Dr Conor Patterson has been elected to serve as the new President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade at their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27th November at Enterprise House, Newry, taking over outgoing President, Edwina Flynn whose remarkable two-year term comes to an end.
Conor is the Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Co-operative & Enterprise Agency and has been actively involved in the economic regeneration of Newry and Mourne and the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland East Border Region since the mid-1990’s.
In taking over at the helm of Newry Chamber which represents over 325 businesses and organisations from right across the Greater Newry Area, for the second time, having served two years in the role from 2009-2011, Conor becomes only the third person in the Chamber’s long and rich 205-year history to serve more than one term as President, following in the footsteps of William V. Hogg and Eddie Mackle.
Gary Digney, Restructuring & Recovery Partner at AAB Group will remain in post as Vice President, with Tracy Rice, Head of Business Engagement at Southern Regional College being elected as a second Vice President after changes to the Chamber’s Articles of Association were unanimously passed at the AGM.
Mairead McParland, Director at the Canal Court Hotel & Spa was elected as the new Treasurer who will replace outgoing Treasurer, Kieran Grant, Finance Director at Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.
Along with Mairead, David Holmes, CEO of Warrenpoint Port, Liam Devine, CEO of Clanrye Group, Elizabeth O’Connor, Director of People & Governance at MJM Marine and Gary Rocks, Senior Solicitor at Patterson & Rocks Solicitors were all elected to the Chamber Board of Directors, replacing outgoing Board members, Julie Gibbons, Emma Mullen, Kieran Grant, Cathal Austin and Jerome Mullen who was appointed as an Honorary Board Member, following his 37 year involvement with the Chamber.
In addition to the new appointments to the Newry Chamber Board, Caroline Willis, Finance Director at Shelbourne Motors, Ronan Callan, Director of Operations at The Exact Group, Rachel Mearns, Managing Director at Concept Occupational Health and Przemek Parulski, Co-Founder of DxF Engineering will all join the Chamber Council which consists of 23 local business representatives which feeds into the Chamber Board of Directors.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Conor Patterson, President of Newry Chamber said:
“I feel extremely honoured to be appointed as President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, for the second time. It is a real privilege to be asked to lead, this historic Chamber, one of Ireland’s oldest and most respected Chambers, representing business in the Greater Newry Area since 1820.”
“I would like to thank outgoing President, Edwina Flynn for her deep commitment, infectious energy and phenomenal leadership over the last two years and her ability to meet all challenges head on with her trademark positive outlook.”
“She worked day in and day out to ensure that our region had a seat at the decision-making table at a local, regional and national level and that the Chamber was a real catalyst for change, a promoter of progress with a positive vision for Newry.”
“I am looking forward to working with our CEO, Michael Savage and the impressive Chamber team. There are undoubtedly challenging times ahead as we face into an uncertain new year. However, I’m optimistic.”
“The Chamber has never been in a stronger position with an active and engaged membership of 325 businesses. During my presidency, I promise to do my best to represent and support our members and the other key stakeholders in Newry with whom it is essential that we work collaboratively.”