NIFRS Pension Board
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Pension Board provides scrutiny and assurance of the administration of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.
Role of Group
The purpose of the Pension Board is to assist NIFRS in its role as a scheme manager of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.
- To secure compliance with the regulations;
- Any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the scheme;
- Requirements imposed by the Pensions Regulator in relation to the scheme;
- Whilst ensuring the effective and efficient governance and administration of the scheme.
Main Responsibilities
The NIFRS Pension Board’s main responsibilities are:
- Produce an annual report that summarises the work of the Board
- Overseeing assurance and governance of the administration of the Firefighter’s Pension Schemes, including compliance with the Pension Regulator’s codes of practice and fostering good working relationships with the Pensions Regulator.
- Ensuring the scheme administrator supports NIFRS to effectively communicate the benefits to members of the Firefighter’s Pension Schemes and fully utilise it as part of the NIFRS total reward offer.
- Ensuring the scheme administrator supports members with a range of tools to improve their understanding of their pension benefits as part of the total reward offer, and to inform their personal financial and career planning.
- Monitoring administrative processes and supporting continuous improvements. Recommending changes to processes, learning and development and/or guidance where necessary.
Membership
The NIFRS Pension Board has an equal number of employer and member representatives and is overseen by an independent chair.
Member representatives are nominated by the Fire Brigades Union. The independent chair is appointed by the NIFRS Board, following public appointments guidance.
Member representatives are appointed by NIFRS Board in a manner which it considers best promotes the purpose of the NIFRS Board.
Non-employer or member representatives such as the Head of HSC Pension Services, NIFRS Pension Manager, HSCPS Senior Pension Liaison Manager for HSC Pension Services, Department of Health and Social Care official’s representatives attend the NIFRS Pension Board meetings in an observer or advisor capacity.
Chair
John McGinnity
John has a successful senior management track record of over 25 years’ experience in a range of public sector organisations, and prior to that some seven years in a commercial role with (the then) Short Bros plc.
He has extensive operational experience in all aspects of corporate governance and accountability. This includes information governance and he is a qualified Freedom of Information Practitioner (June 2019, British Computer Society).
In his most recent permanent role at NI Public Services Ombudsman (2014 – 2022), John delivered the full set of organisational corporate services. This included establishment and leadership of the human resources and payroll functions and the contractual/legislative transition to a new organisational model from April 2016. He also led the strategy and policy on accountability, procurement, organisational development, performance reporting against KPIs, risk management and communications. In a similar role, up to the present time, John has been serving as Interim Director of Corporate Services with the Office of the Police Ombudsman for NI.
In addition to serving as Chair of the NIFRS Pension Board, John has served as a member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee with the Office of the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY).
John McGinnity
BSc (Hons), MSc, CGMA, ACMA
Chair NIFRS Pension Board
Member Representatives
- Dermot Rooney – Area Commander NIFRS Southern Area Command & Regional Chair of the NI FBU
- Phillip Millar – Watch Commander NIFRS Central Station & Regional Secretary of the NI FBU
Employer Representatives
- Catherine Shields – Assistant Director of Finance
- Joanne Hamilton – Assistant Director of Human Resources Advisory
Publications
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 29/03/2023
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 05/06/2023
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 24/10/2023
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 30/01/2024
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 30/04/2024
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 16/08/2024
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 14.11.2024
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 13.02.2025
NIFRS Pension Board Meeting 27.05.2025
NIFRS Pension Board Annual Report 23/24
Contact Details
For NIFRS Pension Board queries (for example, about membership or meeting dates), email: [email protected]
The NIFRS Pension Board cannot help with queries or complaints about personal circumstances. If you have a question about your pension, the scheme administrator will be able to help you. Please email: [email protected]
For questions relating to Fire Pension Scheme policy, please email the Department of Health at [email protected]