November’s meeting of EIS Council was the last for Assistant Secretary Louise Wilson, who is leaving the EIS later this month. Numerous Council members took the opportunity to thank Louise for her decades of dedicated service to the EIS – as an activist, as a National Officer and, finally, as an Assistant Secretary of the EIS.

Salaries Convener Des Morris said, “On behalf of the Salaries Committee, and all its members past and present, I want to give our full and hearty thanks to our soon to depart Assistant Secretary of Employment Relations, Louise Wilson, for whom this is her last EIS Council meeting – we wish her all the very best in her (early) retirement. We also congratulate the incoming Assistant Secretary, Stuart Brown, on his appointment as Louise’s successor and look forward to working with him in the future.”

Education Convener Susan Quinn added the thanks of her Committee, highlighting that Louise previously had responsibility for Education & Equality before moving roles to support the Employment Relations and Salaries Committees.

And President Paula McEwan summed up the general sentiment when she said, “Louise has supported us as we support our members, and that support has been invaluable to us all. We wish her a long and happy retirement.”

Louise formally departs the EIS at the festive break, with current National Officer (F&HE) Stuart Brown stepping into the role of Assistant Secretary (Employment Relations) in the New Year. Stuart was a former EIS Area Officer and Employment Relations Officer before moving to the role of National Officer for Further Education in 2021.

Stuart’s new responsibilities will include acting as the servicing official for Employment Relations and Salaries Committees and leading the support for members on employment and legal issues.