Who we are

Nicole is the Chair of the IMA. An experienced Chair and collaborative leader who has demonstrated how effective governance improves the delivery of public services, including her present role as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Chair. Nicole has over 10 years’ combined experience in leading three public sector Boards. She qualified as a Barrister in Dublin and chairs a fitness to practise committee for the Pharmaceutical Society in NI. Additionally, she developed further expertise in regulation as the Chief Charity Commissioner for NI and her experience also spans health, justice, education, and finance. She has led on changing Board governance structures and transformation of service delivery has been central to the organisations she has served.

Leo is a Member of the Senate of Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Council of the Institute of Professional and Legal Studies in Belfast. He is also a Non-Executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee Member of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. He is a former civil servant, in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, with over 27 years’ experience as a senior civil servant covering a diverse range of functions and activities across government in both NI and GB. These include over 11 years as the Permanent Secretary of three Northern Ireland departments. Leo O’Reilly has not declared any political activity. The appointment of non-executive members of the IMA are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These reappointments comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. Find out more about Leo O’Reilly here.

Ronnie left the civil service in 2013 to pursue a variety of other interests; including consultancy. He is currently an Independent Member of Powys Teaching Health Board. In addition, he serves as Independent Chair of the Standards Committees for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and also for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. He has a considerable record of engaging with the public, professionals and politicians at all levels, to influence policy. This follows a civil service career spanning over 20 years and an equivalent period working in local government. Ronnie Alexander has not declared any political activity. Find out more about Ronnie Alexander here.

Punam is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales and was a Partner at KPMG LLP (UK) from 2008 – 2020. She was Head of Employment and Immigration within the Tax and Legal Services Practice and the lead on people related Brexit issues. She is also an international social security specialist. She previously worked at Andersen, Deloitte and PwC. During this time, Punam advised clients across all sectors including financial services, pharmaceuticals, retail and Oil & Gas on a range of people and employer related tax, social security, immigration, reward and employment matters. She advised multinational employers on cross border issues for frontier workers. She also advised employers and private equity firms on comparative country locations in which to establish new business, focusing on the regulatory aspects of establishing global employment companies. Punam is a Trustee of the Carers Network charity, based in London. Appointed until 7 December 2025. Find out more about Punam Birly here.

Joyce has practised as a litigation solicitor with Brodies LLP for over 40 years and served as Chair of the firm from 2004 to 2013. In 1995, she was admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in Scotland. She was Convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s Employment Law Reform Sub-Committee from 2006 to 2018. From 2015 to 2021 she was a Non-executive Director of the Joint Management Board of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland. In 2020, she was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of George Heriot’s School. She was initially appointed and has served as a Non-Executive member of the IMA since 2021. Joyce Cullen has not declared any political activity. Find out more about Joyce Cullen here.

Marcus is also Chairman of the IMA’s Delivery and Impact Committee and a Member of its Audit Committee. Marcus is qualified as: a Barrister at Law (England and Wales); an Attorney at Law (New York) and; a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment, He is currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the law firm ISOLAS LLP. From 2003 – 2014, he served as the CEO of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (“Commission”). During his time at the Commission, he was also Chair of the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors as well as Chair of both the Gibraltar Investors Compensation Scheme Board and the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Board. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE for services to regulation; particularly in Gibraltar. Marcus Killick has not declared any political activity. Find out more about Marcus Killick here.