Chairman's Message

With over 130 members and direct access to more than 2,000 senior officials the Chief Executives' Forum brings together the key decision-makers within the civil and wider public service. Since its establishment in 1991 the Forum has built a reputation as the principal arena in which chief executives, senior managers and others can discuss how working together can improve the management and delivery of Northern Ireland's public services.

As its name suggests, the Forum is both a meeting place and a public sector wide network for chief executives and, as associate members, their senior managers. The Forum provides a range of formal and informal opportunities where members share expertise and learn from best practice. Through a process of continuous development chief executives and their senior managers are also offered expert support and guidance on a wide range of issues such as corporate governance, public accountability and managing change.

John Hunter CB is Chair of the Chief Executives' Forum. Before his retirement in 2007, John was Permanent Secretary for the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) where he maintained a special focus on building capability within the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). This reflected his wide ranging responsibilities as DFP accounting officer for civil service personnel policies including the training and development of civil servants, for land and property services including rating and valuation, for government statistics and research, and for a major service-wide reform programme covering personnel management, IT and citizen contact services.

Before moving to DFP, John was the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development. His earlier civil service career included appointments as NICS Director of Personnel, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Services Executive, and Director General of the International Fund for Ireland.

John Hunter became chairman of the Chief Executives' Forum on 1 December 2008.