Department for the Economy announces the appointment of a Non-Executive Board Member

The Department for the Economy has announced the appointment of Mark Lowry as Non-Executive Board Member (NEBM) to the Departmental Board.

He will also attend the Department's Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

Every government department in Northern Ireland has a departmental board which supports the Accounting Officer in the discharge of his or her obligations as set out in Managing Public Money NI. The board also supports senior officials in directing the business of the department in as effective and efficient way as possible to ensure delivery of statutory responsibilities and ministerial priorities.

The primary role of a non-executive board member is to contribute to good governance of the organisation. They offer constructive challenge across the organisation's business with a view to ensuring that all aspects of strategy and delivery of policy are scrutinised for effectiveness and efficiency.

This appointment is for a period of three years effective from 25 November 2024.

Notes to editors:

1. Pen Picture: Originally from County Fermanagh, Mark studied civil engineering at QUB and after graduating in 1982 spent four years working in South Africa before returning to start what was to become a 32-year career with the CRH group (the world's largest building materials group, headquartered in Dublin). During his time with CRH, he rose through the ranks to become MD of Farrans Construction, then CEO of Northstone (both based in Belfast), before taking up the role of Country MD with CRH Poland, living in Warsaw for four years. In 2016, he became the CRH Group Sustainability Director, based in Amsterdam and Dublin for three years. In 2019 he returned to Northern Ireland as CEO of The McAvoy Group, excited by MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) and its opportunities. He semi-retired in 2022 and is currently a Non-Executive Director with McAvoy Holdings Ltd, a Non-Executive Board Member with the HSCNI Business Services Organisation (BSO) and an Independent Non-Executive Board Committee Member (Resources & Performance) with the Housing Executive (NIHE), as well as proudly being a STEM ambassador with the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers). In his career, Mr Lowry served for two years as President of the CEF (Construction Employers Federation) and was both Chair of the ICE (NI) and a Board Committee Member of the CBI (NI). He is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
2. Non-Executive Board Members are paid an attendance fee of £500 per day. The time commitment is approximately 18 days annually.
3. All appointments are made on merit. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity to be made public. Mark has declared no political activity.
4. To keep up to date with news from the Department for the Economy you can follow us on the following social media channels:
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5. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at [email protected] .
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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