LMC Board

The Livestock and Meat Commission comprises of a Board whose Members are appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (who also appoints the Chairman) for three-year terms. There are seven members of the Board including the Chairman. The Board has corporate responsibility for ensuring that LMC fulfils the aims and objectives set by DARD and approved by the Minister, and for promoting the efficient, economic and effective use of staff and other resources by LMC. The Board meets routinely once per month, with additional meetings on an ad hoc basis when circumstances require.

The main responsibilities of the Board are:

to establish the overall strategic direction of the LMC within the policy and resources framework determined by DARD and its Minister;
to constructively challenge the LMC’s executive team in their planning, target setting and delivery of performance;
to ensure that DARD and its Minister are kept informed of any changes which are likely to impact on the strategic direction of the LMC or on the attainability of its targets, and determine the steps needed to deal with such changes;
to ensure that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with, that the Board operates within the limits of its statutory authority and any delegated authority agreed with DARD and in accordance with any other conditions relating to the use of public funds, and that, in reaching decisions, the Board takes into account guidance issued by DFP, OFMDFM and DARD;
to ensure that the Board receives and reviews regular financial information concerning the management of the LMC, is informed in a timely manner about any concerns about the activities of the LMC and provides positive assurances to DARD that appropriate action has been taken on such concerns;
to demonstrate high standards of corporate governance at all times, including using the independent audit committee to help the Board to address the key financial and other risks facing the LMC; and
to appoint, with DARD’s approval, a Chief Executive to the LMC and, in consultation with DARD, set performance objectives and remuneration terms linked to these objectives for the Chief Executive, which give due weight to the proper management and use of public monies.

Minutes

Click here to view minutes of LMC Board meetings.

Pat O'Rourke

LMC Chairman

Pat O’Rourke has worked as Marketing and Public Relations Manager with the Irish Concrete Federation and is currently Chairperson of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland. He is a past Chairman of Longford Community Resources and past president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association. He has also been a board member of both An Bord Bia and the Irish Dairy Board. In these positions he gained experience in contributing to the strategic direction of an organisation and engaging with stakeholders, government and political representatives. He has served as the Chair of the LMC since 7 May 2009.
Jim Noble

Independent Representative

Jim Noble was appointed to the Board in February 2008. He brings to LMC knowledge derived from a farming background and a career in the food industry. He studied food processing and agriculture at Loughry College and industrial engineering at Queens University. Most of his career was spent in the local dairy industry where he gained a wide experience of processing, product development and marketing. Mr Noble has extensive knowledge of directing and managing customer facing organisations in the private and public sectors; he was Managing Director of Dromona Quality Foods for 12 years and is a past Board member and Chairman of the Safety Committee of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. He has served on a number of industry representative bodies and is currently a Board member of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.
Mary McCormack

Producer Representative

Mary McCormack is a university graduate with wide ranging experience of the agri-food industry including fulfilling a representational role and developing policy. She runs a mixed hill farm with dairy, suckler and beef enterprises. She is also Farm Liaison Officer with Camowen Partnership Carrickmore, a Member of Lakeland Dairies’ Producer Committee, Vice-Chair of the NI Agricultural Consultants Association, a member of Agri-Search, a member of Omagh District Council Local Action Group for the Rural Development Programme and a member of the Omagh Forum for Rural Associations.
Kenneth Sharkey

Producer Representative

Kenneth Sharkey was appointed to the Board in January 2009. Mr Sharkey is a progressive beef and sheep farmer and ex-President of the Ulster Farmers’Unionwho has significant personal experience of the agri-food industry and related issues. This includes fulfilling a representational role, engagement with the different parts of the food supply chain and developing policy. He is also a director of Countryside Services, Glenfarm Holdings and the NFU Mutual.
Ian Mark

Processor Representative

Ian Mark was the Managing Director of Lean and Easy from 1995 to 2010 and is currently a self employed beef and sheep farmer. He is also a Managing Partner of Foyle Hovercrafting and Leisure, Chairman of CAAN Activity Tourism Working Group and a member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Council. He served on the LMC Board from 1997 to 2002 as a producer representative and is a past Chairman of the Ulster Farmers’ Union Cattle and Sheep Committee. He has significant experience of dealings with the multiple retailers and NI restaurant trade.
Phelim O'Neill

Processor Representative

Phelim O'Neill was appointed to the Board in January 2009. He comes from a farming background in Co Tyrone; graduated from Queen's University with an honours degree in Law and later obtained a Masters in Business Strategy from the University of Ulster. His entire career has been spent in various roles in the red meat industry and currently is the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters’ Association. He is a regular contributor to the print and broadcast media on the industry and holds a number of other industry related board positions.