Appointment of Health and Social Care Trust Non-Executive Directors
Date published:
The Health Minister, Robbie Butler, has announced the appointment of two Non-Executive (Lay) Directors, one to the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) and one to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAST).
Mrs Elsie Trainor has been appointed as a Non-Executive (Lay) Director to the BHSCT and Mr Brian Ingram as a Non-Executive (Lay) Director to the NIAST. The appointments commenced on 17 August 2026 and will end on a date not later than 16 August 2030.
The BHSCT Non-Executive Director position attracts remuneration of £9,327 per annum with a time commitment of 1 day per week and the NIAST Non-Executive Director position attracts remuneration of £6,975 per annum with a time commitment of 3 days per month.
These appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
The approved overall aim for the five locality-based HSC Trusts, including BHSCT is to improve health and social well-being outcomes, through a reduction in preventable disease and ill-health, by providing effective, high quality, equitable and efficient health and social care. The NIAST provides high quality urgent and emergency care and treatment for all the population of Northern Ireland, as well as scheduled, non-emergency patient transport services.
The Board of the BHSCT comprises a Non-Executive Chair, seven Non-Executive Directors and five Executive Directors including the Chief Executive. The NIAST Board comprises a Non-Executive Chair, five Non-Executive Directors and five Executive Directors including the Chief Executive.
Notes to editors:
- Mrs Elsie Trainor is an experienced communications and engagement leader with more than 20 years' experience across the private, public and third sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from University College Dublin, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Mrs Trainor has worked closely with executive leadership teams as a strategic adviser on organisational change, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, culture and employee engagement. She has led major transformation, change and crisis communications programmes, influencing change and supporting informed decision-making through periods of significant organisational change. Currently employed as Communications and Employee Engagement Manager with Openreach Northern Ireland, she leads strategic communications and engagement activity across a workforce of approximately 1,000 colleagues. Previously Mrs Trainor held senior health sector roles in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Mr Brian Ingram OBE is an experienced leader specialising in organisational development, corporate governance, and leadership. He holds an MSc in Criminology and was awarded an OBE in the 2018 Queen’s New Year Honours list. Previously, Mr Ingram served as a Senior Manager within the Northern Ireland Prison Service. In this role, he worked closely with vulnerable adults to prepare them for successful resettlement into the community, enabling them to develop essential life skills and qualifications for employment. He also served as the Director of Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre within the Youth Justice Agency until his retirement in July 2020. Active in community and educational governance, Mr Ingram serves as the Chairperson of The Cithrah Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting women, men, and children who have been subjected to domestic abuse. Mr Ingram currently has two other public appointments, including a Member of The Probation Board for Northern Ireland which requires a time commitment of 25 days per annum and attracts annual remuneration of £5,050 per annum. He is also a Governor of South West College which requires a time commitment on average of 2 days per month, remunerated at £250 for a governing body meeting and £150 for a committee meeting.
- Appointments to the BHSCT and NIAST were made by the previous Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt.
- 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 Trainor has declared that she ran as a candidate for the SDLP in the May 2022 NI Assembly elections. Mr Ingram has declared that he 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 departmentofhealthni , X @healthdpt , LinkedIn Department of Health NI
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800 hrs and 0800 hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.