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New Northern Ireland Country Chair of Big Lottery Fund appointed

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5 November 2009

Frank Hewitt has been appointed as the new Northern Ireland Country Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, Minister for Creative Industries, Siôn Simon announced today.

BIG distributes 50% of the good causes money raised through the UK National Lottery and is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.

Frank Hewitt was until recently the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. He previously worked in a number of roles within the Northern Ireland Civil Service including as Deputy Chief Executive of the Industrial Development Board and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. He is currently Chair of the Northern Ireland Science Park and a Non-Executive Board Member of Invest Northern Ireland.

Frank Hewitt will take up the post on 1 December 2009 for a four year term. He succeeds Professor Breidge Gadd who has chaired the Northern Ireland Country Committee since 2006. 

Siôn Simon said:

“I am very pleased Frank Hewitt will be taking on the role of Northern Ireland Country Chair. This is an important role in helping to improve the lives of people throughout the UK and Frank will bring a wealth of firsthand experience working in Northern Ireland.

“I would also like to thank Professor Breidge Gadd for the valuable work she has done over the last three years.”

Frank Hewitt said:

"I am delighted to be joining the Big Lottery Fund Board, having seen the benefits BIG has brought to communities and people in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK. I look forward to working with both the BIG Board and Northern Ireland Committee to ensure that BIG continues to bring real improvements to those most in need.”

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Notes to Editors

  1. BIG was formed through administrative merger in June 2004 out of two distinct bodies, the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund. It was created in law following the National Lottery Act 2006 and came into being formally on 1 December 2006. It also inherited the responsibilities of the Millennium Commission at the same time. BIG was created as a single organisation, with a new vision, new values, a new brand, and with a new role in funding for health, education, environment and charitable purposes. Its brief extends to promoting the benefits of Lottery funding more extensively, for example, providing shared services in areas such as website information across the Lottery distribution bodies.

  2. BIG distributes 50% of the good causes money raised through the UK National Lottery and is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need. BIG has awarded grants that have helped change the lives of disadvantaged and socially excluded people throughout the UK.  In Northern Ireland, BIG has allocated over £440m to around 10,200 projects.

  3. BIG’s board is led by the Chair, Sir Clive Booth and is made up of seven general members and four Country Chairs, The national Chairs have the additional responsibility of leading committees supervising the distribution of funds within their countries.

  4. Board Members may claim remuneration of £218 per day in addition to reasonable travel and subsistence expenses. The Country Chair’s receive an annual remuneration of £25,256, in addition to reasonable travel and subsistence expenses.

  5. Siôn Simon, Minister for Creative Industries, has also recently reappointed Roland Doven, John Gartside, Anna Southall, and Diana Whitworth as Members of the Big Lottery Fund and Huw Vaughan Thomas as the Welsh Country Chair for second terms of three years from 1st December 2009 to 30th November 2012. More details can be found at (link to DCMS website notice).

  6. This appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Frank Hewitt has declared no political activity. 

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