Tina McKenzie (politician)

After graduating from the University of Ulster, McKenzie started her career co-ordinating job-skills programmes for the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, working with NIACRO, Extern, and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI). After a move to London she progressed in the corporate world across the United Kingdom and internationally,[2] becoming a successful Sales and managing director with experience in logistics, financial services, health and social care,[3] agrifood and banking.

McKenzie undertook further studies at the Tilburg University Business School and IESE Business School at the University of Navarra. McKenzie also undertook further study at the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute at Queen's University Belfast, completing the 'Leading Effective Boards'[4] Programme in 2015.

McKenzie returned to her native Northern Ireland in 2013 to set up Staffline Group (Ireland).[5] Shortly after her return she joined newly formed political party NI21 and was appointed its first chair. McKenzie described herself as believing in the maintenance of the union of Britain and Northern Ireland, principally for economic reasons.[1]

NI21 selected McKenzie as their candidate for the European election of 2014,[6] proposing to support the region in Europe and promote jobs and economic growth.[7] She also stood for Belfast City Council in Balmoral.[8] She received more than 10,500 first-preference votes in the European election, however did not meet the threshold for election.[9]

On the night of the election the majority of the party resigned, including McKenzie,[10] following allegations of misconduct made against party leader Basil McCrea.[11] Shortly after, McKenzie announced she was leaving politics on the grounds that she was disillusioned.[12]

McKenzie has worked for more than 20 years in the human resource, recruitment and employment support sectors.[2]

In her current role McKenzie is managing director of Staffline Group (Ireland) a recruitment and employment support business, comprising Grafton Recruitment [13], Staffline Recruitment, PeoplePlus NI and Diamond Recruitment.[14]

McKenzie is a former Non-Executive Director for the Centre for Democracy and Peacebuilding.[15] She is also a former Business and Human Rights Forum Advisor for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [16]

In 2018 McKenzie was appointed the Chair of the NI Policy Forum for the Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland.[17] McKenzie's appointment to the role ensured that Northern Ireland's four key business lobby groups- the Institute of Directors, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry and the FSB- were all headed by women.

In her FSB role McKenzie regularly contributes to public discussion through a monthly column entitled 'The View from the Chair', published in The News Letter. [18]

[19] In January 2018, McKenzie gave evidence to the House of Lords European Union Select Committee on the impact of Brexit on businesses in Northern Ireland.[20] More recently, as chair of the FSB, McKenzie has led the debate on Northern Ireland becoming the 'Singapore of the Western Hemisphere' by introducing tariff free trade between the EU and the UK. [21] In September 2018, McKenzie and the FSB published a proposal to make Northern Ireland an 'Enhanced Economic Zone' after Brexit [22]

McKenzie previously held the position of Regional Director (Northern Ireland) for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the governing body of the recruitment industry.[23]

In addition to being an active member of several business networks such as the Institute of Directors,[24] Queen's University Chief Executives' Club, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Business in the Community,[25] Northern Ireland Business Assembly Trust and Women in Business,[26][27] McKenzie is a member of industry associations such as the Northern Ireland Food & Drinks Association, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation. She has previously held positions including being a board member of the NI Chamber of Commerce (2006–2008) and of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC) Health and Social Care Sector Group (2011).

McKenzie is regularly invited to speak at conferences and to attend events as a guest hosted by organisations such as the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce, the British-Irish Association, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Northern Ireland Retail Trade Associations (NIRTA).[28]

In November 2017, McKenzie was invited to speak at the TEDx Stormont event, which featured female speakers from different industries and professions across Northern Ireland. [29] [30] In 2018 she was a guest lecturer at the OxPeace Conference at Oxford University [31].

McKenzie's contribution to the local economy and the local business sector has been recognised by stakeholders across the island,[14][32][33] as she is frequently asked to contribute to crucial discussions impacting the local economy. McKenzie is a regular contributor to discussions hosted by the BBC, Ulster Bank and UTV amongst others,[34] and as such has helped shape local understanding of the labour market and the contributions the business sector makes to the local economy.[25][35][36][37][38]

McKenzie is also a contributor to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Framework and is frequently consulted on the health of the labour market in Northern Ireland. McKenzie's role in promoting a people-focused approach to business and the economy has also seen her become a business mentor for Women in Business NI and a contributor to the REC's recent report on progression in low-pay work, where she promoted the value of jobs in the retail, hospitality and care sectors.[39]

In 2017 McKenzie was appointed the Honorary Consul to Finland in Belfast. [40] Her consular roles include promoting economic, political, academic and cultural relations between the Nordic region and Northern Ireland, and monitoring the rights of Finnish citizens in the area.[41]. In this role, McKenzie introduced Irish President Michael D. Higgins when he delivered the Harri Holkeri Lecture at Queen's University Belfast in 2018. [42]

In 2015 McKenzie was awarded the "Outstanding Management and Leadership" award by Women in Business Northern Ireland.[43]

She has also been shortlisted for UTV's "Business Personality of the Year" Award.[44] Under her direction, in 2015 Staffline Group in Ireland also won the Fast Growth Business of the Year award from UTV/Business Eye.[45]

In 2016 McKenzie was appointed as the European Ambassador for Women's Entrepreneurship Day, to harness the voices of each of the participating European countries through their individual appointees.[46]

In 2017, Tina McKenzie was named Director of the Year (Mid Market Company) by the Institute of Directors.[47]

2018 saw McKenzie named as Business Personality of the Year in Northern Ireland at the Business Eye First Trust Bank Awards [48]

Tina McKenzie also received a Belfast Homecoming Ambassador Medal in November 2018 for her contribution to the Northern Irish Economy. [49]

In September 2019 McKenzie was named as Business Person of the Month by Business and Finance Magazine[50], in association with KPMG [51].

McKenzie is married and the mother of three children.[52]