Carol McTaggart appointed chair of Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland

Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland has announced Carol McTaggart as the new chair of the board.

Carol, who is CEO of Clanmil Housing, assumed the role of chair of CIH Northern Ireland from 1 July. Carol will provide strategic guidance and foster collaborative working among board members, the wider CIH membership and stakeholders.

Carol is a long-standing member of CIH and has most recently fulfilled the role of CIH Northern Ireland vice chair. With her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the housing sector and a proven track record of leadership, Carol is well placed to lead CIH Northern Ireland through its next period of innovation and growth.

On being appointed to the role Carol commented:

“I am honoured and excited to take on the role of chair at CIH Northern Ireland and am deeply committed to building upon the strong foundation laid by Niall. Working closely with the board and management team at CIH Northern Ireland, I plan to drive continued growth and excellence for our sector. Together, we will navigate the evolving landscape, collaborate with stakeholders on the issues that matter, and seize opportunities that will deliver value for our members.

“With the worst cost-of-living crisis in a decade and housing waiting lists the highest they have been in ten years, the focus for CIH Northern Ireland will be highlighting the issues our members face and working with all to find solutions that support the delivery of much needed homes and services.”

Carol replaces outgoing chair Niall Sheridan who retired from the board at the end of June. Niall has been a long-standing, influential member of the board at CIH Northern Ireland, who was first appointed to the board in 2016 as a board member before becoming chair in 2022.

Under Niall's guidance and stewardship, the organisation has achieved a significant number of milestones including creating a co-designed level 3 housing apprenticeship and foundation degree, the co-design of the new intermediate rent policy with DfC and establishing a CIH board in the Republic of Ireland for the first time.

Niall commented, “It has been a privilege to lead this exceptional organisation and witness its remarkable achievements. I am confident that under Carol’s capable leadership, CIH will continue to flourish and make a positive impact on housing in Northern Ireland. I wish them and the entire board every success in the future.”

CIH Northern Ireland paid tribute to Niall’s valuable contribution to the organisation over the years with CIH Northern Ireland director Justin Cartwright commenting:

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Niall for his invaluable contributions and steadfast commitment to CIH’s mission. I am grateful for Niall’s support throughout his tenure.”

Justin then went on to welcome the new chair Carol McTaggart saying:

“I am thrilled to now welcome Carol as our new chair of the board. Carol’s exceptional leadership will be instrumental in guiding us to new heights.”