael Boyd’s current public appointments held include:

• Board and ARC member of the All-Ireland Institute for Public Health
• Chairperson of the 5th Element Music and Arts Charity
• Board member of the Arts Care Health Charity
• Trustee of the Glentoran Social Partnership

9. The new Board member, Ms Danielle McEneaney, does not hold any other public appointments.

10. The appointment of Chairperson and Board Member is 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.  Details of the declaration in relation to political activity are included below.

11. Pen Pictures

Mr Michael Boyd

Mr Boyd is an experienced Chair, Board Member, senior leader and governance professional with over 25 years' experience across the public, charitable, community and sports sectors. He currently leads Engagement and Communications for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and operates MB Consulting and Coaching on a part-time basis, providing strategic leadership, governance, organisational development and support to a range of social impact organisations. Throughout his career, Michael has developed a strong reputation for values-based leadership, partnership building and effective governance. While at the Irish FA he designed and led the international award-winning Football For All strategy. He has extensive experience working with boards, government departments, charities and community organisations, such as The Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Street NI, The Glentoran Social Partnership and 5th Element, helping to shape strategy, manage change and ensure organisations achieve their objectives while maintaining high standards of accountability and public trust. Michael previously spent more than 20 years with the Irish Football Association, including eight serving as Director of Football Development, and has since held a range of Chair and Non-Executive positions across the voluntary and community sector, including the All-Island Institute for Public Health. His expertise includes governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, organisational leadership, health, wellbeing, inclusion, public affairs and community development. His experience to date brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals experiencing adversity and transition. He is committed to supporting organisations that improve lives, promote resilience and deliver meaningful outcomes for individuals, families and communities. His leadership style is collaborative, compassionate and focused on ensuring strong governance, strategic clarity and long-term organisational sustainability. In 2018 he received the prestigious Ulster University Outstanding Graduate Award and in 2024 he also received an OBE for his services to sport, charity and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Political Activity:  None

Ms Danielle (Dani) McEneaney

Ms McEneaney brings a career built at the intersection of strategic planning, governance and organisational development across Northern Ireland's Health and Social Care system. With over fifteen years' senior leadership experience, including roles as Assistant Director of Strategic Planning and Customer Engagement at the Business Services Organisation and Head of Strategic Planning and Improvement at South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, she has led major service reform, risk management redesign and organisation-wide improvement strategy in complex public sector environments. She currently works part-time as Senior Strategic Improvement Coach on the IMPACT national adult social care improvement programme, alongside running her own coaching and consultancy practice. She is an accredited coach through the EMCC and the Association for Coaching and sits on the HSC Leadership Centre Associate List. Her degree in Accounting and Finance underpins a strong track record of budget management and financial scrutiny across large public sector organisations. Dani joins the PRRT Board with a complementary profile to existing members: grounded governance experience, financial literacy and an informed, practitioner-level understanding of coaching and development as a service line. She is genuinely committed to supporting people who have served in demanding circumstances to build fulfilling lives beyond that service.

Political Activity:  None

Damian Walsh

Mr Walsh began his career as a Senior Bank Official for TSB having completed professional qualifications in economics, accounting, business administration and Marketing and Statistics.  Mr Walsh joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1995 and served in Response in Strabane, County Tyrone.  In 1999 he transferred to Response in Belfast and was promoted to Sergeant in 2002. He remained in Belfast and served in Tennent Street, Oldpark and Grosvenor Road stations as a Response Sergeant. In 2015 he transferred to Belfast District Support Team where he remained until elected to his post as PFNI Treasurer. Mr Walsh was first elected to his Regional Board as a Sergeants representative in 2014 and has since become Vice Chairman of the No 1 Regional Board.  He served on the PFNI Central Committee since 2014 and was Chair of the Welfare Health Safety and Security Sub Committee. Mr Walsh has a particular interest in Health & Safety having represented PFNI at various Health and Safety Group meetings and is also a strong advocate for the PFNI Wellbeing Initiatives and promoting Wellbeing for Officers.  He was elected to the post of PFNI Secretary in June 2022.  He maintains a focus on officer wellbeing.

Political Activity:  None

John Perry

Mr Perry is Assistant Secretary of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) having previously served on PFNI Central Committee and as the Secretary of No 4 Regional Board.  He joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC in 1993 as a Part-time Reserve Constable stationed in Carrickfergus.  In 1997 he joined the RUCGC Full-time Reserve and was stationed in Andersonstown, before becoming a Regular Constable in 1999 serving for 9 years in Tennant Street and 14 years in Roads Policing. His current roles include: Trustee of the RUC GC-PSNI Benevolent Fund Charity; Trustee Police Arboretum Memorial Trust: Secretary of PFNI Welfare, Health, Safety & Security Executive Sub Committee; PFNI Health & Safety Lead; PFNI Lead on Roads Policing; Member of the Joint UK Police Staff Associations Health & Safety Committee and Member of the National Roads Policing Forum. 

Political Activity:  None

Ms Paula Kealey

Ms Kealey is a Non Executive Director and senior health and social care leader with extensive experience in governance, strategic oversight and organisational performance. She brings a strong track record in system leadership, assurance, and strategic challenge, underpinned by deep expertise in service improvement, workforce development and transformational change. She is an Associate Consultant with the Health and Social Care Leadership Centre and Clinical Programme Lead for Cancer Prehabilitation in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. Her portfolio also includes significant experience as a coach, mentor and educator, supporting senior leaders and organisations to strengthen capability, resilience and strategic delivery. A registered Occupational Therapist, Ms Kealey has over 30 years’ senior clinical experience and established Northern Ireland’s first Community Specialist Occupational Therapy Service in Cancer and Palliative Care. She also brings 14 years’ strategic leadership from a leading UK cancer charity, where she influenced policy, shaped regional service development and led system wide improvement programmes across Northern Ireland. Ms Kealey holds a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy, an MSc in Medical Science, and is an ILM qualified Coach and Mentor.

Political Activity:  None

Dr Julie Aiken

Dr Aiken is Regional Manager for Samaritans in Northern Ireland since 2014. She has a strong background in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and operational management. Dr Aiken has worked in the community and voluntary sector for nearly twenty years, including with the British Red Cross, where she conducted research into humanitarian crises. Dr Aiken is a Council Member of the Patient and Client Council since 2024. Dr Aiken holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from Queen’s University Belfast and a PhD, also awarded by Queen’s, which was undertaken within a human rights framework. Dr Aiken has spent over ten years working in the field of mental health and wellbeing across the UK and Ireland.

Political Activity:  None

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