Rivers Agency Board

Rivers Agency is headed by a Chief Executive and a Board of Directors which spans four Directorates – Operations, Engineering, Development and Corporate Services.

The Agency Board ensures that the Agency carries out its statutory functions and activities, which are governed by primary legislation and regulations.

The Chief Executive of the Agency is also the Agency Accounting Officer and is responsible for the financial management of the Agency’s resources within budgets and protocols set by Government.

John C Clarke was appointed Chief Executive of Rivers Agency in 2008.

He is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, a Chartered Civil Engineer, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Managers. John has spent his career in flood risk management and agricultural drainage since his appointment as a graduate in 1973.

Philip Mehaffey was appointed Director of Operations in 2005. Philip is a graduate of Queen’s University, a Chartered Civil Engineer and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He has a breadth of experience that includes a significant spell specialising in Geotechnical Engineering.  He joined the Agency in 1997 as a Principal Professional & Technical Officer with responsibility for capital works.

Pat Aldridge was appointed Director of Development in December 2008. Following restructuring in 2009, Pat assumed responsibility for the Engineering Directorate in December 2009. Pat is a graduate of Queens University Belfast, a Chartered Civil Engineer, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and also of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Managers. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration.  His public sector experience includes employment with Roads Service and Construction Service before joining the Agency in 1987.

David Porter was appointed Director of Development in December 2009. David is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, a Chartered Civil Engineer and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. David is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the EU Floods Directive within Northern Ireland as well as directing the Agency’s mapping and modelling requirements .David was previously the Western Regional Engineer with responsibility for the Agency’s Fermanagh, Omagh and Coleraine offices. David has wider public sector experience as he was employed with Roads Service for eight years before joining the Agency in 2006.

Jeff Glass was appointed Director of Corporate Services in August 2008. Jeff graduated from the University of Ulster with an honours degree in Accounting and Economics and then qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1995. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration. Prior to joining the Agency he was Financial Controller in the Child Support Agency and has also worked for the Department for Employment and Learning and the Northern Ireland Audit Office.

Wendy Johnston is Director of Corporate Policy and European issues within DARD Core. Educated at Sullivan Upper Grammar School, she is a career civil servant who previously worked at Director level in the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department for Regional Development before taking up her post in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at the end of 2008. She has had a varied career working in finance, audit, casework, HR policy and operational branches.