NI Screen Appoints New Chair

The organisation set up to develop the screen industry in Northern Ireland has appointed a new Chairman.
The Northern Ireland Screen Commission - established in 1997 and primarily funded by Invest NI, the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and the UK Film Council - announced that Richard (Rick) Hill (pictured) has been appointed as Chair to the Commission.
Mr Hill was initially appointed as Vice Chair and has been Acting Chair since January 2008.
Northern Ireland Arts and Culture Minister Gregory Campbell announced the appointment following open competition and with effect from 1 January 2009 for a period of four years.
"An enormous amount of progress has been made over recent years to develop the screen industry in Northern Ireland," he said.
"The appointment of Rick Hill is a very positive step and I am confident that he is the right man to build on Northern Ireland Screen's recent success.
"We have the talent, the expertise, the resources and a welcoming atmosphere that is sure to encourage more and more film makers to locate here.
"I look forward to working with Rick and the Board of Northern Ireland Screen to build on the progress that has already been made," he said.
Mr Hill has recently become a self-employed media consultant following a 14-year career as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
He has been appointed the Chairman of the Consumer Council from Jan 2009, having served as board member for the previous year.
In September 2008 he was appointed as Chairman of Consumer Focus Post (the Northern Ireland Postal Services Committee) and an ex officio member of Consumer Focus (the replacement body for the National Consumer Council).
Currently, he is Non-Executive Director of the Society for the Orphans and Children of Ministers and Missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Ltd.
Mr Hill formerly served as a member for the BBC Audience Council for Northern Ireland and the Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland.
(BMcC/JM)