Diversity Mark Assessor
Having recently retired as the Labour Relations Agency’s Chief Executive, Don is now pursuing a portfolio career. This includes consultancy work and being a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Translink and a Diversity Mark Assessor.
Don was recognised the Institute of Director NI’s Director of the Year in the category of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2023, and received CIPD’s award for Outstanding Contribution to People Development in Northern Ireland in March 2025.
Prior to becoming the Agency’s Chief Executive, on 1 December 2020, Don was its Director of Corporate Services since March 2017. He earlier worked as a senior manager at the Agency between 2011 and 2013, managing the Agency’s arbitration services and facilitating collective conciliations and mediations.
Outside of the Agency, Don has had a varied career. He was the Consumer Council’s Director of Operations (2013-17); Head of Corporate Services for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (2004-11); and the Equality Commission’s Head of Disability Policy (2002-04).
Prior to moving to Belfast, Don was Investors in People UK’s Quality Manager, with responsibility for quality assurance and development of the IiP standard. It was while in this role he developed a passion for organisational development and good employment practice. He has also been a Civil Servant working in Westminster on employment-related issues.
He is the Chair of the Board of ESC Films, an award-winning film therapy organisation working with highly marginalised people and was the Chair of the Imagine Festival of Ideas and Politics until February 2025.
Don has an MSc in Managing Change and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD.
Judge in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award category of the Responsible Business Awards. Find out more at www.bitcni.org.uk/awards.