Waterways Ireland has appointed a new chief executive, Dawn Livingstone, who will lead the all-Ireland body from its headquarters in Enniskillen. She takes up the post this week.
Waterways Ireland is one of the most developed of the North-South bodies that resulted from the Belfast Agreement.
It is the navigation authority for more than 1,000 inland rivers and lakes, and has assumed development and management responsibilities for the Shannon, the Erne, and Barrow systems as well as the Grand Canal and Royal Canal in Dublin.
Ms Livingstone holds an MBA from the University of Ulster and is NI trustee to the Family Fund, a member of the Consumer Council of NI and a trustee of the Lloyds TSB NI Foundation. Originally from Co Down, she is an active sailor and gardener. She is married with two daughters.
In 2008 she became head of property and legal affairs with Waterways Ireland and has been responsible for modernising its approach to property management and legal matters.
Before working for Waterways Ireland, she was director of Share, a charity promoting opportunities for integration between able-bodied people and those with special needs of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Her work in this role was recognised with the awarding of the Gallagher’s Northern Ireland Business Woman of the year award in 1988.