Charity Trustees

Ballymena Business Centre has a Board of Directors who as Trustees of the Charity give of their time on a non-commercial basis and have a diverse mix of skills providing strong leadership, high standards of corporate governance and are entrepreneurial in their vision.

PJ McAvoy, Chairperson

James Perry MBE, DL, Vice Chairperson: James is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He has held senior management positions in a number of organisations including Northern Ireland Electricity and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. He has also served on the Boards of a number of Non Departmental Public Bodies and has undertaken the role of Chair of both the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and Ulster Supported Employment Limited. James is currently a Trustee of the Gallaher Trust and is a Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim as well as Clerk to the Lieutenancy.

Cllr Audrey Wales MBE, Trustee

Jim Briggs, Trustee: Jim is a chartered electrical engineer and holds an honours degree in engineering from QUB. Following his leaving QUB he was employed at Harland and Wolff where he moved to take responsibility for electrical installation on ships. Following leaving this post he moved to Michelin Tyre PLC at their factory in Ballymena as the factory Electrical Engineer. He stayed there for 37 years in a range of posts, then working as a Production Workshop manager. He was the UK representative for a project to create major change in the Company's approach to employees responsibility. He has been a BBC director for 25 years, is an ambassador for Sentinus and an advisor for The Princes Trust.

Mary Hamilton, Trustee

John Stuart MBE, Trustee

Paul Livingstone, Trustee: Paul joined as a director in 2016. A lawyer by profession, with 24 years practising as a solicitor, Paul now works in the community sector on anti- poverty issues. In addition to his legal qualification, Paul holds a Master’s Degree in Management and Corporate Governance.

William Carson, Trustee

James Perry MBE, DL
Vice Chairman Appointed Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim

​Mr Perry’s appointment was the final commission by HM Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Joan Christie, CVO, OBE, who stepped down at the end of June 2019.  Mr Perry was recognised in 2017 on the Queen’s Birthday Honours by receiving an MBE for his services to the community in Ballymena.  A chartered accountant by profession, Mr Perry, from Gracehill, has held senior management positions in Northern Ireland Electricity and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and ran a family business in Ahoghill.

Sir William Wright CBE
Founding Chairman Awarded Freedom of the Borough

Ballymena Business Centre founding chairman Sir William Wright CBE was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim in January 2019.  This honour pays tribute to individuals and organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to public life.  Sir William is a true entrepreneur who has made a tremendous contribution to the local economy.  Despite worldwide success Sir William was rooted in his home town of Ballymena providing inspiration and support to those embarking upon their entrepreneurial journey.