John Keanie, MBA, is a self-employed business consultant and Chair of 'A2B' (Access to Benefits), a not-for-profit company that has developed highly successful web-based tools and techniques that are assisting thousands of Northern Ireland's older citizens to claim all of the benefits to which they are entitled. He previously served as Town Clerk and Chief Executive of Strabane and Derry City Councils, holding the post in Derry / Londonderry from 1991 to 2000.
John has held several Public Appointments over the years and, on appointment to the Commissioner post, stood down from his position as Independent Member of the Roads Service Board and Chair of its Audit and Finance Committee.
Since 2000, John Keanie has served as an Independent Assessor on Public Appointments recruitment processes under the previous Commissioners, and in that role has been involved in many high-level public appointments. He stood down from that work also, on his appointment as Commissioner. He has served, since 2007, as lay-member of the Silk Appointments complaints panel, dealing with issues related to Queen's Counsel appointments.
Building on a 'mixed-sector' career in industry, university lecturing and public sector management in Housing and Local Government, John particularly welcomed the opportunities presented to him for involvement in economic and social development matters, and in 1997 was invested as a 'Freeman of the City of London' for his work with 'The Honourable the Irish Society', the London based organisation promoting social development programmes in Northern Ireland.
John lives in the Coleraine area with his wife Elizabeth.