Top International Trade Honour for UUP Cllr Vera McWilliam
Businesswoman and politician Vera McWilliam has spent a lifetime getting the most out of international trade for communities and businesses in Northern Ireland. Now her “extraordinary” commitment has been recognised with the award of a Fellowship of the Institute of Export (IoE).
The internationally recognised honour was presented to her by the Institute’s chairman Andy Nemes FIEx at a dinner to celebrate the IoE’s 70th anniversary. The award makes this a memorable year for Mrs McWilliam, a member of the IoE for 20 years, because in February she became chairman of the Northern Ireland branch and this month (September) she was elected national vice-chairman.
“Fellowship means I can fly the flag for Northern Ireland”
Mrs McWilliam said she was stunned to receive the award because “I thought Andy was just going to thank me for picking him up at the airport!”
She added: “I am very, very proud. This award helps us to keep the Northern Ireland flag flying and it also highlights the work of the IoE. I want more people to know about it because I am a classic example of how you can benefit from its membership and training.”
Mrs McWilliam started out as a part-time shipping clerk with Kirkpatrick Brothers in Co Antrim and progressed to commercial manager by taking IoE courses to learn more about the skills needed to move goods across the world from order to delivery in the textile industry. Now she is involved in helping the Institute run training courses for business men and women who want to deepen their knowledge and understanding of international trade.
She has combined her role in the Institute with an active political life: a councillor in Newtownabbey Borough Council since 1997 representing the Ballyclare ward, she became the first female Mayor of Newtownabbey in 2000, serving two terms.
She has a keen interest in helping disadvantaged groups within the rural sector and throughout her political career she has been involved in the council’s economic development committee. She is Chairman of the rural development company REAP South Antrim Ltd which helps to create and expand businesses in the areas of Antrim, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey. She has also played a key role in forging economic links with Germany, Poland and the USA.
Andy Nemes said: “Vera richly deserves her Fellowship. She has shown extraordinary commitment to the Institute and its ongoing work to raise standards in international trade management. She is a great ambassador for the industry and a role model for those who want to develop a career and business success within it.”