Ruth Laird

Non-Executive Director NI Transport Holding Company

Ruth attended Queen’s University of Belfast where she gained an Upper Second Class joint honours Degree in Modern and Ancient History in 1976. She also holds a post graduate Diploma in Personnel Management from the University of Ulster.

Her career began in London in the mid- seventies working for a major retail group in the Personnel Management and Training and Development functions. In the early eighties, Ruth worked in the voluntary sector, in the training and development office of Youth Action. From 1986 to 1989, she had a period as a self-employed Human Resources consultant, including Development Officer with the Institute of Personnel and Development. Ruth was then asked to join the project team which opened Debenhams’ flagship operation in Belfast as Regional Personnel Manager. Following completion of this project, she became regional Head of Personnel at BBC NI from 1992-1994. As part of her career development, she worked as an Internal Consultant at the Public Service Office, NICS, whilst on secondment from Gilpin Black Management Consultants, where she was employed until 1997. Ruth then spent nearly three years as Group Human Resources Manager at Lamont Holdings, when she took up the post in 1999, as Director of the National Trust in Northern Ireland. Ruth retired from the National Trust in 2005.

Other Positions of Responsibility
Board Member of the Enterprises Operations, London (National Trust).
Corporate Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development.