Governance

The Commissioner appointed an Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) in February 2023 and their term will run until February 2027. ARAC has three independent and externally appointed members who advise and support the Commissioner on good governance, accounting and audit standards and risk management.

ARAC's terms of reference can be downloaded here

ARAC Members

  • Alan Walker ARAC.jpg
    Alan Walker
    Chair

    Alan is currently Executive Officer for the Elim Pentecostal Church in Ireland overseeing the governance, finance, and operations on behalf of the Charity’s Irish Leadership Team.

    In pervious roles, he set up and led the General Medical Council office in Northern Ireland for 13 years having been Head of Consumer Affairs at the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, where he spent almost 11 years. Alan also previously served for 9 years as Chair of the George Best Belfast City Airport Forum and served two years as Chair of the Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group.

    Alan is passionate about the issues facing older people having spent 15 years living in sheltered accommodation where his mother and father worked for a leading housing association, living on site.

  • JP O'Doherty ARAC.jpg
    John Paul O'Doherty
    Member

    JP is currently the Director of Corporate Services with Loughs Agency. He has extensive experience in writing strategies, overseeing operations, transformational change and leadership in the public sector. 

    His key responsibilities as Director of Corporate Services are to lead and manage the organisation to meet the needs of the Agency, ensuring a strong financial strategy and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, experience in delivering major programmes to define strategy, improve outcomes, deliver better services, and reduce cost. He has also worked extensively with government departments, regulators and funding bodies.

  • Lee Wilson ARAC.jpg
    Lee Wilson
    Member

    Lee is currently a Board Member and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Children's Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland. He is also a Board Member and Audit Committee Member of the Labour Relations Agency.

    Lee brings over 20 years experience in Financial Management within the Northern Ireland Health Service to the role. He also has extensive experience in Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Strategic planning having previously served on the Board and Audit Committee of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency and Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

To download our governance documents, please click on the links below. If you require these documents in hard copy please contact communications@copni.org or call 028 9089 0899. Alternative formats and languages are also available on request.