Peter Hynes.

Former Mayo County Council chief executive appointed to new board of Western Development Commission

Former Mayo County Council chief executive Peter Hynes has been appointed to the new board of the Western Development Commission by Minister Heather Humphreys.

The new board is as follows:

Gerry Finn (chair), former Director of the Border, Midlands and Western Regional Assembly.

Mary Corcoran, Professor of Sociology, Maynooth University.

Mary Coyne, former Director of Finance & Business and Company Secretary of TG4.

Audrey Crummy, senior executive, Regulation & EU Affairs, Financial Services Ireland.

Sandra Divilly, entrepreneur and programme manager of EMPOWER at GMIT Innovation Hub, Mayo.

Peter Hynes, former chief executive, Mayo County Council

John Kelleher, Head of Marketing, Tourism & Sport, Sligo Institute of Technology.

Christy Loftus, retired communications advisor and journalist.

Henry McGarvey, Vice-President of Finance and Corporate Services, Letterkenny IT; former MD, Pramerica Systems Ireland.

Mary McKenna, Technology entrepreneur; Advisory Board member, Placecube.

Aisling Meehan, farm enterpreneur; agricultural law and tax practitioner

Edmund Jennings, managing firector, The Cregg Group

Making the announcement, Minister Heather Humphreys said: “The Western Development Commission has played an important role in promoting economic and social development in the region since it was established in 1999.

"Over the past three years in particular, the WDC has established itself as an important contributor to the development of the region, supporting the objectives of Project Ireland 2040 to make Ireland a better country for all.

“The WDC has also made important contributions to the development of policy at national level in areas such as remote working, climate change and rural development.

“I am delighted to appoint a new board to guide and direct the work of the Commission for the next three years.

"There were many expression of interest in appointment to the new board and I want to thank everyone who took the time to apply through the State Boards process.

“The composition of the new board reflects a mix of new members and previous board members.

"They possess an excellent mix of experience and skills from the business sector, the public sector, the community sector and the education sector.

“I have asked Mr. Gerry Finn, who has been a member of the WDC Board for the last three years, to take up the position of chair of the board, and I wish him well in that role.”

The minister added: “I want to thank the previous board for their work in supporting the development of the western region and their careful stewardship of the WDC over the last three years.

“The WDC’s five-year Strategy, ‘Work Smarter, Live Better’, which was published in 2019, will provide a strong framework for the incoming Board to continue the WDC’s work over the coming period.

“I have no doubt that the incoming board will continue to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in the western region, in collaboration with other key stakeholders.”