Robin Swann

Robin Swann
MLA
Robin Swann MLA
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Assumed office
8 April 2017
Preceded by Mike Nesbitt
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
In office
6 April 2012 – 8 April 2017
Preceded by John McCallister
Succeeded by Steve Aiken
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Antrim North
Assumed office
2011
Preceded by Robert Coulter
Personal details
Born (1971-09-24) 24 September 1971
Kells, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Nationality British
Political party Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse(s) Jennifer Swann
Children 2
Residence Kells, County Antrim
Alma mater Open University
Website Robin Swann official website

Robin Swann (born 24 September 1971) is a politician in Northern Ireland who has served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party since 2017.[1] He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011 & was re-elected in the 2016 & 2017 Assembly Elections.

From the 6th April 2012, he served as Ulster Unionist Chief Whip a position he retained until he was elected (unchallenged) as Leader. During the short 2016 mandate he was Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. which commenced the Inquiry into the RHI scandal.

He also served as Chairperson of the Employment and Learning Committee on 27 February 2013 a position he held until the Committee was dissolved on 30 April 2016.

He lives with his wife, Jennifer, young daughter and baby son. Robin's son was born with a congenital heart defect, and while in Birmingham where the corrective procedure was performed, Robin recorded everything in a personal blog. He is an active member of Kells & Connor Community Association and has served as a Board member of the Volunteer Development Agency in Northern Ireland.

He has served as President and County Antrim Chairman of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. He has chaired the YFCU's National Executive and rural Affairs Committees and has been Chairman Rural Youth Europe organisation[2]

Education

Robin was educated at Kells & Connor Primary School, then attended Ballymena Academy class of 1990, before completing a BSc with the Open University, Certificate of Professional Management, Certificate of Mathematics.

Political Activity

Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly 7 May 2011, he successfully defended it in the 2016 Assembly election and the snap election in March 2017, where he was the first unionist elected in North Antrim .

Current Positions

Chairman of All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease (30 Apr 2013 – present);

Previously held positions

  • During the 2011-16 Assembly mandate Robin held positions as the Chairman of the Employment and Learning Committee (27 Feb 2013 – 30 Apr 2016); Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Northern Ireland Assembly Branch, Deputy Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements, Welfare Reform Bill. Ceased 29 January 2013.
  • Member of following Stormont Committees; Employment & Learning; Agriculture and Rural Development; Business Committee; Arts & Leisure; Office of the First and deputy First Minister; Assembly & Executive Review; Member of the Assembly Chairpersons Liaison Group - Chairperson 2013-14; Vice-Chair of the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy; Member of the All Party Group on International Development; Member of the All Party Group on Football.

Loyal orders

Voluntary and community positions/roles

Previously held positions

Swann has held Directorships in:

  • Slemish Credit Union
  • Antrim Agricultural Society
  • Volunteer Development Agency[3]
  • Rural Support
  • Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster, former Club Leader, Secretary & Treasurer, currently Vice-President Kells & Connor Club, former Chairman & Treasurer of County Antrim Committee, Past President, Deputy President, Vice President, Chairman of the YFCU Rural Affairs Committee.
  • Rural Youth Europe, Past Chairman, Vice-chairman, held Finance and Expansion portfolios, formerly Board Member for Region I (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Republic of Ireland & Malta). During his time as Chairman he led a delegation under the auspices of the United Nations FAO, to Serbia and Kosovo to support the creation of Young Farmers Clubs in those countries, both national organisations have now applied for membership of Rural Youth Europe.
  • Board of Governors of Ballee Community High School.; Cambridge House Grammar School

References

  1. ↑ "Ulster Unionist Party confirm Robin Swann as new leader" BBC News, 8 April 2017, accessed 11 April 2017
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Volunteer Now". Volunteer Now. Retrieved 2017-03-04.

Succession boxes

Party political offices
Preceded by
Mike Nesbitt		 Ulster Unionist Party Leader
2017–present		 Incumbent
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by
Robert Coulter		 MLA for North Antrim
2011–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
John McCallister		 Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
6 April 2012 – 8 March 2017		 Succeeded by
Steve Aiken
Preceded by
Michaela Boyle		 Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee
2016 –2017		 Succeeded by
Vacant
Preceded by
Basil McCrea		 Chair of the Employment & Learning Committee
27 Feb 2013 – 30 Apr 2016		 Committee abolished
New title Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Northern Ireland Assembly Branch
13 Apr 2015 – 13 Jun 2016		 Succeeded by
Jo-Anne Dobson
New title Chair of the All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease
30 Feb 2013 -		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Alex Maskey		 Chair of the Chairpersons Liaison Group
October 2013 - September 2014		 Succeeded by
Patsy McGlone
Preceded by
Billy Armstrong		 Ulster Unionist Deputy Whip
9 May 2011 – 6 April 2012		 Succeeded by
Sandra Overend


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