Secretary of State announces appointment of a new Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Chris Bryant MP, announced the appointment of Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan OBE as a Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland, effective from 1 November 2026. The role is appointed by the King on the Secretary of State’s recommendation under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. Civil Service Commissioners regulate appointments to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and hear appeals under the Civil Service Commissioners (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan OBE currently serves as University Provost at Ulster University and holds board positions with the British-Irish Association, NI Chamber of Commerce, and Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation. She previously served as a Commissioner for the Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland and has held other senior roles across public and private sectors.

All appointments to the Civil Service Commission are made on merit and in compliance with statutory requirements, with political activity excluded from the selection process. However, appointees must declare any political activity in defined categories as per the Nolan recommendations. Dr Gormley-Heenan confirmed she has not been politically active in the last five years.

Appointments to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are made under section 36(1) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 and are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The role involves overseeing the integrity of civil service recruitment and ethical standards in Northern Ireland.