Dame Joan Harbison - Chair

Joan has extensive experience and has made a significant contribution to public life in Northern Ireland. Joan was a Teacher and Lecturer who served as Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.  She was the Vice Chair of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.  She was a member of the General Dental Council for the United Kingdom and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, as well as serving on the Financial Services Authority Consumer Advisory Panel. She was actively involved in the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for many years and was its Chair from 1994-95,and a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission for Northern Ireland and the HPSS Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

Cathy Dixon

Cathy has over 20 years senior management experience of managing investments for a range of institutional and charity and private clients.  From Ballyclare, for the past 25 years she works for Cunningham Coates Stockbrokers becoming director in 2004 and partner in 2013.  Her experience, mainly gained in the City of London, was wide-ranging including the posts of investment analyst at PosTel Investment Management, derivative products manager with Touche Remnant and venture capital investment executive with Ulster Development Capital. Cathy has a degree in Economics, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Financial Analysts. Cathy joined the Board of Extra Care in 2015.

Andrew Bing

Andrew has over 30 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant. Andrew worked in Africa as Chief Financial Officer and Financial Director of MTN for 20 years until 2014 responsible for facilities, shareholder relations, fleet, procurement/supply chain/ Facilities/ NED on Charitable foundation, group relations, financing and banking and Treasury/ governance advisor to CEO.  Andrew has recently retired and moved to Northern Ireland where he wishes to use his skills and experience to contribute the local community.  Andrew joined the Board in August 2017.

Stephen Briggs

Stephen is a Facilities Management professional with over 20 years of facilities and property management experience.  From Dromore, Co Down, Stephen is currently employed as a Contracts Manager with Serco UK & Europe and previously held management positions with Campbell College, Belfast and Sodexo UK & Ireland.  Working at both a regional and operations level Stephen has delivered facilities management solutions to various business groups including media, education, healthcare, private and public sector.  He holds a number of voluntary positions in the Northern Ireland Public sector and is a member of the Institute of Customer Service.  Stephen joined the Board of Trustees for Extra Care in April 2015 and was previously Chair.

Gerry Gilpin

Gerry is a retired HR Consultant who initially qualified as an Accountant (FCIMA). He has experience in industry having worked for Shell Mex and BP, Standard Telephones and Cables, and Magee Clothing (NI) Ltd. He entered the management consultancy profession in the early 1970’s and until his retirement in 2015 held senior positions with PA International, Beecom (now Parity) and Gilpin Black Associates. In 1999 he set up Gilpin Executive Search and Development which provided executive recruitment Services including head hunting and redundancy for LHH/Penna (N I).  He is a former member of the CBI, a former Board Member of BIFH, former  Chair of the Northern Regional College for F&H Education, former Chair of Music Theatre for Youth, and former Trustee of S & E Belfast Community Trust. He recently joined the Boards of Extra Care and Habinteg Housing Association.”

James Lewsley FCCA

James is a chartered certified accountant having trained in public practice, with over 10 years experience as a business advisor specialising in business restructuring services. James also gained experience in private equity as a portfolio asset manager for the asset services division of a global plc. His current role is a financial accountant within the Department of Education. He is a former panel member of the ACCA Ulster Members’ Network having been elected for a three-year term from 2015-2017. James joined the board of Extra Care in June 2018 and sits on the Finance Committee.

Kerri Bradley

In July 2018 Kerri Bradley was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Extra Care for Elderly People. Kerri is the HR Director at Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors in Belfast. Kerri joined the leading commercial law firm, recognised as a leading Firm by Legal 500 and holding Top Ranked Chambers UK recognition for 2019 in October 2018. Kerri previously worked as an HR Manager at Robinsons Services Group, one of Northern Ireland’s top 50 largest employers and Legal-Island, a highly respected Employment Law and HR training organisation.

Kerri has expert knowledge in people development and the commercial impact of Human Resources. Kerri’s experience is supported by her educational background. She holds Chartered membership of the CIPD; a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) with honours; a PgD in HR Management (CIPD level 7); and holds awards in Leadership, Management, Education and Training.

Andrea Kennedy

Andrea Kennedy has worked in media and communications for almost 20 years. As a journalist, she worked for media outlets including the Belfast Telegraph and BBC.

She has extensive experience in the public relations industry and has advised organisations including Queen’s University, National Museums Northern Ireland, Almac and Cancer Research UK on communications strategy.

She has been awarded Chartered PR practitioner status by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has a Diploma in Social Media Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute. She runs her own consultancy, Andrea Kennedy PR & Communications.

Andrea joined the board of Extra Care in July 2019.