Ms Higgins, a barrister of the Inner Temple in London who has also been called to The Bar of Northern Ireland and The Bar of Ireland, has served on the HBC since July 2016 and has been reappointed until the end of June 2022.

The HBC is made up of around 15 members who possess a wide range of expertise and experience in architecture, architectural history, planning, industrial heritage, building conservation and structural engineering throughout Northern Ireland.

Its role is to advise the Department for Communities on the listing and delisting of buildings, listed building consent, and to keep under review, and from time to time report to the Department on the general state of preservation of listed buildings.

Announcing a number of appointments to the HBC, Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: “I am delighted to make these appointments to the Historic Buildings Council. Each individual will bring with them an invaluable range of skills and experience, providing sound, independent advice to the Department on matters pertaining to the historic environment, ensuring that it fully contributes to our communities and economy.”