Robin Swann

Robin Swann MLA
Robin Swann MLA
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Antrim North
Incumbent
Assumed office 2011
Preceded by	Robert Coulter
Personal details
Born	24 September 1971 Kells, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Swann
Children	2
Residence	Kells, County Antrim
Alma mater	Open University
Religion	Presbyterian
Website	Robin Swann MLA

Robin Swann is a politician in Northern Ireland who was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011. In 2012 he was appointed Ulster Unionist Chief Whip. On the 27th of February 2013 he was appointed Chairman of the Employment and Learning Committee.

He is North Antrim born and bred, educated locally, he lives in the constituency with his wife, Jennifer, young daughter and baby son. Robin's son was born with a congenital heart defect, and while in Birmingham where the correctice procedure was performed, Robin recorded everything in a personal blog : fromthesideofahospitalcot.blogspot.co.uk

He is an active member of Kells & Connor Community Association and has served as a Board member of the Volunteer Development Agency in Northern Ireland.

He has served as President and County Antrim Chairman of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. He has chaired the YFCU's National Executive and rural Affairs Committees and has been Chairman Rural Youth Europe organisation.

Education

Robin was educated at Kells & Connor Primary School, then attended Ballymena Academy class of 1990, before completing a BSc with the Open University, Certificate of Professional Management, Certificate of Mathematics.

Political Activity

Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly 7 May 2011.

Robin has been selected along with Andrew Wright to contest the 2016 Assembly Election as a candidate for the Ulster Unionist Party in North Antrim.

Robin was the Ulster Unionist candidate for the Westminster elections in May 2015 and increased the Party's vote in North Antrim by 1.1% of the total poll to 5054 .

Current Positions - Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party (2012– present) & Chairman of the Employment and Learning Committee (27 Feb 2013 – present); Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Northern Ireland Assembly Branch. Ulster Unionist Member of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly. Member of following Stormont Committees; Employment & Learning; Agriculture and Rural Development; Business Committee; Member of the Assembly Chairpersons Liaison Group - Chairperson 2013-2014; Chairman of North Antrim Association of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Chairman of All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease (30 Apr 2013 – present); Vice-Chair of the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy; Member of the All Party Group on International Development; Member of the All Party Group on Football.

Previously held positions - Robin has served on the following Stormont Committees; Arts & Leisure; Office of the First and deputy First Minister; Assembly & Executive Review; Deputy Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements, Welfare Reform Bill. Ceased 29 Jan 2013

Former Treasurer of North Antrim Association of the Ulster Unionist Party 2008–2010, current Treasurer of Ballymena Division of the Ulster Unionist Party & Secretary of the Kellswater Branch

Candidate for local election 2005, Assembly 2007, Westminster 2015 - unsuccessful on these 3 occasions.

Loyal orders

Past Master & Lecturer Ferniskey LOL 115 ; Treasurer of Stormont LOL 2015 a Lodge of Special Purpose - Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

Past Master Ballylurgan RBP 1192, member Kells & Ferniskey RBP 271 Royal Black Preceptory

Member of the Antrim Branch of the Murray Club - Apprentice Boys of Derry

Voluntary and community positions/roles

Current positions - Honorary Vice-President Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland

Member Kells & Connor Community Improvement Association, member of BERCC (Ballymena East Rural Community Cluster).

Previously held positions - Robin has held Directorships in ; Slemish Credit Union; Antrim Agricultural Society; Volunteer Development Agency (reformed into Volunteer Now), Rural Support; North East - Local Action Group Rural Development Program

Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster, former Club Leader, Secretary & Treasurer, currently Vice-President Kells & Connor Club, former Chairman & Treasurer of County Antrim Committee, Past President, Deputy President, Vice President, Chairman of the YFCU Rural Affairs Committee.

Rural Youth Europe, Past Chairman, Vice-chairman, held Finance and Expansion portfolios, formerly Board Member for Region I (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Republic of Ireland & Malta). During his time as Chairman he led a delegation under the auspices of the United Nations FAO, to Serbia and Kosovo to support the creation of Young Farmers Clubs in those countries, both national organisations have now applied for membership of Rural Youth Europe.

Chairman & Pipe Sargent of Cromkill Pipe Band

Board of Governors of Ballee Community High School.; Cambridge House Grammar School

References

• UUP web site
• North Antrim UUP web site
• Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster web site
• Appearances in Northern Ireland Assembly
• Kells & Connor Community Improvement Association web site

Succession boxes