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Age Sector Platform is managed by an Executive Committee made up of twelve elected member representatives and an adviser. The Committee meets on a quarterly basis.
Patricia Donald, Chairperson
Patricia Donald was elected as Chair of Age Sector Platform in September 2011 and represents the South West Age Partnership (formerly the Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens Consortium). Patricia has been a volunteer since 1994; she served for many years on the Executive Committee of Age Sector Platform.
She is involved with the National Trust in Fermanagh. She is a member of the Erne U3A and in the Fermanagh Churches Forum. She knows ‘The West’ very well having been involved with the Nursing service for 10 years prior to her retirement and was the former Chief Nurse for the Western Board.
She is currently Chair of the South West Age Partnership and has been a member since 1994.
 Francis Hughes, Vice-Chairperson
Francis Hughes was elected Vice-Chair of Age Sector Platform in September 2011 and represents ICTU Retired Workers. Francis is also represented on the Transport sub-committee of Age Sector Platform. Francis has been a volunteer in the age sector for approximately 11 years and has been a member of ICTU Retired Workers Committee for around four years.
Francis is currently treasurer of Finaghy Friendship Group, a group which he represents in the South Belfast Lifestyle Forum. He was elected Honorary Secretary of Northern Ireland Pensioners Convention Branch in May 2008 and has been a member of NPC (NI) for around 10 years.
Francis has also been a member of Dunmurry Community Police Liaison Committee for twelve years; Chairman of Lagan Valley Hospital Consumer Group for six years; Chairman and regional secretary of PCS ARMS’s Northern Ireland Branch for several years and was awarded a gold badge in June 2008 for 25 years or more active union participation. Francis has been a member of Engage with Age’s Board since October 2008.
 Anne Watson, Secretary
Anne has been Secretary since September 2010 and represents Newtownabbey Senior Citizens’ Forum on the Executive Committee. She also sits on the Transport sub-committee and Communications sub-committee of Age Sector Platform. She is currently Secretary of Newtownabbey Senior Citizens’ Forum. Anne became involved with the age sector approximately three years ago.
Prior to retirement, Anne worked for a Solicitor for 17 years. She then moved to NI Co-ownership Housing where she worked in the Finance Section.
 Ivan Baxter, Treasurer
Ivan was elected as Treasurer in September 2011. He joined the Executive Committee in 2009 after representing the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance (CSPA) on Age Sector Platform for the previous two years. He is also a member of the Transport sub-committee and is Chair of the Communications sub-committee.
Ivan is Honorary Secretary of the Northern Ireland Branch of CSPA and a member of the National Executive. He is also on the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Region of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) and is associated with East Belfast Seniors Forum. He is a keen Rambler and a Stakeholder of the Connswater Community Greenway Project.
 John Martin
John Martin was elected to the Executive Committee of Age Sector Platform in September 2011 and represents the National Pensioners Convention (NI). John was branch secretary of Northern Ireland West Branch of the Communication Workers Union from 1975 until 1997. He was also NI Regional Chairman of the Communication Workers Union 1995-1997. Within this Union John also acts as Regional Secretary for the Retired Members Advisory Committee, and has done so since 2003.
John still continues to be involved in Retired Workers Committee of the ICTU, acting as Secretary since 2005. He is involved with the National Pensioners Convention (NI) since 2009 and is currently Regional Secretary. John has also been an active member of the Fermanagh Trades Council since 1976. He was appointed Vice Chair of Northern Ireland Post Office & British Telecom Federation in 2009, and still holds this post.
 Wilma Taylor
Wilma was elected to the Executive Committee of Age Sector Platform in September 2011 and represents North Belfast Senior Citizens’ Forum. Wilma has been involved with the Forum as a member since April 2004, with 2011 seeing Wilma promoted to Vice Chairperson. She was involved with both the Older Women’s Network NI & Older Women’s Network Ireland from 2002 until 2007.
