Ms Sheila McClelland has been appointed CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), the organisation’s President Essene Cassidy has announced.

Ms McClelland has been interim CEO of NMBI since June 2019 and during that time the County Down native has guided NMBI through a major digitisation and modernisation programme, as well as dealing successfully with the challenges brought by the pandemic.

“Following a rigorous recruitment process, on behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce that Ms Sheila McClelland has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of NMBI,” said Ms Cassidy.

“Sheila’s wealth of experience in the public sector and her solid leadership in the modernisation of NMBI over the past two and a half years made her the stand-out candidate for the role. I want to wish her the very best as she continues to lead the NMBI team in the time ahead.”

Ms McClelland has held a number of senior positions in Northern Ireland, including Chief Executive of Carrickfergus Borough Council. She has also served as a member of the Board of Cooperation Ireland since June 2017, sits on the Board of the Community Relations Council for Northern Ireland and is Chair of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.