Our Board

Mrs Norma Sinte

Chairperson

Norma retired in 2019 from Queen’s University Belfast where she was Director of Development and Alumni Relations. She joined Queen’s in 2000 as Head of Corporate and Major Gifts Fundraising and was appointed to the post of Director in 2008. In her role at Queen’s she also managed two senior voluntary Boards: the Queen’s Foundation and the Friends of Queen’s USA.

Norma wants to help the Society retain its innovative and entrepreneurial outlook and build on its philanthropic heritage.

Mr Les Allamby

Director

Les Allamby is current Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission. Les is a solicitor and formerly the Director of the Law Centre (Northern Ireland). He was Chair of an Advisory group to Human Rights Commission on proposals for economic and social rights within a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. From 2015-2018 he chaired the Commonwealth Forum for National Human Rights Institutions. He was also the inaugural Chair of the Social Security Standards Committee for Northern Ireland. He was also a member of CAJs executive committee and a founder member of the Children’s Law Centre.

Mr Colin Graham

Director

Colin is a documentary film maker; the Chair of Digital Art Studios Belfast and a Main Board Director of GRAHAM Holdings Ltd. Colin became involved with the Belfast Charitable Society to help the Society protect its philanthropic heritage and to ensure it remained relevant in today’s difficult social and economic environment. He also wanted to help and encourage a new era of philanthropic generosity.

Ms Diane Graham

Director

Diane is the Matron and Chief Executive with operational responsibility at the Ulster Independent Hospital. She got involved with the Belfast Charitable Society because of her expertise in the provision of care for the elderly. Her experience and skills in healthcare was considered extremely beneficial to the Society. Diane wishes to continue with the altruistic values and spirit of helping which have motivated the Belfast Charitable Society since 1774 when the Poor house and hospital opened to provide care for the disadvantaged.

Dr Margaret Ward

Director

Margaret Ward is Honorary Senior Lecturer in History at Queen’s University, Belfast. In 2000 she became assistant director of the think-tank Democratic Dialogue and in 2005 she became Director of the Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) where she worked tirelessly until her retirement at the end of 2013. While Director of WRDA, on behalf of Reclaim the Agenda, Margaret led the project ‘Belfast Women’s History Tour’. Margaret is a board member of Libraries NI, a former Trustee of the National Museums Northern Ireland and a former member of the board of the Consumer Council NI.

Prof Alastair Adair CBE DL

Director

Professor Alastair Adair is an Emeritus Professor in Real Estate Economics and a Chartered Surveyor.
He has over 40 years experience in higher education, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University and academic lead on the Belfast campus development.
He is a Deputy Lieutenant for Belfast, a member of the Board of Friends of the Cancer Centre, RFCA NI, Hon Capt RNR and Hon RSUA.