CBI NORTHERN IRELAND POLICY FORUMS In addition to the Regional Council, we draw on insights from an extensive network of specialists and thought leaders to drive our policy priorities. Senior managers from across the CBI network are invited to join a range of policy forums on strategic policy areas. Policy forums typically meet twice a year and are made up of around 20 to 30 members, each chaired by local policy experts. The main CBI forums are as follows...
PEOPLE AND SKILLS FORUM, CHAIRED BY SAM DAVIDSON Sam is Group Human Resources Director for the Henderson Group, based in Newtownabbey. Henderson Group currently employs more than 3,400 staff, making it one of Northern Ireland’s leading private employers. “The skills and ingenuity of our people are at the heart of prosperity. Getting access to talented people is a major issue for all sectors in Northern Ireland right now so I am truly delighted to be working with the CBI on this policy area.”
ECONOMIC STRATEGY FORUM, CHAIRED BY JACKIE HENRY Based in Belfast, Jackie is Senior Partner at Deloitte in Northern Ireland. She has over 20 years’ experience in consulting in both the public and private sectors and has supported the NI public sector in a number of key reform projects. “The CBI’s Economic Forum brings together an array of senior business representatives from a wide-range of sectors. This forum devises the CBI’s response to various economic policy areas such as the regional industrial strategy and the Programme for Government and is an important vehicle for CBI members to gain insight, as well as influence, the wider economic landscape.”
INNOVATION FORUM, CHAIRED BY NICK WHEELAN Nick has been Group Chief Executive of Dale Farm, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative, since August 2016. He is also a CBI Council member and sits on the board of Northern Ireland’s Food and Drink Association. “Innovation plays a role in determining firm-level differences because firms that develop new products, processes and technologies become more productive, challenge existing business models, and grow quickly. I am delighted to collaborate with the CBI NI to help create the conditions that enable businesses to come up with new ideas, invest in research and development (R&D) and adopt new technologies.”
INFRASTRUCTURE FORUM, CHAIRED BY ADRIAN DORAN Adrian is Head of Corporate Banking for Barclays Bank in Northern Ireland and is also a member of the CBI Council. “From my work on the CBI’s infrastructure committee, one thing is very clear – businesses want to see improved infrastructure delivery at the heart of the government’s agenda. The quality of our infrastructure has a clear impact on our ability to attract investment and make firms more competitive. Collaboration between business and government is essential if we want to realise our ambitious goals for regional infrastructure.”
ENERGY FORUM, CHAIRED BY DECLAN BILLINGTON Declan is the Chief Executive of John Thompson & Sons Ltd, Northern Ireland’s largest animal feed processor. He has been a long-term supporter of the CBI, holding various positions including Chair. “Coming from industry I am absolutely committed to getting energy prices down and having a secure supply of energy for the business community. The CBI’s energy policy forum is critically important as it brings together large energy users, generators, distributors and investors to find consensus on the way forward for shaping future energy policy.”
CBI’S UNDER-35s, FORUM CHAIRED BY MARIE DOYLE In 2017 the CBI in Northern Ireland established an Under-35’s Council, bringing together promising individuals identified by their own companies as tomorrow’s business leaders. Marie is a Senior Manager at Deloitte in Belfast. An Economist by background, she works across Public Sector Transformation and Delivery Programmes. “I am delighted to be appointed chair of the Under-35s forum for 2018/19. With 35 members, each involved in growing businesses, creating employment and bounding up the corporate ladder, it’s great to have a forum that really reflects our views and can influence CBI policy.”