Membership of the AFBI Board | Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Board Members

Members have been appointed by the Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) NI Code of Practice. The Chair receives an annual remuneration of £32,157 and is expected to commit approximately 40 days per annum to the post. The Deputy Chair receives £13,418 and has a commitment in the region of 20 days per annum. Board Members receive a Per Diem Rate of £477 and their time commitment is unlikely to exceed 20 days per annum.

Prof. Grace Mulcahy (AFBI Chairperson)

Grace Mulcahy is Full Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology and spent almost 10 years (Jan 2007- Sept 2016) as Dean of Veterinary Medicine and from Sept 2011-Sept 2016 Head of the newly formed University College Dublin (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine.

She served two terms as a member of the Veterinary Council of Ireland and was for two years a member of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Board of Directors.

She currently serves as Research Integrity Officer for UCD and leads the university’s Research Culture activities.

Ms. Siobhan McCauley, AFBI Deputy Chairperson

Siobhan McCauley brings significant experience from senior roles across the public and private sectors, including in tourism and housing. With a background in economic and business development, she has considerable experience of financial management, corporate governance and strategic planning. As the former Director of Regional Services at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, she was responsible for leading the regional housing services, providing strategic direction and oversight of large-scale investment and transformational initiatives.

Currently in addition to her role as Deputy Chairperson of AFBI, Siobhan is a Board Member of Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority and a Non-Executive Director to the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which are remunerated at £5,355 and £9,327 per year respectively.

Dr. Xiaohui Chen

Dr. Xiaohui Chen is an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds and is currently the Deputy Director of Research and Innovation, with expert knowledge in Physics-Informed Machine Learning (PIML) and Coupled Multiphysics Modelling for Materials and Fluids. He has led and directed numerous research initiatives with broad industrial applications across his specialist areas including geotechnical engineering, water research, subsurface disposal, energy, sustainable agriculture and food, biodiversity and environmental engineering. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Science and a Chartered Environmentalist.

Dr. David Graham

Dr. David Graham is a qualified vet with experience in private practice. He has a wealth of experience in animal health matters, including most recently as the former Chief Executive of Animal Health Ireland. He has specialist knowledge in the diagnosis and control of viral and bacterial diseases and in his former role in the Department of Agriculture’s then Science Service (now AFBI), he led on a cattle health scheme promoting the monitoring, eradication and accreditation programmes to tackle bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), Johne’s disease and leptospirosis.

Mr. Brian McTeggart

Brian McTeggart has extensive experience in financial management, governance, and organisational development and transformation. Previous senior roles include Director of Corporate Services in Waterways Ireland, Capital Programmes in the former Department of Culture, Art and Leisure, and Secretary/Director of a heritage academy board. He spent 12 years with IDB (now Invest NI) supporting home industry, trade development, inward investment, and commercial property provision. Over half that time was in development of the NI food industry and the red meat sector in particular, including supporting its resilience and recovery from the BSE crisis in 1996.
He is currently involved in tourism marketing and management internationally. In these roles, he has had responsibility for significant budgets and capital investment programmes, as well as oversight of strategic and business planning, finance, property, legal services and governance arrangements for Arm’s Length Bodies and businesses, including as Chair and Member of audit and risk assurance committees.

Brian is also a Lay Member of the NI Judicial Appointments Commission, remunerated at £338 per day.

Mr. Bill Montgomery

Bill Montgomery has 34 years’ experience in economic development working for the Industrial Development Board and Invest Northern Ireland. An engineering graduate of Queen’s University Belfast he also later attained an MBA in International Business & Industrial Development from the University of Ulster. Bill had a variety of roles in economic development, including leading the sales and marketing teams in North America for 11 years promoting Northern Ireland as an investment location to many major US corporations. Director roles in Northern Ireland have included leading the International Investment Division, negotiating and securing high value global projects, and more recently encouraging export growth and innovation with the advanced manufacturing sectors.

Ms. Thérèse Rafferty

Thérèse Rafferty is a graduate of Queen’s University, the University of Ulster, and an alumnus of Boston College, Massachusetts. She has held senior roles over a career of 35 years in higher education and local government. Her experience includes the delivery of a wide portfolio of capital development programmes and environmental initiatives, economic and arts development, financial and corporate planning, performance and risk management, and corporate governance. She has held previous Board positions and is currently a Board member of National Museums Northern Ireland.

Prof. Nigel Scollan

Nigel Scollan is currently the Head of School of Biological Sciences and formerly Professor of Agriculture and Sustainability in the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast.
From his academic and research background, Nigel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on animal agriculture and sustainable agricultural food systems. Nigel also has a strong track record in knowledge exchange and partnering with industry in the practical application of research and has initiated and managed numerous national and international projects, working with scientific and industry partners.

Dr. Esther Skelly-Smith

Esther Skelly-Smith is an equine veterinary surgeon with extensive clinical, leadership and governance experience, with special interest in equine welfare, sports medicine and rehabilitation. She is a Past President and current Council Member of both the North of Ireland Veterinary Association and the British Veterinary Association Northern Ireland Branch. She recently chaired the British Veterinary Association Use of Animals in Sport Working Group, leading the development of UK-wide policy in this area. She is also an Honorary Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, contributing to teaching and supervising postgraduate research. Alongside her veterinary career, she is a working farmer involved in commercial sheep and livestock production, with additional experience in breeding Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horses, providing direct insight into the application of science and regulation within farm businesses and animal health systems.

In addition to her role as Non-Executive Director of AFBI, Esther currently sits on DAERA’s High-Level Science Advisory Group, remunerated at £250 per meeting.

Mr. Joseph Stewart

Joseph Stewart OBE LLB JP brings significant finance and governance experience from his executive and non-executive roles in the private and public sectors. He has extensive experience at Director level in employee relations and occupational health and safety matters. Joseph runs two breeding flocks on his family farm and is a trustee of the Suffolk Sheep Society, as well as an experienced horse breeder.

In addition to his role as Non-Executive Director of AFBI, Joseph is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Business Service Organisation. He is also the Chair of the Livestock and Meat Commission, remunerated at £18,180.75 per year.

Mr. Derek Wilson

Derek Wilson has a background in financial services, having held a number of senior positions in several banking institutions, latterly specialising in mortgage finance. Derek has significant experience in managing risk and business transformation and change in the financial sector and has extensive experience in governance matters through his non-executive roles, having served on a number of boards.

In addition to his role as Non-Executive Director of AFBI, he is currently the Non-Executive Chair of the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, with a remuneration of £16,131. Derek is also a Commissioner with the Parades Commission, which is remunerated at £22,000 and serves as a member of the governing body of the South Eastern Regional College which is remunerated at £250/£150 for governing/committee meetings respectively.

Dr. Vanessa Woods

Vanessa Woods is founder and CEO of Ireland’s first Science Communications Consultancy. She works with government bodies, agri-food industry leaders and education professionals, translating science into accurate and engaging messages and stories.

She is a former Chief Executive of independent consumer engagement body, Agri Aware.

Vanessa has authored two science-based books on sustainable farming and food for the next generation.

She brings a strong scientific and research background in Ruminant Nutrition and Microbiology. Formerly a senior scientist with AFBI, she worked in the areas of carbon footprinting, global research, grassland systems and data modelling. She also delivered lectures at Queens University as part of this role.