Appointment of Non-Executive Member to the Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland
Date published:
Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt has announced the appointment of a Non-Executive Member to the Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland.
Kathryn Stevenson has been appointed as the Non-Executive Member (Legal). The appointment commenced on 1 January 2025 and will end on a date not later than 31 December 2028.
The Agency’s Non-Executive Member position attracts remuneration of £4,383 per annum with a time commitment of 30 days per annum.
This appointment was made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
The Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland was established by the Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland (Establishment and Constitution) Order, which came into operation on 6 March 2023. The Agency’s primary function is to allocate children’s court guardians who are appointed by the court to promote the best interests of, and to represent the views of, children and young people in family law proceedings, including care and adoption proceedings.
The Agency’s Board comprises a Non-Executive Chair, four Non-Executive Members and the Chief Executive.
Notes to editors:
- Kathryn Stevenson was called to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in 1997. She worked in private practice and developed a special interest in the areas of child and family law before joining the Children’s Law Centre (CLC) in 2000. Kathryn initially took up post as Education Solicitor at CLC and has extensive knowledge of the law relating to education in Northern Ireland and children’s rights. In 2009, she was appointed Head of Legal Services, with lead responsibility for operational planning, management and strategic development of CLC’s in-house Legal Team, delivering a child-rights focused specialist legal advice and representation service for children and young people. Kathryn provides expert guidance and support to legal staff on casework and strategic litigation undertaken by CLC to bring about progressive changes in law and practice relating to children in Northern Ireland.
- Appointments to the Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland are made by the Health Minister.
- 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. The appointee has declared that they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
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