Northern Ireland

Former UUP assembly member John McCallister appointed to the Community Relations Council

Former UUP assembly member John McCallister has been appointed to the board Community Relations Council
Former UUP assembly member John McCallister has been appointed to the board Community Relations Council Former UUP assembly member John McCallister has been appointed to the board Community Relations Council

Former UUP and NI21 deputy leader John McCallister has been appointed to the board of of the Community Relations Council.

The council, which is an Arms Length Body of the Executive Office, was established in1990 “to lead and support change towards reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust”.

Mr McCallister, who is a former assembly member for south Down, is one of nine new members to be appointed to the council board.

During his time in the assembly he sat on ten different committees as well as the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

He served as deputy leader of the UUP between 2010-2012.

In 2013 he co-founded NI21 acting as deputy leader for a year.

Mr McCallister lost his assembly seat in 2016 and now works for the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster and Ulster Farmers' Union.

Former NI Rural Development Council chief executive Martin McDonald has been appointed as the new council chair, replacing former incumbent Peter Osborne.

He will be joined by new board members Maire Braniff, Rory Campbell, Claire Harris, Sheila McClelland, Michael McDonnell, Audrey Simpson and Nisha Tandon.

All appointments are for three years and remuneration for the chair's position is £8,200 per year.

Board Member will receive £125 per day, up to a maximum of £3,000 per year.