Jim McCusker has given a lifetime of distinguished service to trade unionism and labour relations. For 26 years until his retirement, he was General Secretary of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), Northern Ireland’s largest trade union representing 40,000 members in the public services and voluntary sector.

He was first appointed a member of the Labour Relations Agency in 2003 and in March 2008 he was appointed as chairperson of LRA. He is to serve in that role until 2014. He is a former member of the Council for Health Regulatory Excellence and Concordia, which promotes social partnership between trade unions, employers, farmers and voluntary and community interests.  In the past he has served on the NI Economic Council, the NI Economic Development Forum and the Industrial Court.

Mr McCusker is currently a member of the Public Service Commission. He is also a member of the board of governors of St Patrick’s College Belfast and of the European Economic and Social Committee.