Tina McKenzie (born 1973) is a business executive and former politician from Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Early life

After graduating from the

University of Ulster sco, Ulstèr Universitie , image = Ulster University coat of arms.png , caption = , motto_lang = , mottoeng = , latin_name = Universitas Ulidiae , established = 1865 – Magee College 1953 - Magee Un ...

, McKenzie started her career co-ordinating job-skills programmes for the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, working with NIACRO, Extern, and the

Probation Board for Northern Ireland The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) is a non-departmental public body responsible to the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland), Northern Ireland Department of Justice for the Probation Service in Northern Ireland. It is part of ...

(PBNI). McKenzie undertook further studies at the Tilburg University Business School and

IESE Business School IESE Business School is the graduate business school of the University of Navarra. Founded in 1958 in Barcelona where its main campus is located,López, T. & Pampliega, J“La fundación del IESE (1956–1958)” Universidad de Navarra, Biblioteca ...

at the University of Navarra. McKenzie also undertook further study at the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute at

Queen's University Belfast , mottoeng = For so much, what shall we give back? , top_free_label = , top_free = , top_free_label1 = , top_free1 = , top_free_label2 = , top_free2 = , established = , closed = , type = Public research university , parent = ...

, completing the 'Leading Effective Boards' Programme in 2015.

Political life

McKenzie returned to her native

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

in 2013 to set up Staffline Group (Ireland). Shortly after her return she joined newly formed political party NI21 and was appointed its first chair. McKenzie described herself as believing in the maintenance of the union of Britain and Northern Ireland, principally for economic reasons. NI21 selected McKenzie as their candidate for the European election of 2014, proposing to support the region in Europe and promote jobs and economic growth. She also stood for Belfast City Council in Balmoral. She received more than 10,500 first-preference votes in the European election, however did not meet the threshold for election. On the night of the election, some figures within the party resigned, including McKenzie, following allegations of misconduct made against party leader

Basil McCrea Basil McCrea (born 13 November 1959) is a former Northern Irish politician. He was the party leader of NI21 from 2013 until it disbanded in 2016. He was also a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley from 2007 to 2016. Po ...

. Shortly after, McKenzie announced she was leaving politics on the grounds that she was disillusioned.

Business life

In 2018 McKenzie was appointed the chair of the NI Policy Forum for the

Federation of Small Businesses The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is a UK business organisation representing small and medium-sized businesses. It was formed in 1974 as the National Federation of Self Employed (NFSE). The current name for the organisation was adopted in ...

in Northern Ireland. McKenzie's appointment to the role ensured that Northern Ireland's four key business lobby groups- the

Institute of Directors The Institute of Directors (IoD) is a British professional organisation for company directors, senior business leaders and entrepreneurs. It is the UK's longest running organisation for professional leaders, having been founded in 1903 and incor ...

, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the

Confederation of British Industry The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is a UK business organisation, which in total claims to speak for 190,000 businesses, this is made up of around 1,500 direct members and 188,500 non-members. The non members are represented through the 1 ...

and the FSB- were all headed by women. In January 2018, McKenzie gave evidence to the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

European Union Select Committee on the impact of Brexit on businesses in Northern Ireland. More recently, as chair of the FSB, McKenzie has led the debate on Northern Ireland becoming the 'Singapore of the Western Hemisphere' by introducing tariff free trade between the EU and the UK. In September 2018, McKenzie and the FSB published a proposal to make Northern Ireland an 'Enhanced Economic Zone' after Brexit In June 2021, McKenzie was announced as a visiting professor in Ulster University's Business School, based in Belfast. McKenzie previously held the position of Regional Director (Northern Ireland) for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the governing body of the recruitment industry. In 2017 McKenzie was appointed the Honorary Consul to Finland in Belfast. Her consular roles include promoting economic, political, academic and cultural relations between the Nordic region and Northern Ireland, and monitoring the rights of Finnish citizens in the area. In this role, McKenzie introduced Irish President Michael D. Higgins when he delivered the Harri Holkeri Lecture at

in 2018.

Personal life

McKenzie is married and the mother of three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKenzie, Tina 1973 births Living people Business executives NI21 politicians Politicians from Belfast Women in the politics of Northern Ireland Catholic Unionists 21st-century politicians from Northern Ireland 20th-century politicians from Northern Ireland