Senior business leaders across the private, public and third sectors have come together to shape the future of business education as part of Ulster University Business School’s (UUBS) newly launched Strategic Employer Advisory Group (SEAG).
Operating under the leadership of Chair, Lynne Rainey, Executive Chair at fscom and UUBS Visiting Professor, the advisory group is designed to ensure UUBS’s portfolio remains responsive to the evolving needs of industry, government and wider society.
By providing independent strategic insight, external advice and constructive challenge, SEAG will actively support UUBS’s curriculum design and regional economic impact. The leadership collective will focus its efforts on aligning programmes and micro-credentials with real-world market demands, guiding agendas across critical growth sectors, including sustainability and green skills, entrepreneurship, leadership and digital transformation.
Through people-centric partnering, SEAG will support UUBS in achieving its ambition of being a leading engaged and entrepreneurial business school that delivers transformational outcomes for students, staff and the wider business community.
Professor Gillian Armstrong, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of UUBS, commented:
The establishment of SEAG represents an important step in strengthening the Business School’s external engagement and ensures UUBS remains closely aligned with a rapidly changing global workplace. We are delighted to welcome an exceptional group of senior professionals who each bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Membership aligns directly with the business school’s ambitions around employability, entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability and leadership. We look forward to seeing how SEAG creates stronger opportunities for collaboration, partnership and impact.
Lynne Rainey, Executive Chair at fscom, UUBS Visiting Professor and Chair of the SEAG, added:
The world of work is changing faster than ever and graduates need to step out of the classroom genuinely prepared for an unpredictable landscape. It’s important that universities stay closely attuned to these shifts, and this advisory group will provide UUBS with the honest feedback and rigorous external challenge to navigate them.
Our focus is ensuring UUBS stays ahead of the curve by helping align provision and student competencies directly with what the job market needs, while boosting graduate career paths and engagement with SMEs. Ultimately, we’re here to help UUBS act as a real engine for growth, productivity and ultimately student success.
SEAG membership:
Group membership has been curated to reflect sectoral representation aligned with the Business School's strategic priorities. Senior leaders from across industry sectors include:
- Lynne Rainey, Executive Chair at fscom,Executive Coach, former Partner at PwC, UUBS Visiting Professor and Chair of the SEAG
- Moira Doherty, Permanent Secretary, Executive Office, NI Civil Service
- Philip McBride OBE, (Retired) Managing Director, Thales Northern Ireland
- Laoise Flanagan, EMEA Private Equity Programme Leader, Deloitte
- Alan Lowry, Chair, Federation of Small Business NI (FSB) / CEO, Environmental Street Furniture
- Steven Lindsay, Founder, McHugh Lindsay Consulting Services / President, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
- Dr Sharon O’Kane, International PLC Non-Executive Board Director; Entrepreneur; Ulster University Visiting Professor
- Áine Kearney, Senior Leader, Department for the Economy (secondment), Formerly Director of Events for Tourism NI.
External experts will be joined by internal UUBS leadership including Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Professor Gillian Armstrong, along with Heads of Departments, Associate Deans and the Head of the AACSB Accreditation.
SEAG held its first meeting at Ulster University, Belfast on 16 September 2026 and will meet two to three times a year.
For more information, including detailed biographies of board members, visit Strategic Employer Advisory Group | Ulster University Business School.
