Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir has appointed Sara McCracken to serve as interim chair of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC).
The minister announced the move while a public appointment process is underway to fill this vacancy.
The appointment will be effective from April 6 2026, for a maximum period of six months or until a new chair is appointed, whichever is the sooner.
Nature
The CNCC is a statutory adviser to DAERA on matters affecting nature conservation and the countryside.
It also offers advice to other government departments on matters relevant to its remit.
Sara McCracken was originally appointed as deputy chair of the CNCC on March 1, 2025 to a three-year term.
She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (FCIPR) and has a background education in Zoology with Genetics and currently works as a PR trainer and consultant.
McCracken was formerly head of fundraising and communications for Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
The CNCC chair position is remunerated at £11,033 per annum, which is under review.
DAERA previously extended the deadline for applications for the council to March 19.
The department is seeking to appoint a chair and up to 18 members to the CNCC.