Members are appointed in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) NI Code of Practice. The terms of appointment of members are for either two or three year periods, with the Chair appointed for four years. The Chair receives an annual remuneration of £24,000 and is expected to commit approximately 40 days per annum to the post. The Deputy Chair receives £10,000 and has a commitment in the region of 20 days per annum. Members are expected to commit in the region of 15 days per year and receive £3,600.
Mr Seán Hogan (AFBI Chairperson)
Chairperson Mr Hogan lives in Newry. He has an MSc in Organisational Management from Queen’s University and qualifications in Management Studies from the Chartered Management Institute. Mr Hogan is currently a freelance marketing consultant and is also the Chair of the Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust. He is also a current member of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.
Professor David McDowell
Deputy Chairperson Professor McDowell lives in Carrickfergus. He has a PhD from the University of Ulster and is a Chartered Biologist. Professor McDowell is currently the Head of Food Microbiology at the University of Ulster. He is also a member of the Food Standards Agency NI Advisory Committee and Vice-Chair of the Safefood Scientific Advisory Committee, a voluntary position.
Mr Kieran Campbell
Mr Campbell lives in Newry. He has an MSc in Corporate Leadership and is a chartered accountant with 20 years’ experience in senior finance and management roles. He is currently principal within property development and property management companies. Mr Campbell is also a member of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.
Dr Michael Hollywood
Dr Hollywood lives in Belfast. He holds a PhD in Atomic Physics, from Queen’s University. Dr Hollywood is a self-employed management consultant. He is the recently retired Head of Scientific Research at the Gallaher Ltd Group.
Dr Christine Kennedy
Dr Kennedy lives in Donaghadee. She has a PhD from the University of Ulster. She is a partner in a dairy and beef farm. She also serves as an Independent Assessor for the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and for management consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers and is an assessor for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), 'Peace and Rural Development Projects'. Dr Kennedy holds numerous voluntary positions, including membership of the UFU’s Board. She is a present member of the Food Strategy Implementation Partnership Board.
Mr Nicholas Mack
Mr Mack lives in Newcastle. He has an MSc in Agricultural and Rural Policy and over 20 years’ experience in rural development in Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. He is currently the Director of the Rural Development Council’s (RDC) Policy and Innovation Research Unit and has worked with the RDC for the last 10 years.
Professor Grace Mulcahy
Professor Mulcahy lives in Co Wicklow. She qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin (UCD), from where she subsequently gained a PhD. She is currently Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology at UCD and is a Foundation Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Parasitology. Professor Mulcahy is also a member of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, a voluntary position.
Mr John McKinley
Mr McKinley lives in Ballycastle. He has a BAgr and Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Queen’s University; completed a Business Start Up programme through the University of Ulster and a Corporate Manager programme with the Industrial Development Board. Mr McKinley runs his own beef and sheep farm and is also a consultant in food products, marketing, and tourism and environmental projects. He also works as an agri-environment skills instructor via the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) organised workshops.
Professor Stewart McNulty
Professor McNulty lives in Belfast. He qualified in veterinary medicine from Trinity College, Dublin, from where he also gained a PhD. Professor McNulty retired as Chief Veterinary Research Officer with DARD Science Service in 2001. He is currently a member of the Health Promotion Agency Board, NI, a voluntary position.
Mr Jim Noble
Mr Noble lives in Newtownards. He has an MSc from Queen’s University and several qualifications in dairying.
Mr Noble is a Board member of the Livestock and Meat Commission. He has previously held a number of public appointments.
Mr John Rankin
Mr Rankin lives in Newtownards. He has run his own dairy farm for over 40 years and is also Director of both NFU Mutual and Farm Family Development Ltd. Mr Rankin is a former ARINI Trustee, a voluntary position, and is currently a member of the Agricultural Wages Board.
Mr Michael Walker
Mr Walker lives in Newtownabbey. He has an MSc from Queen’s University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). He holds the RSC’s Masters degree in Food, Drugs and Water. He is a self-employed consultant on food and water issues, civil and criminal litigation. Mr Walker has held a number of public appointments in recent years.
Note: Mr Jim Stewart was a member of the AFBI Board from April 2006 – March 2007.
