Biography of Felicity Huston

Commissioner Felicity Huston

Felicity is a director in Huston Ltd, Tax Consultants based in Belfast - a practice she runs jointly with her husband Adrian.

Before moving to the private sector, she was an HM Inspector of Taxes, having joined the service as a Direct Entrant Inspector. During her time in the Revenue, she specialised in the investigation of tax fraud and evasion.

Felicity has a wide and varied experience of public life. For many years she has had a particular interest in Consumer Issues; serving on:

The Personal Investment Authority’s Consumer Panel in London
The Post Office Users Council for Northern Ireland
The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland – as deputy Chairman
Northern Ireland Consumer Committee for Electricity – as Chairman

In May 2000, she was appointed by the Prime Minister to be an Independent Member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. The Commission is tasked with recommending individuals for appointment to the Cross-benches of the Upper House and with vetting the nominations made by party-political leaders. The Commission is made up of three Independent Members and three political Peers – Lord Hurd, Lord Dholakia and Baroness Dean. It is chaired by the well known businessman Lord Stevenson.

Access further information on the House of Lords Appointments Commission

As part of her portfolio of public appointments, she also serves as a General Commissioner for Income Tax and represents Northern Ireland on the National Advisory Body.

Felicity has served on the Board of Clifton House – Belfast Charitable Society (BCS), for almost 10 years and was, until November 2005, its Honorary Treasurer. During this period, BCS has celebrated its 250th anniversary, built a state-of-the-art nursing home for 100 residents at Carlisle Circus and renovated and developed the historic Clifton House in partnership with BIH housing association. Felicity withdrew from the Board of Clifton House in line with her own policy that Board members should not serve more than ten years.

Access information on Belfast Charitable Society

Her interest in energy matters led to her becoming a non-executive director of Northern Ireland Energy Holdings Ltd and its associated companies, including Moyle Financing PLC. NIEH is a company limited by guarantee, set up in the interests of Northern Ireland energy consumers. Felicity is chairman of the company’s audit committee.

Felicity was brought up in Portadown and Belfast. Her husband Adrian is a farmer’s son from Co Londonderry, so she has wide experience of life in rural and metropolitan Northern Ireland. She was educated in Northern Ireland – being one of the few women who can claim to be an Old Campbellian - before attending Nottingham University, where she graduated with a BA Hons in Politics.

Given her life long interest in animal welfare, Felicity is delighted to have recently become a trustee of Assisi Animal Sanctuary

in Newtownards.

Away from work Felicity has two sons. Her interests revolve around feeding her family and pets.

Felicity’s entry in Who’s Who

HUSTON, Felicity Victoria; Commissioner, House of Lords Appointments Commission, since 2000; Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland, since 2005; Director, Huston & Co. Ltd, Tax Consultants, since 1994; b 28 may 1963; d of Jim McCormick and Joy McCormick (nee Day); m 1992, Adrian Robert Arthur Huston, JP; two s. Educ: Strathearn Sch., Belfast; Campbell Coll., Belfast; Nottingham Univ. (BA Hons 1985). HM Inspector of Taxes, 1988-94. Director: Cassandra Consulting (NI) Ltd, 2003-; Moyle Hldgs Ltd; Moyle Interconnector (Financing) plc, 2003-; Moyle Interconnector plc; NI Energy Hldgs Ltd, 2005-; NI Gas Transmission Ltd, 2005-; Premier Transmission Ltd, 2005-. Gen. Comr of Income Tax, 2002- (Chm., NI Reg., Assoc. of Gen. Comrs of Income Tax). Mem., Industrial Tribunals Panel, 1999-2000. Member: Consumer Panel, PIA, 1996-98; PO Users’ Council, NI, 1996-2000; Gen. Consumer Council, 1996-2000 (Dep. Chm., 1999-2000); Chm., NI Consumer Cttee for Electricity, 2000-03. Member Board: NI Charities Adv. Cttee, 1998-2000; Clifton House (Belfast Charitable Soc.), 1995- (Hon. Treas., 2000-2005). Dir, Team NI Ltd, 2004-. Chm., Point Fields Th. Co., 1996. Recreations: cookery, family, pets. Address: c/o Huston & Co. Ltd, 481 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3LL. T: (028) 9080 6080