The NITHC Board is made up of members from across a number of public and private business sectors.
The Board want to provide integrated services which connect people, enhance the economy and improve the environment, enabling a thriving Northern Ireland.
Background
Frank Hewitt was appointed Group Chairman of Translink in July 2015. Between 2011 and 2015 he was a non-executive director of the company.
His career spans both the public and private sector. From 1973 to 1978 he represented the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce in Germany. Between 1982 and 1984 he was the British Consul for Industrial Development in Los Angeles and, later, 1988 to 1996, was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Industrial Development Board in charge of Inward Investment. In 1996 he was appointed CEO of the Northern Ireland Growth Challenge, a private sector organisation established to stimulate higher levels of industrial development in Northern Ireland. He was also CEO of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce from 2002 until 2008.
He has held a number of public appointments, including non-executive director positions at Invest NI, Ilex Urban Regeneration Company, Legal Services Commission, and non-executive chair of the Northern Ireland Science Park. He is currently a UK board member of the Big Lottery Fund and a non-executive board member of the Strategic Investment Board.
Between 2002 and 2014 he was the German Government's Honorary Consul in Northern Ireland and is one of very few non Germans to be awarded the Federal Government Medal of Honour.
Bernard Mitchell
Non-Executive Director
Background
Appointed as a non-executive Director on 1 February, 2012, Bernard worked in the NI Health and Social Services from 1978 to 2011, including 10 years as a Chief Executive. He is also currently Chair of the NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency, a member of the NI Assembly Secretariat Audit and Risk Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee of PONI. On a voluntary basis, he is also a member of the Marie Curie Cancer Care NI Advisory Board and Chair of the Strand Arts Centre.
Angela Reavey
Non-Executive Director
Background
A Fellow of Chartered Accountant Ireland, Angela has over 20 years of experience working at a senior level in both the public and private sectors. She is a former partner in BDO Northern Ireland, which she left in 2012 to establish her own consulting practice, working with various organisations including the Strategic Investment Board. A past Chairman of the Chartered Accountants Ireland - Ulster Society, and former Board member of the Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation and Trustee of NISP CONNECT, she is currently a Board member of Firmus Energy.
Chris Conway
Group Chief Executive for NITHC & Translink.
He has extensive international business experience with Tata Steel Europe where he worked as Managing Director Tata Steel Distribution Ireland and previously as Vice President Operations for Nortel Networks in Europe.
During his career with Nortel Networks Chris worked in International Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain and Manufacturing. He also worked on market development projects in China and Brazil.
Chris graduated from the University of Ulster with a BSc in Engineering and also has an MBA from the University of Ulster. He is a Chartered Company Director and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Chris is Chairperson of NI-CO (Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas) and a member of the Board of Trustees of Young Enterprise NI. He has also recently become a member of CBI Northern Ireland Council and Business in the Community Advisory Board.
Patrick Anderson
Chief Financial Officer of Translink
Background
Paddy Anderson has been appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer for Translink. Paddy joins Translink from the Business Services Organisation, where he was Director of Finance and member of the Board. A Chartered Accountant, Paddy has held a number of senior Finance positions in both the private and public sectors. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and completed the Chartered Director Programme in September 2014.
Tony Depledge OBE
Non-Executive Director
Background
Tony Depledge has served on the Board of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company since 2011. He holds a BA from the University of Birmingham and has a background in passenger transport management in both the public and private sectors, having started as a bus and tram conductor and driver.
Tony was Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Services Ltd, the operator of Blackpool's bus and tram network from 1985 until 2001 and was the Director of Transport Policy for Arriva plc until 2013. He served as President of the UK bus and coach trade association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) in 2000/2001.
Tony Depledge has held a number of board positions, including Transport for Edinburgh Ltd and chairman of Lothian Buses Ltd. He is a trustee and Vice-Chairman of Blackpool Grand Theatre Ltd; he chairs the UK Bus Awards Scheme. Tony is also a trustee of the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics. He is an honorary President of the European Union Committee of the international transport trade association UITP, having chaired that Committee from 2009 to 2013. He was appointed OBE for services to passenger transport in 2001.
Hilary McCartan
Non-Executive Director
Background
Mrs Hilary McCartan lives in Belfast and is a chartered accountant by profession. Hilary has held a number of senior management posts in the private sector including the role of Finance Director, and a number of non-executive roles in the public sector including Commissioner on the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission, Member of the Probation Board and Member of the Consumer Council.
Mrs McCartan currently holds the following public appointments: a Non-executive director of the Business Services Organisation (DHSSPS) ( April 2013 – March 2016), a Member of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (DARD) ( April 2011 -March 2016) , and a Commissioner for Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners ( April 2015- March 2019).
Dr Mark Sweeney OBE
Non-Executive Director
Background
Dr. Sweeney has a background in the industrial, commercial and manufacturing sectors within Northern Ireland and globally. He is a former Vice President of Caterpillar from 2012 to 2015 and prior to that Global Operations Director for Caterpillar's Electric Power Division and Managing Director of FG Wilson Eng. Ltd. Prior to joining Caterpillar, Mark worked for eight years in the US for a marine engine company, Mercury Marine. He graduated from Queens University, Belfast with a 1st class honours degree and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He was President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce from 2006-2008. In 2007 he was awarded an OBE for services to business and in 2011, an Honorary D.Sc. Degree from Queen's University. He is currently a Non Executive Director of Invest NI.
Philip O'Neill
Chief Operating Officer of Translink
Background
Appointed as a Director on 1 April 2010, Philip commenced work with the group in 1979 and since then has held various technical and managerial positions in Ulsterbus, Citybus and N I Railways. In February 2009 he was appointed as Chief Operating Officer.
Gordon Milligan
Chief Human Resources & Corporate Services
Officer
Background
Having joined Translink in 2009 as Human Resources & Organisational Development Director his role has been extended to include HR, Transformation, Information Services, Communications and Health & Safety. Gordon was also appointed Deputy Chief Executive in September 2015.
Gordon's previous experience includes executive roles within large national and global organizations including Bombardier Aerospace, Nortel Networks and Dunbia Agrifood.
Gordon has an MBA and is a visiting professor at the Ulster University Business School. Gordon sits on the IoD Northern Ireland Committee, is Chair of both the IoD Professional Development Committee and the Business in the Community Workplace Board and is a member of the Ministerial Roundtable Committee on Employment Relations in Northern Ireland.
Gordon is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
