Sir Richard Nichols was appointed Chancellor of the University of Ulster in May 2002.

He qualified as a Solicitor in 1963 and became a Senior Partner with Kelly Nichols & Blayney in 1976. During his legal career he has specialised in company and commercial work and planning enquiries.

He has had a varied civic career. In 1980 he was elected to membership of the Salters Company and became its Master in 1988/89. He was elected a Councilman for the Ward of Candlewick in 1983 and Alderman in 1984. He became one of the Sheriffs of the City of London in 1994 and Lord Mayor of London in 1997/98. In 2000 he was appointed Governor of the Honourable The Irish Society. He is currently the President of his local Cancer Research organisation and has given assistance to many fundraising activities for charity.

His leisure activities include music, gardening, wine, travel and farming.

Chairman of Council. Formerly Parliamentary and Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Former Chief Executive of Fermanagh District Council and a Lecturer in Further and Higher Education.

He has extensive public service with the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Historic Buildings Council. Also former Chairman of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (NI), he is currently a Governor of the Irish Times Trust, a patron of Marie Curie Cancer Care and is involved in other activities in the Arts and in Local Development.

Consultant Surgeon at the Belfast City Hospital since 1986. His major clinical interests are as a General Surgeon with a specialist interest in Breast Cancer and Endocrine Surgery. He acquired the Fellowships of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland in 1981. He is an Examiner in the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland and is currently an Examiner in the Intercollegiate Examination in Surgery. He is an honorary professor of both universities in Northern Ireland.

He has also an interest in cancer from an organisation viewpoint and sits on a number of cancer committees.

He has over 150 abstracts and papers published, along with 11 chapters in books. He is also a co-author of eight academic textbooks, either published or in press.

He was appointed an OBE in the New Year’s Honours 2001.

Partner in Moore Stephens, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors. Rosemary has particular responsibility for Audit Compliance and Human Resources. The practice has seven offices and 120 staff throughout Northern Ireland and is a member firm of Moore Stephens International, A “top ten” accountancy firm. A member of the Institute of Directors Rosemary has served on the Board of Invest Northern Ireland since its inception in 2002. She is also a Non-Executive Director of the Northern Health and Social Services Board and is Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Rosemary is a panel member of the Appropriate Authority, which deals with the administration of criminal legal aid in Northern Ireland.