Having retired as the Labour Relations Agency’s Chief Executive in 2024, Don now pursues a portfolio career. This includes being a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Translink and a Diversity Mark Assessor, as well as consultancy work.
Don was voted the IoD NI’s Director of the Year in the category of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2023 and, in March 2025, was recognised by CIPD NI for his outstanding contribution to people development in Northern Ireland.
Prior to becoming the Labour Relations Agency’s Chief Executive in 2020, Don was its Director of Corporate Services since 2017. He earlier worked as a senior manager at the Agency between 2011 and 2013, managing the Agency’s arbitration services and facilitating collective conciliations and mediations.
Outside of the Agency, Don has had a varied career. He was the Consumer Council’s Director of Operations (2013-17); Head of Corporate Services for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (2004-11); and the Equality Commission’s Head of Disability Policy (2002-04).
Prior to moving to Belfast, Don was Investors in People UK’s Quality Manager, with responsibility for quality assurance and development of the IiP standard. It was while in this role he developed a passion for organisational development and good employment practice. He has also been a Civil Servant working in Westminster on employment-related issues.
Don has an MSc in Managing Change.
He is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, where he uses his experience to mentor HR professionals through the CIPD mentoring programme.
Don is the Chair of the Board of ESC Films, an award-winning film therapy charity working to support highly marginalised people.