New Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross (RUC GC) Foundation Chairperson appointed.
Date published:
The Department of Justice has appointed Stephen White as the new Chairperson to the RUC GC Foundation.
Mr White has been appointed following an open competition regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland and will take up office today for a term of five years.
Peter May, Permanent Secretary for the Department of Justice, said: “I would like to congratulate Stephen on his appointment. As a former Assistant Chief Constable in both the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland and more recently as a Trustee of the RUC GC Foundation, Stephen brings a wealth of experience to this very important role. I wish Stephen every success for his term of office in providing leadership to the Foundation.
Mr May added “I want to thank the former Chairperson of the Foundation, Brian Rea CBE JP, for his personal commitment and the significant contribution he has made to the work of the Foundation over the last five years.
Commenting on his appointment Mr White said: “I feel very privileged to be offered the opportunity to lead the RUCGC Foundation, particularly so since I am its first chairman to have served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The Foundation has a mandate which is very close to my heart – to mark the sacrifices and honour the achievements of the RUCGC and I will do all in my power to ensure that this mandate will be at the centre of all our activities. My aim is to provide visible, inclusive and empathetic leadership to a Foundation that is proud of the RUC’s history while being meaningful to our stakeholders and outward-looking for those interested in learning about policing and the positive role it plays in society”.
Notes to editors:
- The Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation is an Arm’s Length Body of the Department of Justice; it commenced work in December 2001. The Foundation has a number of statutory functions including marking the sacrifices and honouring the achievements of the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, supporting the professional development of serving police officers and responsibility for the RUC GC Memorial Garden.
- The Foundation comprises a Chairman and a Board of five Trustees all of whom are appointed by the Department of Justice. Two of the Trustees are nominated by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, subject to the approval of the Department.
- The procedure for the appointment of Chairperson 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 RUC GC Regulations 2002.
- The tenure for the Chairperson will commence on 27 November 2018. The post does not attract remuneration.
- The appointment of Chairperson 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.
- All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of Justice Press Office 028 9052 6444. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 028 90378110 and your call will be returned.
PEN PICTURE
Mr Stephen White
Mr White is a former senior officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland having served as an Assistant Chief Constable in both. He also served in Iraq in the temporary rank of Deputy Chief Constable while attached to the US-led Coalition. Following his service as a police officer Mr White has held a number of senior roles within the European Union; most notably he served as a Head of Mission and Special Adviser to the European Union's Secretary General/High Representative for Foreign Affairs based in Brussels and Baghdad. Currently he is a security sector consultant working with a number of international bodies and groups. Mr White’s local voluntary work includes spells as a board member of Community Restorative Justice Ireland and chairman of the Northern Ireland Association of Churchill Fellows. Mr White is currently a Director of Northern Ireland Cooperation Overseas. Mr White was a former Trustee of the RUC GC Foundation from 27 July 2012 to 26 July 2017. He currently helps the Foundation in a voluntary capacity.
Political Activity: None