Contact Details:
AFBI Newforge,
18a Newforge Lane,
Belfast,
BT9 5PX.
Dr George McIlroy was appointed Chief Scientific Officer in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) for Northern Ireland on 19 August 2002. On 1st April 2006 he became the first Chief Executive of the new scientific Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute which was created as an amalgamation of DARD Science Service and the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland.
Dr McIlroy was born in Belfast and educated at Trinity College, Dublin where he was awarded a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. After five years in veterinary practice he joined the Department of Agriculture in 1980 and was Head of the Epidemiology Unit at the Veterinary Sciences Division at Stormont.
During his 10 years with the Department, Dr McIlroy was awarded a Master of Science degree in Animal Health from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London and a Doctor of Philosophy from Queen’s University of Belfast. Dr McIlroy subsequently worked for ten years on the board of two international agri-food industry companies and rejoined the Department in January 2001 as deputy Chief Veterinary Officer responsible for Policy Development during the Foot and Mouth Epizootic disease outbreak.