Wilma has been an Age Sector Platform plenary representative since April 2007 and is very active within the Greater Belfast area. She has been involved in the Belfast Trust (health) between February 2008 and October 2009, North Belfast Older Peoples Safety Partnership since April 2009 and Greater Belfast Six Forums since February 2011.
Bill Carson
Bill was Chair of Age Sector Platform between April 2007 and September 2011 and played a key role in leading the organisation during the period when it received funding for the first time. Bill represents the NIPSA retired members organisation on the Executive Committee and also sits on the Governance, Finance and Water sub‑committees of Age Sector Platform.
In addition to working in the Civil Service, Bill worked for a number of organisations throughout his career including National Car Parks in Great Britain, the National Training Network and as a lecturer in Management at Queen’s University Belfast.
 Margaret Galloway
Margaret represents the Irish Congress of Trade Union’s (ICTU) Retired Workers’ Committee on the Executive Committee. Margaret has served on the ICTU Retired Workers’ Committee since approximately 1996 and is now Chair.
Margaret has been involved with the age sector since 1995 when she retired from the Civil Service and became a member of the PCS Associate and Retired Members (ARMs). She is currently Membership Secretary in Northern Ireland and was awarded a Gold Badge in June 2008 for in excess of 25 years Union service. She also represents ARMs on the Belfast and District Trades Union Council and is a member of the National Committee of ARMs.
Margaret is on the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Region of the National Pensioners’ Convention and represents the region at National Council Meetings. She also sits as a Trade Union nominated representative on the panel of the Industrial Tribunals for Northern Ireland.
 Paddy Joe McClean
Paddy Joe represents the South West Age Partnership on the Executive Committee and also sits on the sustainability sub-committee. Paddy Joe has been involved in the age sector since 1977 when he became Chair of Beragh Senior Citizens Group. Paddy Joe subsequently became an executive member of Age Concern NI (ACNI).
Paddy Joe was the founding member of Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens’ Consortium, is secretary of Age Concern Beragh and is a member of an independent advisory group to the PSNI Older People’s Group. Paddy Joe was appointed as the senior citizens representative on the (now inactive) Civic Forum.
 Nixon Armstrong
Nixon represents NIPSA Retired Members Group on the Executive Committee and also sits on the Pensioners’ Manifesto sub-committee of Age Sector Platform.
Nixon worked in the Civil Service for 29 years taking early retirement in 1990. He then worked for the Livestock and Meat Commission for 8 ½ years, retiring in 1999. He was awarded the NIPSA Meritorious Service Award in 1990. As a member of NIPSA Retired Members’ Association, he represented the group from 2002 on the Age Sector Reference Group until it became Age Sector Platform.
Nixon has been involved in the game of Bowls for many years and serves on both Indoor Outdoor Management committees. He also sits on Craigavon Sports Advisory Committee.
 William Devlin
William represents the Northern Ireland Region of the University of the Third Age (U3A) on the Executive committee.
Though recently retired from full time employment within the Further and Higher Education sector he is still actively involved with Lifelong Learning issues, in particular intergenerational learning and learning for seniors both at local and European level.
His interests include travel, films and the countryside.
 Victor Murphy
Victor represents UNISON Retired Members on the Executive Committee and has been a member of Age Sector Platform since 2009.
Victor retired in 1995, after spending most of his working career in the public sector. He worked for the Ulster Museum for 7 years and in Belfast City Hospital for 22 years, during which time he became a full time trade union official. After retirement, Victor helped form the UNISON Retired Members’ Committee and, as joint Chair, now represents the group on the ICTU Retired members’ committee.
In his spare time Victor enjoys playing outdoor bowls and is currently Vice-Chair of Ballywalter Bowling and Recreation Club. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.
 Seamus Lynch, Adviser
Seamus is Public Affairs Officer with Age NI and sits on the Executive Committee of Age Sector Platform and on the Governance, Finance, Water and Campaigns sub committees of the organisation.
Seamus played an instrumental role in servicing the running of Age Sector Platform; then known as Age Sector Reference Group, between 2000 and 2007 when the organisation did not have paid members of staff. Seamus also played a key role in securing funding for the organisation.
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