Applications have opened for two board roles at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI): Deputy Chief Commissioner and Commissioner. Announced by the Northern Ireland Office on 5 November 2025, the competitions close at 12:00 on Friday 28 November 2025, with applications to be submitted via the Cabinet Office’s Apply for a Public Appointment service.
ECNI is the statutory equality body established under section 73 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Secretary of State appoints the Chief Commissioner and at least one Deputy and must, so far as practicable, ensure the board as a group is representative of the community. The Commission also oversees public authorities’ equality and good relations duties under section 75.
The Deputy Chief Commissioner post is part‑time at around five days per month for a three‑year term, remunerated at £10,000 per annum. Responsibilities include deputising for the Chief Commissioner, chairing sub‑committees when required and sharing corporate responsibilities for strategy, performance and governance.
The Commissioner role is part‑time at about three days per month for a three‑year term, remunerated at £5,000 per annum. Commissioners contribute to strategic direction, oversight of performance and finance, governance standards and external representation of the organisation.
Both competitions follow a common timetable: the application deadline is 12 noon on 28 November 2025, shortlisting is scheduled for 19 December 2025, and interviews are expected to conclude by 23 January 2026. The Advisory Assessment Panel is chaired by NIO Deputy Director Clare Sloan, with ECNI Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey, a nominee from The Executive Office, and CPANI assessor Jim Beatty.
The role descriptions highlight ECNI’s responsibilities within the ‘dedicated mechanism’ for Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, which commits the UK to no diminution of rights and equality protections after EU exit. Alongside the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, ECNI monitors, advises and, where necessary, takes or supports legal action on Article 2 compliance.
Applications should be submitted online where possible; alternative formats and queries can be directed to ecni2025@nio.gov.uk. The Northern Ireland Office states that appointments will be made on merit with regard to the equality provisions in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and encourages applications from across the community.
For departments, councils and arm’s‑length bodies, these appointments are material. The ECNI board sets strategic priorities for enforcing equality law and overseeing section 75 duties, shaping the advice, scrutiny and casework that public authorities engage with over the coming term, including issues arising under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework.