Declan Billington, Chief Executive of John Thompson and Sons Limited, was elected President of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association at the annual general meeting this week.
A native of Holywood, Co Down, Declan is a graduate of Queen’s University and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. Originally qualifying with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), Declan worked as a manager within its corporate recovery and insolvency department for a number of years before moving out into industry.
Following three years working in the meat processing industry he moved into the engineering sector, spending several years with Copeland (NI) Ltd, based in Cookstown, a subsidiary of the US multinational Emerson Group, rising to the position of Plant Director. During this period Declan led an impressive business improvement programme and sustained profitable growth through lean manufacturing techniques and a team-focused culture. In October 2005 Declan made the transition back into the agri–food sector by joining John Thompson and Sons Ltd, based in Belfast.
Over the last seven years he has been heavily involved with the Northern Ireland region of CBI, including Chairman of its Economic Affairs Committee 2003- 2005, and acting in the capacities of Vice Chairman and then Chairman of CBI Northern Ireland 2005-2008. Declan also chaired the Skills Sub–Group of the Economic Development Forum, 2005 – 2007, a stakeholder body that advised the DETI minister on policy.
Declan has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association for a number of years and is NIGTA’s representative on the Board of AIC (Agricultural Industries Confederation), NIGTA’s sister organisation in GB.. He has been actively involved in many of the Association’s activities, including lobbying at UK and European levels, encouraging and facilitating quality assurance schemes, responding to government consultations, and providing expertise and information to the farming and food chain.
Married to Francesca, Declan has three children, 2 boys and a girl (Declan aged 12, John aged 10 and Ellen aged 6). He states that he has no time for hobbies as work and family fill his daily routine.
Claudine Heron was elected Vice President with David Malseed re-elected as Honorary Secretary. Michaal Moreland stepped down after giving sterling service for many years as Honorary Treasurer and this post has now been filled by Stephen Burrell.
Tributes were paid to the outgoing President, Garth Boyd, who gave up so much of his personal and family time for NIGTA business and who steered the Association through the dioxin crisis in addition to lobbying on aspects such as GM approvals which could add so much cost to farmers feed bills. Garth finished his Presidency on a very positive note whereby an all-Ireland risk based sampling system is already in the planning stages.
NIGTA AGM 2010
