Bill McGinnis CBE

Bill McGinnis is in his third term as Chairman of the Learning and Skills Advisory Board of the Department for Employment and Learning.  He is an experienced Northern Ireland businessman with a successful track record in export marketing.

Mr McGinnis, who holds an MSc from the Univeristy of Ulster, is a board member of a number of public and private sector organisations, including Invest Northern Ireland, the National Employment Panel and the Sector Skills Development Agency.  He is Chairman of the McAvoy Group, the Dungannon-based manufacturers of portable buildings.

He is a former President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and is currently Director of Business Development to Trade International, Northern Ireland's main export and trade body, part of the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland.  He played a key role in the promotion of exports to the Middle East Exports, a trade development body formed by the Industrial Development Board and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr McGinnis began his business career in export marketing with Sperrin Metal Products, the Co. Londonderry-based manufacturer or racking, shelving and storage systems.  He represented Sperin Metal in the Arabian Gulf and subsequently held a number of the most senior posts at the company, including Chairman and Managing Director, before setting up his own business in 2000.

During his period as Managing Director with Sperrin Metal, the company won three Queen's Awards for Export Achievement, the DIT Export Award for Small Businesses and the Netherlands-UK Award for Enterprise.

Mr McGinnis is married to Elizabeth and lives in Magherafelt.  They have two grown-up daughters.  He was awarded an OBE in 1997 for his services to Northern Ireland industry and a CBE in the 2004 Birthday Honours list.  Bill was also honoured at the Chartered Institute of Marketing Awards in October 2005 as Marketeer of the year!

His interests include rugby, travel and reading.