Appointment of an authority chair to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
Date published:
Health Minister, Robbie Butler, has announced the appointment of an Authority Chair to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).
Mrs Sarah Wakfer has been appointed as Authority Chair. Her appointment commenced on 5 October 2026 and will end on a date not later than 4 October 2030.
The RQIA Chair position attracts an annual remuneration of £21,257 with a time commitment of 2-3 days per week.
This appointment has been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
RQIA is the independent regulator of health and social care services in Northern Ireland. RQIA’s primary duties include keeping the Department of Health informed about the availability and quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, encompassing services delivered by both Health and Social Care organisations and independent sector providers. RQIA also has a duty to encourage improvement in the quality of services. Since 2009, RQIA has assumed the role of the Mental Health Commission, as outlined in the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. RQIA publishes its reports to inform service users and the public of its findings and actions in relation to the quality and safety of services.
The Authority consists of a Chair and not more than 12 Members.
Notes to editors:
- Mrs Sarah Wakfer has a wealth of experience in enterprise risk management, audit, governance and compliance. She has over 18 years’ experience in Local Government and was responsible for delivering significant transformation programmes. She also has five years’ experience carrying out inspections for the Care Quality Commission in England as an Expert by Experience, focusing on service users and families. Sarah has held public appointments since 2015. She was appointed as an RQIA Authority Member in 2023 and, during her tenure, served as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and as the RQIA “Speak Up Champion”. Mrs Wakfer currently holds one other public appointment as a Member of the Ulster Supported Employment Ltd Board, which attracts remuneration of £168 per meeting and a time commitment of 11 meetings per year.
- Appointments to the RQIA are made by the Minister of Health.
- All appointments are made on merit, and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Mrs Sarah Wakfer has declared that she has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
- For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk
- Follow us on Facebook Department of Health NI, Instagram Department of Health NI, X Department of Health NI, LinkedIn Department of Health NI
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.