Geraldine McGahey

Ms McGahey, who has led the independent public body since 2020, will now continue in the role until 28 February 2030.

The Equality Commission was established in 1999, as part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It took over the functions of the Fair Employment Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, Council for Racial Equality and Northern Ireland Disability Council.

The Commission is responsible for policing the statutory duty on all public authorities in Northern Ireland to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity across a range of areas including religion, political opinion, gender, race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability and those with and without dependants.

Ms McGahey is a former chief executive of Larne Borough Council, SOLACE gender champion and represented local government on various regional fora including the Good Relations Panel, Flags Forum, Social Investment Fund and the Review of Public Administration. 

She has also previously served as a member of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland from 2016 through to 2020 and as a non-executive director of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust from 2016 to 2020.

In 2015, Ms McGahey was awarded an OBE for services to local government and the community.