Business

Belfast lawyer elected to Women in Business chair

New Women in Business chairwoman Imelda McMillan
New Women in Business chairwoman Imelda McMillan New Women in Business chairwoman Imelda McMillan

BELFAST lawyer Imelda McMillan has been elected chairwoman of Women in Business.

She is a director of O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors where she leads the Property department specialising in reconstruction of title, house building developments, apartment schemes including site acquisitions and all aspects of property law.

Ms McMillan, who became a board member of the body in 2012 said: “The key objective of Women in Business is to create a new economy.

“This means a faster growing, more innovative and flexible economy which is internationally competitive and which sees as many men as women in all sectors and at all levels.

“To date we have seen a strong increase in the numbers of women reaching the top of their field but there is still a long way to go before the gender imbalance is redressed.

“While the imbalance remains, Northern Ireland’s ambitions to become internationally competitive are being held back. It is unsustainable to try to grow an economy while keeping a large section of a talented and qualified community at a distance from it.”

After graduating from law in 1987 from Queen’s University, Belfast, Ms McMillan spent two years in community work in west Belfast as a project co-ordinator.

In 1989, she became a trainee solicitor to Garrett O'Reilly of O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors, Belfast and graduated from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 1991.

In 2000, she became a partner in O`Reilly Stewart Solicitors and was appointed staff partner with responsibility for all personnel matters within the firm.

Imelda was also president of the Law Society in 2012.