Membership of CCEA Council

Chairman

David McKee
Mr McKee is former principal of Duke of Westminster High School, Kesh. He has a particular interest in work-related learning and in developing cross-community links.

Council Members

Mrs Dorothy Black
Mrs Black is a lecturer in Initial Teacher Education and Course Director for Continuing Professional Development Masters programmes at the University of Ulster, Coleraine. She has previous experience as a teacher and field officer for Education for Mutual Understanding. Mrs Black is a member of CCEA’s Curriculum and Assessment and Learning for Life and Work Committees.

Mr Martin Bowen, Vice Chair
Mr Bowen is currently Principal of St Peter’s High School and Vice-Chairman of Board of Directors of Creggan Enterprise Ltd. He is also a lead threshold assessor for NEELB and an Associate Assessor for the Education and Training Inspectorate. Mr Bowen has recently been appointed Chairman of CCEA’s Learning for Life and Work Sub-Committee.

Dr. Martin Brown, Education consultant and writer
Martin Brown is a chartered physicist. He was Head of Physics and Technology at Methodist College Belfast, and later General Adviser (Science and Technology) to the North Eastern Education and Library Board. He is a member of Queen’s University’s Medics in Primary Schools writing and training team, and works with the Institution of Civil Engineers in developing primary pupils’ interest in engineering. He is Project Manager at Sentinus for the Engineering Education Scheme, and Series Editor of the Hodder Murray textbooks for the revised NI Key Stage 3 science curriculum. As Secretary of NISEF (the Northern Ireland Science Education Forum), he edited its paper A Scientific Future for Northern Ireland, and is currently a member of the Government Led Working Group of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Review. Dr Brown is a member of CCEA’s Curriculum & Assessment Committee.

Mr Jim Clarke
Mr Clarke is Deputy Chief Executive of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and previously Principal of St Gabriel’s College, Belfast. Mr Clarke has wide experience of the Northern Ireland education system and has also worked as Chief Executive of an Event Management Company. Mr Clarke is a member of CCEA’s Curriculum & Assessment and Regulation, Qualifications and Lifelong Learning Committees.

Mr James Collins
Mr Collins is former General Manager with Ford Motor Company. He is a member of the Belfast Education and Library Board and a member of the Labour Relations Agency. Mr Collins is also a member of CCEA’s Learning for Life and Work Committee and has recently been appointed Chairman of CCEA’s Business Committee.

Ms Michele Crilly
Ms Crilly is currently Director of Education at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Education. She was previously e-Learning and High Education Manager at Edexcel and Distance Learning Manager at the British Council. Ms Crilly is a member of CCEA’s Business Committee.

Mr Neil Downing
Mr Downing recently took up his third principalship in Cookstown Primary School. However, he has continued to demonstrate a keen interest in the voluntary sector as Chair of Tri County Schools' Sports Project, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Speedwell Trust and an Adjudicator for the British Council. In addition, he is a member of the Regional Judging panel of the Teaching Awards Trust and a previous winner of Principal of the Year for Northern Ireland (2004). Mr Downing is a member of CCEA’s Curriculum & Assessment Committee

Mrs Helen McClenaghan
Mrs McClenaghan was appointed Chief Executive of the Southern Education and Library Board with effect from 1 June 1998 having previously served as a teacher and then Board Officer. She has a wide range of educational experience. Mrs McClenaghan is a member of CCEA’s Business and Curriculum & Assessment Committees.

Mrs Carmel McKinney
Mrs McKinney is a Primary School Principal and Board Member (previously Chair) of the Belfast Education and Library Board. She is also a Member of Youth Council and an education representative on NI Civic Forum and was previously a member of Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. Ms McKinney is a member of CCEA’s Curriculum & Assessment and Learning for Life and Work Committees.

Dr Ian McMorris
Dr McMorris was Chair of CBI NI from 2002-2003 and is a member of CBI’s Economic Affairs and the IBEC-CBI Steering Group.  He is also Director of Genesis Consulting NI, an Independent Board Member of DETI,  a Board Member of the Economic Research Institute NI, Director of NICIE and Chair of the Board of Governors of Lagan College. Dr McMorris is a member of CCEA’s Business Committee.

Mrs Patricia O'Farrell
Mrs O'Farrell is a teacher. She is a former chairperson of the Northern Committee, Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and a former member of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC). She is currently a member of INTO Equality Committee and a member of the board of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA). Mrs O’Farrell is a member of CCEA’s Business, Learning for Life and Work and Regulation, Qualifications and Lifelong Learning Committees.

Mr David Thompson
Mr David Thompson is a retired Headmaster. Principal of the Belfast Boys’ Model and Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards, he has served on numerous education bodies and continues to do some consultancy work. Mr Thompson is a member of CCEA’s Business and Curriculum and Assessment Committees. He is also Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Miss Mae Watson
Miss Watson is Vice Principal (Registrar) at Stranmillis University College, having previously been a teacher and senior lecturer in business and management studies.  She (has) wide experienceof education including business education/industry links, e-learning, etc.  She is Chairperson of CCEA’s Curriculum & Assessment Committee.

Mr John Wilkinson
Mr Wilkinson is Principal of Dromore High School and a Member of the C2K Project Board, the Education Technology Strategy Management Group, CCEA’s Curriculum & Assessment Committee and is Chairman of CCEA’s Regulation, Qualifications & Lifelong Learning Committee.

Government Assessors

Mrs Katrina Godfrey
Department of Education (DE)

Mrs Bernie O'Hare
Director of Further Education (DEL)

Ms Marian Cree
(DEL) Department for Employment and Learning

CCEA Officers

Mr Neil Anderson
Acting Chief Executive

Miss Noleen Kennedy
Manager, Chief Executive's Office Council Support Officer