Infrastructure in Northern Ireland: priorities, funding and Investment Strategy

Guests of Honour: Dr Martin Spollen, Head of Investment Strategy, Strategic Investment Board (SIBNI) and Colette FitzGerald, Head of Office, The European Commission Office in Northern Ireland
This seminar will be a timely opportunity to discuss the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland and priorities for infrastructure as the Northern Ireland Executive prepares to consult on the next iteration of the Investment Strategy in the second half of 2016.
Delegates will consider priorities, challenges and opportunities for infrastructure investment across a range of different areas, including public transport, telecommunications, housing, energy and the development of urban and rural communities.
Planned sessions will also look at how to reduce barriers to private infrastructure investment and the proposed Northern Ireland investment fund, and how funding from the 2014-2020 European Structural Funds and the European Commission’s €315bn (£250bn) Investment Plan (2015-2017) can also be used to finance capital projects and improve public services.
The conference will bring together key policymakers in the NI Assembly and the NI Executive with key stakeholders including business groups, developers and construction companies, representatives from the telecommunications industry, financial services sector, utilities companies, trade unions, local authorities, transport companies, environmental groups, charities, academics, lawyers and others with an interest in these important issues.
We are delighted that Dr Martin Spollen, Head of Investment Strategy, Strategic Investment Board (SIBNI) and Colette FitzGerald, Head of Office, The European Commission Office in Northern Ireland have agreed to deliver a keynote addresses at this seminar.
Clive Bradberry, Infrastructure Executive, Translink; William Curry, Partner, Corporate and Commercial, Arthur Cox; Bob Hanna, Chief Technical Advisor, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Republic of Ireland; Liam Hannaway, Chief Executive, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council; Graham Keddie, Managing Director, Belfast International Airport; Ronan Larkin, Director of Finance & Regulation, Northern Ireland Water; Brian Lavery, Managing Director, Belfast, CBRE; Robin McCormick, Director of Operations, Planning & Innovation, Eirgrid and General Manager, SONI; Frank McManus, Head of NI Wholesale Sales, BT Ireland; Bill Scott, Executive Director, International Business, Invest NI; Chris Williams, Director of Project Finance, Northern Ireland, Bank of Ireland and Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, Belfast City Council have also agreed to speak.
Trevor Clarke MLA, Committee Chair, Committee for Regional Development, Northern Ireland Assembly and Fearghal McKinney MLA, Member, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland Assembly have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.