Tonight's reader: Sir Nigel Hamilton KCB
Sir Nigel Hamilton is a Psychology graduate from Queen’s University , Belfast. He joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1970 and spent much of his working career on policy issues on the physical infrastructure, including regional planning, transportation, and housing and urban development. He worked closely with local politicians on local government and latterly on community relations and community division.
He was Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education between 1998 and 2000 and then Permanent Secretary in the Department of Regional Development between 2000and 2002.
Sir Nigel became Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 2002, and also Head of the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and Secretary to the Northern Ireland Executive, working directly with all Ministers, particularly the DUP and Sinn Fein .
On his retirement in 2008, he was appointed Chairman of the N I Council of The Prince’s Trust and Chairman of the Bryson Charitable Group. He is a Non-executive Director of the Ulster Bank and of Belfast City Airport.
Sir Nigel is the Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City and County of Belfast.
He is President of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union in the season 2010/2011.