Profiles
Ms Christine Collins MBE
Ms Christine Collins MBE retired from the Civil Service in 2005. Since retirement she has focussed on human rights and advocacy, with a particular interest in health and social care, disability, and rare disease. Ms Collins was the founding Chair of the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership; a Patient Public Voice representative on the UK Rare Disease Advisory Group from its inception until April 2018; and is actively involved in the development and implementation of both the UK and Northern Ireland Rare Disease Strategies and Implementation Plans. Ms Collins was a Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner from 2011 to 2017. She is a member of the Duty of Candour Work Stream, part of the implementation programme for recommendation arising from the Inquiry into Hyponatremia Related Deaths. She served as Chair of the Patient and Client Council from 2019 to 2022; and was appointed as interim Chair of the RQIA in June 2020. She was appointed as Chair of RQIA on 1 October 2022 for a four-year term.
Mr Alphy Maginness
Mr Alphy Maginness is a qualified solicitor and prior to his retirement in March 2022 was Chief Legal Adviser in what is now the Business Services Organisation (BSO) for 24 years. As a Senior Executive, Mr Maginness also sat on the Board of BSO and was a member of its Senior Management Team, contributing to its overall strategic direction. Mr Maginness has been appointed as a Member of the Authority on 1 February 2023 for a four-year term. Mr Maginness chairs RQIA’s Legislative and Policy Committee.
Ms Cheryl Lamont CBE DL
Ms Cheryl Lamont, CBE DL is a qualified social worker. She joined the Probation Board for Northern Ireland in 1985 and from 2016 until her retirement in June 2021 was Chief Executive, introducing highly regarded initiatives in collaborative working, innovation and modernisation. Ms Lamont has been appointed as a Member of the Authority from 1 February 2023 for a four-year term.
Dr Nazia Latif
Dr Nazia Latif has extensive experience of working on human rights and equality issues in Northern Ireland and internationally. She worked for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for 13 years where she led systemic investigations, including “In Defence of Dignity”, an investigation into the human rights of older people in nursing homes. Dr Latif currently runs Right Practice which specialises in human rights and equality obligations. She is a member of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and is an Independent Assessor for Diversity Mark. Dr Latif has been appointed as a Member of the Authority on 1 February 2023 for a four-year term.
Dr Mary McIvor
Dr Mary McIvor has recently retired as a civil servant, having worked at senior levels across a range of Departments over the past 30 years. She has a strong working knowledge of policy, public finances, strategy development, economic issues and the delivery of public services. She has a wealth of experience in governance and accountability matters and is CIPFA qualified. Dr McIvor is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Commission for Victims and Survivors. She is also a school governor with St Dominic’s Girls’ Grammar School, Belfast. Dr McIvor is also a member of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and the Down and Connor Diocesan Education Committee of the CCMS. Dr McIvor has been appointed as a Member of the Authority on 1 February 2023 for a four-year term.
Mrs Sarah Wakfer
Mrs Sarah Wakfer has over 18 years’ experience in Local Government in England in key roles including Head of Internal Audit and Head of Policy for Arm’s Length Bodies; and was responsible for delivering significant transformation programmes. She has five years’ experience of carrying out inspections for the Care Quality Commission in England focusing on service users and families. Mrs Wakfer holds a Non-Executive role within the Department of Justice and a public appointment with the Department for Communities. She was appointed in December 2020 as a Director to Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) and is Vice Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee. Mrs Wakfer has been appointed as a Member of the Authority on 1 February 2023 for a four-year term.
Professor Stuart Elborn CBE
Professor Elborn, Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences (MDBS), is an international leader in healthcare having driven major changes in healthcare delivery in the field of cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Prior to taking up his current post at Queen’s University Belfast, he was Clinical Professor of Respiratory Medicine/Consultant Physician and Director of Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Chronic Lung Infection at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College and Royal Brompton Hospital London. His research into Cystic Fibrosis has led to major breakthroughs in treating the condition. He has been successful in developing programmes of research across disciplines, hospitals and universities in Northern Ireland as well as across the UK and Europe. Professor Elborn was appointed to RQIA Interim Authority on 30 October 2020, and as a Member of the Authority from 1 February 2023 for a four-year term. Professor Elborn chairs RQIA’s Business, Appointments and Remuneration Committee (BARC). In 2013 he received a CBE for services to healthcare in Northern Ireland.