We advertised recently for expressions of interest in positions on the Board of the new Bridge Ireland. We were delighted with the response, which was larger than expected; the vast majority of the candidates demonstrated the skills and experience sought, which meant that narrowing the field down to the successful candidates was not easy.
That task fell to an assessment panel, under the chairmanship of an independent chair, Fred Barry. Fred has extensive experience in this area, having served on similar panels, including as chair, in both the private and the public sector. The panel was tasked with recommending the best combination of the skills and experience required, whilst also achieving, in so far as possible, an appropriate balance of gender, geography, age, and playing level (grade).
The assessment panel’s recommended candidates have recently been endorsed by the CBAI’s Governing Council, which was the agreed process in the absence of a general membership AGM for the composition of this first Board. In addition, the Northern Ireland Region has the right to nominate one director for the first nine years of operation of the new company; for the first Board that task fell to the NIBU Council.
The successful candidates, who will form the first Board subject to approval of the Company Members at an EGM, are (in alphabetical order): Martin Brady (Chair), John Crimmins, LizAnn Doyle, Anne Fitzpatrick, Donal Garvey, Kathy Monks, Rosalind O’Brien, Hugh O’Connell, Máire O’Connor, Derek O’Gorman. The Governing Council noted that the board nominees comprised an excellent mix of the skills and experience that would be required to make the new Bridge Ireland successful, and wished them well in their endeavours.
These are unpaid positions, so we thank all these volunteers for their commitment, and also the unsuccessful candidates for their interest in serving. As noted above, the ten individuals will remain nominees until formally ratified by the Company Members, and satisfying the Companies Registration Office of their fitness to serve. We will confirm the final composition of the Board once those two steps have been completed.