Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service named

The man who is to replace Gerry Loughran as the new head of Northern Ireland's 29,000-strong civil service has been named today.

Nigel Hamilton, currently Permanent Secretary at the Department of Regional Development is expected to take over his new post on October 1, following the retirement of Mr Loughran. He will move to assume the role of Permanent Secretary at the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM).

Nigel Hamilton (54) joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1970 from Queen’s University. He worked in the former DOE on roads, transport, water, housing and local authority policies.

In 1987 he transferred to Central Secretariat where he became the first Director of ‘Making Belfast Work’ and was also involved in the development of community relations policies.

Mr Hamilton became Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education on July 6 1998 and in July 2001 moved to become Permanent Secretary at the Department for Regional Development. He has also studied at the Management College, Henley, and the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia. He was President of the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees in 1996/97.

Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson welcomed Mr Hamilton's appointment, and said: “For the past year he has been Permanent Secretary in the Department for Regional Development, during which time he has demonstrated leadership, drive and commitment.

"I have no doubt that he will bring his many qualities to bear in the new challenges that will confront him as head of the Civil Service.

"I wish to offer Mr Hamilton and his family my warmest congratulations on his appointment and to wish him continued success in his future career.”

His predecessor Gerry Loughran, in addition to directing the management of the civil service, was Chairman of the Permanent Secretary Group – which undertakes corporate personnel management of the Senior Civil Service – and Secretary to the Executive and accounting Officer for OFMDFM's budget.

He was previously Permanent Secretary for the Department of Economic Development (DED), responsible for industry, commerce, trade, employment, training, tourism, energy and corporate regulation.

Prior to working in DED Gerry Loughran was Deputy Secretary for Town and Country Planning and Urban Regeneration within the Department of the Environment.

Mr Loughran, the first Catholic to head the Northern Ireland Civil Service, has also been a university lecturer and is an Eisenhower Fellow and a Governor of St Malachys College, Belfast.

(GMcG)