Urban regeneration company Ilex today announced the appointment of Aideen McGinley as its new Chief Executive. Currently Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Ms McGinley was previously Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) from 1999 – 2005 before which she was Chief Executive of Fermanagh District Council. In her 25 years in local government, she worked in Community Services and Economic Development in Strabane and Fermanagh and as a Planner in Donegal.
Announcing the appointment Sir Roy McNulty, Chairman of Ilex commented: “We are delighted to have been able to appoint Aideen McGinley as Chief Executive of Ilex. Aideen brings a wealth of experience in dealing with many of the key challenges which face us in Derry ~ Londonderry as well as skills in partnership working and leadership which will be invaluable as we move forward.
It is a mark of the progress which Ilex has made, and of the opportunities which many people can see for the future of Derry and the North West, that we had a strong field of candidates for this post. We wish her every success in her new role”.
Ms McGinley is currently Chair of the NICS Centre for Applied Learning and a member of the Permanent Secretaries People Sub-Group, the NI Committee of the British Council, the NI Chief Executives’ Forum, Business in the Community and the Fermanagh Trust. She has also been involved on a number of UK and regional bodies, including the University for Industry, the National Lotteries Charities Board, Rural Development Council, Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, Bank of Ireland, NI Millennium Company, BBC Appeals Committee, the Omagh Fund and the 2010 Steering Group. She was also a founding member of the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry and, when in DCAL, was responsible for securing capital investment for the cultural infrastructure of the city.
Born in Derry and brought up in Strabane, Ms McGinley very much welcomes the opportunity to lead Ilex at a time of great change for Derry ~ Londonderry and said “I was born in Derry ~ Londonderry, as were my three children, and I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to contribute to its regeneration.
There is no better time than now in the current economic climate to build on the work undertaken by many to mobilise resources in the city and region. The richness of culture, creativity and strong community spirit provide the building blocks for physical regeneration that can be an exemplar internationally and which will be necessary to address significant economic issues of investment, employment, education and skills.
I look forward to working with Sir Roy McNulty, the Board, the Ilex team and all the partners in central and local government, business and the community to make good things happen and enable the city to realise its full potential”.
Ilex is currently responsible for regenerating the Ebrington and Fort George sites together with the Peace Bridge, and is also developing its Regeneration Plan Mark II, a comprehensive exercise involving individuals and organisations from the private, public, and community & voluntary sectors.
For further information contact Mo Durkan, tel. 028 712 69226 or 07917 544297.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Northern Ireland’s only Urban Regeneration Company, Ilex was set up in 2003 by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMdFM) and the Department for Social Development (DSD) to plan, develop and sustain the economic, physical and social regeneration of the Derry City Council area.
Ilex’s strategic objectives are:
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To create and promote the coordinated regeneration of the Derry City Council area generally and to facilitate its implementation in cooperation with DSD, other relevant government departments, Derry City Council, the private sector and other interested parties; and
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To secure the economic, social and physical regeneration of the Ebrington and Fort George sites