Joan Harbison

Dame Joan Harbison, DBE, Hon. LL.D was a teacher and lecturer professionally and has extensive experience of public and voluntary service in Northern Ireland.

She was the Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland until July 2006 and previously vice chair of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights (SACHR). She was also a member of the General Dental Council for the United Kingdom and of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, as well as serving on the Financial Services Authority Consumer Advisory Panel.

She was actively involved in the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for many years and was its Chair from 1994 to 1995. She is currently a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission for Northern Ireland and the HPSS Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

In 2005 she received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) for her contributions to public life in Northern Ireland.

Before being appointed Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland she was chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland.

She was awarded a CBE in 1992 and was knighted as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for her contributions to Northern Ireland.

External links

* [http://www.nicscommissioners.org/JoanHarbisonProfile.shtml]
* [http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2005/1762.html]