Bombardier chairman heads New Year’s honours list in Northern Ireland

The head of one of Northern Ireland’s largest companies has been honoured

in the British new year honours list.

The list, published last night, is headed by Laurent Beaudoin, chairman of aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Inc, which has a manufacturing plant in Belfast and has invested heavily in the region. Bombardier produces parts for aircraft and has been providing a full range of maintenance support for more than 20 years in Belfast. It is one of the largest employers in the east of the city.

Mr Beaudoin was awarded a CMG, becoming a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.

He was one of 79 recipients on the Northern Ireland list, which included figures from public life, industry, academia and many others who have made their mark on society at a local level.

Bombardier figured heavily in an investment conference fronted by British prime minister David Cameron in Belfast in October.

'Pivotal' investment
Mr Cameron said the Belfast plant's recent £520 million (€622 million) investment directly helps more than 200 industrial suppliers throughout the North and Britain, and is pivotal in Northern Ireland being the second most popular inward investment site outside London.

Chief executive of NI Water Trevor Haslett was awarded a CBE for his contribution to the water services industry and also to voluntary services.

Prof Patrick Morrison of Queen's University Belfast was awarded a CBE for his role as honorary professor of human genetics at the university and for services to healthcare.

OBEs
Fourteen people from Northern Ireland were awarded OBEs, mainly for work in the public sector, charities and education. They included Christian Aid Ireland chief executive Margaret Boden and Pauline McCabe, until recently the prisoner ombudsman and a former member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

Prof Mary McColgan of the University of Ulster was awarded an OBE in recognition of her work in the social care sector. Mindwise chief executive Bill Halliday was honoured for services to mental health.

There were 34 recipients of MBEs while a further 25 people were awarded British empire medals.