New chair and vice-chair of the NIPB elected
The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NPB) has confirmed the appointment of a new chair and vice-chair.
Deirdre Toner will take over from Doug Garrett as chair of the board with Edgar Jardine taking up the position of vice-chair from Dr Tom Frawley.
The appointments, which are for a two-year term, took effect from the start of December.
Ms Toner said: “I am honoured to have been elected as chair of the Policing Board and am very much looking forward to progressing the board’s important programme of work with fellow members, with the chief constable, and all those whose contribution can assist delivery of the policing service to the community.
“Policing is an important public service and whilst I am very aware of the current challenges facing policing, there remains a commitment and consensus within the board to ensure policing delivers the best possible service for all.”
Welcoming his appointment as vice-chair, Mr Jardine said: “The Board’s oversight work is wide ranging and provides essential assurance that the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is subject to independent scrutiny.
“I am delighted to have been elected to this role and very much look forward to supporting the chair in the time ahead.”
Ms Toner’s background is in senior leadership as chief executive officer and executive director positions in the voluntary and public sector, focusing on mental health and community development, with a strong focus on good governance, audit and accountability.
A graduate of public policy and later human rights law, she has more than 30 years’ experience of leading organisations, and 20 years of board and chair experience in the public sector in health and justice.
She is currently chair of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Commission, a position that runs until 2023.
Mr Jardine is a former chief executive of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and has served at senior level in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy first Minister and in the former Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and as interim chief executive of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
He was awarded the CB in 2012 for public service. Since retirement from the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Mr Jardine has served in a number of non-executive roles. He was a member of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland from 2012 to 2018 and on the Education Authority from 2015 to 2020.
He is currently chair of the Stranmillis University College Governing Body and chairs the Department of Finance’s Statistics Advisory Committee.
The terms of office for both Mr Garrett and Mr Jardine had been extended until November 30 by the Justice Secretary.