SIAN Mulholland has been confirmed as the new Alliance MLA for North Antrim.
She will replace Patricia O'Lynn, who announced she was stepping down from politics earlier this year.
Ms Mulholland has been an Alliance councillor for eight years, most recently in the Killultagh area. She said she is "honoured" to have been selected.
"I'd like to also pay tribute to Patricia O'Lynn, whose bold vision helped grow the party to unimaginable heights here in North Antrim,” she said.
"Last May, people across north Antrim put their faith in Alliance and the party has continually repaid that. I look forward to continuing that hard work and helping people with the issues that matter to them across the constituency.
"Coming from a rural village, I know those issues well, including roads infrastructure, transport, health, broadband and utilities, school amalgamations and community resources.
"Those are the bread and butter matters which impact people in North Antrim on a daily basis.
"But to deliver on those commitments, we need an assembly and executive restored. I will use my voice as MLA to push for that every day.
"The people of North Antrim voted for change. Myself and my party colleagues will bring commitment, energy and focus to deliver precisely that.”
Alliance leader Naomi Long said they are "delighted to welcome Sian to our assembly team".
"She has a wealth of political and community experience, having served as a councillor and worked in both the youth and arts sectors," she said.
"I hope that she will have an opportunity to put those skills to good use on behalf of her constituents in north Antrim in a working assembly, sooner rather than later."
Ms O’Lynn, who is to take up a new role at Queen's University Belfast, was the first woman elected in the unionist-dominated constituency, edging out former DUP Stormont minister Mervyn Storey.
Announcing her resignation from the Alliance Party, she said her "only regret" was being unable to serve the people of north Antrim in the assembly due to continued boycott of the institutions by the DUP.
“Nevertheless, it has been a privilege and I will continue representing my constituents fully while I remain in the role," she said.
