Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has appointed six new members to the governing body of Northern Regional College.

The appointees are Dr Murat Akser, John Birkenhead, John D'Arcy OBE, Connor Lundy, Clare Mullan, and Banke Opebiyi. Their terms begin on 18 September 2026 and run for four years.

The appointments follow the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. None of the six has declared political activity in the past five years.

Governing body members receive £250 per meeting, with £150 for committee meetings or sanctioned events, plus travel and subsistence allowances.

Northern Regional College is one of six further education colleges in Northern Ireland sponsored by the Department for the Economy. Its governing body is responsible for the college's strategic direction and efficient management.

In a separate announcement, Minister Archibald outlined plans to support the co-operative sector following a new report estimating it generates over £1.5 billion in income and supports around 800,000 memberships.

The minister said the department will begin work on a 10-year social economy strategy, with co-operative development as a key element. Actions include reviewing the legislative framework, strengthening specialist support, improving access to finance, and raising awareness of the co-operative model.

The report was commissioned by the department and authored by Seán Byers of Trademark Belfast.