NI Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has confirmed the appointment of a new Chairperson and seven new members, to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

• CHAIRPERSON

Tony Doran, OBE holds the position of Managing Director of the Construction Benefits Scheme, Construction Holiday Scheme, Construction First Building Guarantee Scheme, Building Guarantee Scheme UK and Construction Federation Services. He also holds voluntary positions of Chairperson with Caring Breaks Ltd, (which he was a founder member), Construction Pensions NI and Constructing Excellence NI. He is a Past President of a Rotary Club. He was involved in the establishment of a pilot Apprentice Programme and dealt with health and safety initiatives in the construction sector.

• EMPLOYEE MEMBERS

Terry Collins is a Regional Officer with AMICUS section of Unite the Union. He has sat on the Building Services Engineering Committee within CITB for the previous six years. He is also a Board member of the Scottish and Northern Ireland and Plumbing Employers' Federation. He actively encourages training within the construction industry.

Noel McKee currently holds the position of Senior Estimator/Commercial Manager for Farrans Ltd. He is the Chairperson of the Northern Centre of the Chartered Institute of Building in Ireland and Board of Governors of Ballinderry Primary School. He also sits on the Construction Skills Forum. He fully supports further training in all aspects of the industry and at all levels.

Paul McNamee holds the position of Construction Manager with O'Hare & McGovern. He is also the Chairperson Representative of the Chartered Institute of Building, North West Centre. He believes a standard should be set for all operatives and ongoing training is required as the construction industry is continuously changing.

• EMPLOYER MEMBERS

John Armstrong currently holds the position of Managing Director with the Construction Employers Federation and chairs the Federation Training Committee. He also is the President Elect of the Belfast West Rotary Club and a Senator of Junior Chamber International. He sits on the NI Committee of the National House-Building Council, as well as on the Steering Committee of 'Buildsafe Northern Ireland'. He was responsible for the co-ordination of Investors in People mentoring clubs for the construction industry, from which 28 companies have achieved IIP accreditation.

Peter Cole holds the posts of Contracts Manager/Health & Safety Officer with A M Cole Building Contractor. He also recently was appointed to CITB Training Committee. He has experience of both plant and vehicle mechanics. In 2005 he was a founder member of the Construction Employers Federation, Health and Safety Practitioners Group and has nine years executive level experience in his own business.

• EDUCATION MEMBERS

Dr James Whiteford is the Head of Department for Technology at the Belfast Metropolitan College. He is also the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of Victoria Primary School (SEELB). He is the Chairperson of the Engineering Skills Steering Group at the Belfast Metropolitan College. He has over 30 years experience in vocational education and training at various levels.

Adrian Murray is a lecturer at the University of Ulster and for the last seven years has been the placement tutor for the construction and civil engineering courses. As part of his employment with the University of Ulster he was a representative on the working group responsible for the creation of the CITB Undergraduate Development Programme. Previous posts held include committee member of the Chartered Institute of Building and Chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Building, Northern Centre.

The Minister also reappointed the following Board members to serve a second three year term:

• Lorraine Campbell, Development Officer with Constructing Excellence.
• Michael Kiddle, Regional Secretary of the Union of Construction and Allied Technical Trades.
• Michael Mulholland, Regional Organiser for the General Municipal Boilermakers' Union.

(PR/JM)